You’ve probably heard of Kim Davis, a Kentucky county clerk who made national news when she was sent to jail for a unique crime.  Davis was the first notable case of a person facing criminal charges for refusing to issue same-sex marriage licenses.  Davis argues that it is not herself but the Federal Government who has violated the law, by infringing upon her religious freedom.  Her case revives a question that Americans have faced since before we were even an independent nation: when does it become appropriate (and necessary) for citizens to disobey their government?

Kevin’s guest this week is Dr. Gary Cass, founder of the Christian Anti-Defamation Commission.  Dr. Cass has ministered behind the Iron Curtain of the Soviet Union, acted as the Director of the Center for Reclaiming America for Christ, appeared on various national television networks, and written multiple books (including Gag Order).  In 2004 he was awarded the Salt and Light award by Dr. D. James Kennedy, with whom he worked closely.  He appears on the CADC’s daily national radio program called Freedom Alert.

Kevin talks with Dr. Cass about an essential civil principle of which many modern Americans are unaware: the doctrine of the lesser magistrate.  Rooted in Protestant Christianity, this concept states that when a high authority (or government) becomes tyrannical or immoral, it is the duty of its citizens to rebel, in order to overthrow it or restore it to its proper state.  This sentiment should be familiar to all US citizens, since it is how our nation was founded!  As free people, Americans have a responsibility to push back against any law that would threaten liberty.  Disobedience of unjust laws does not cause anarchy, but guards against it — by preventing tyranny!

“Saul said, ‘May God deal with me, be it ever so severely, if you do not die, Jonathan.’ But the men said to Saul, ‘Should Jonathan die—he who has brought about this great deliverance in Israel? Never! As surely as the Lord lives, not a hair of his head will fall to the ground, for he did this today with God’s help.’ So the men rescued Jonathan, and he was not put to death.” — 1 Samuel 14:44-45

This episode first aired on November 15th, 2015.