After a day with kids and without wife I’m uploading a video to YouTube and answering emails, and I stumbled on an interesting take on the pro-democracy uprisings in Egypt and the Middle East.

Here’s what John MacArthur says.

Here’s the interview, again, and a response.

Here’s an open letter to MacArthur from an Egyptian-American.

I think this strikes a chord with me, because for a few years I’ve wondered what I would have done as an American colonist back in 1776, in light of Romans 13:1-7, and other passages. I think the tension between obeying Caesar and calling Caesar to account for injustice can be tough. I’m not sure MacArthur really gets it right, and I’m not completely satisfied with the critics either, even granted that you have to throw out most of the comments. I think MacArthur touches on the fact that 1. People’s ultimate need is Christ and 2. Rebellion leading to anarchy is a dangerous thing, with no guarantees of a happy ending. In fact, the non-intuitive reality (in one country’s case as seen over and over and over in Mexican history) is that armed rebellion against authority will have as a byproduct or a final result very nasty consequences.

But, there’s no question that in all justice, men like Mubarak or Qaddafi (although I’m not convinced Mubarak is ultimately in Qaddafi’s league) are featured in Psalm 109:8 (forget the rotten “prayer” for Obama making the rounds), and Proverbs 1:11-14. At what point are people right to rise up against evil men? I’m inclined to think: right now is just fine.

My inclination is that the consciences of good people will lead them differently–and it’s always hard to say what I would do until I’m in that position.

And that it’s way too late to be thinking such deep thoughts.