SPECIAL PRÉCIS ONCHRISTIAN MORAL AND LEGAL OBLIGATION WHEN ASSAULTED BY ICE AGENTS: LESSONS FROM THE LEGACY OF DIETRICH BONHOEFFER (WITH VIDEO)

“ASSAULT.” “‘An Attack or Violent Onset; whether by an individual, a company, or an army…In Law, an UNLAWFUL setting upon one’s person.’” – NOAH WEBSTER, American Dictionary of the English Language, 1828; edited

THEOLOGY

SCRIPTURE. “Let every soul BE SUBJECT TO the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God. Therefore whoever RESISTS the authority resists the ordinance of God, and those who resist will bring judgment on themselves.

For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to evil. Do you want to be unafraid of the authority? Do what is good, and you will have praise from the same. For he is God’s minister to you for good. But if you do evil, be afraid; for he does not bear the sword in vain; for he is God’s minister, an avenger to execute wrath on him who practices evil.

Therefore you must be subject, not only because of wrath but also for conscience’ sake. For because of this you also pay taxes, for they are God’s ministers attending continually to this very thing. Render therefore to all their due: taxes to whom taxes are due, customs to whom customs, fear to whom fear, honor to whom honor.” – ROMANS 13:1-7, NKJV

KEY TERMS.

“BE SUBJECT TO.” ‘Hupotassó’ [ὑποτασσέσθω]: “To subordinate, to obey; subdue unto or submit self unto; to place in order.” NOTE: “From Genesis onward, Scripture presents a Universe structured by God-given Authority. Romans 8:20 records that ‘The creation was subjected to futility…in hope,’ revealing that even the Natural Order answers to God’s Sovereign Purpose. The same motif appears in Hebrews 2:8; nothing stands outside the Creator’s right to arrange, direct, and, when sin entered, to ‘RE-ORDER all things through Redemption.’

“RESISTS.” ‘Antitassó’ [ἀντιτασσόμενος]: “To range [or arrange] oneself against, to oppose or withstand.”

NOTE: The verb marks the deliberate marshalling of one’s will, words, or actions against a person, message, or authority. It is sharper than casual disagreement; it describes a conscious lining up ‘against’ something considered a Rival. Every occurrence highlights the Moral or Spiritual stakes involved when such Resistance is directed either toward God or toward His appointed means of blessing.”

“TO HONOR.” ‘Timé [τιμὴν]: “Of great value; esteem of the highest degree; dignity itself; precious price [as with Bonhoeffer’s ‘Costly Grace’].” NOTE: “Strong’s 5092 gathers the ideas of Worth, Esteem, Dignity, and Price. Whether used of God, of Christ, of people, or of material goods – The term always measures Value and calls for a Response proportionate to that Value.”

QUOTATION. “‘Those who neglect the Roots of Order, one may add, are compelled to water those Roots desperately—after wandering in the parched Wasteland of Disorder.’ Upon our knowledge of those Roots may depend what sort of Order America and the World will have by the end of this century. It may be the Order of Aldous Huxley’s Brave New World, rich and dehumanized; it may be the Garrison-State controlled by ferocious Ideology, as in George Orwell’s Nineteen-Eighty-Four; OR, it may be an ‘Order Renewed and Improved,’ yet recognizably linked with the Order that arose in Jerusalem, Athens, Rome, and London.” ― RUSSELL KIRK, The Roots of American Order, 1974; edited

COMMENTARY. “‘Subject unto the higher powers.’—Looking impartially at the passage which follows, it would seem at first sight—and perhaps not only at first sight—that The Apostle distinctly preaches TWO DOCTRINES, both of which are now discredited, the ‘Doctrines of Divine Right’ and of ‘Passive [Blind] Obedience.’ The Duty of Obedience is grounded upon the fact that the power wielded by the Magistrate is derived from God, and that Duty itself is stated without qualification…

‘In the first place it should be noticed that though the Duty of Obedience is here stated without qualification, still the Existence of Qualifications to it is not therefore denied or excluded. Tribute [or Honor] is to be paid to whom Tribute [or Honor] is due. But this still leaves The Question open, Whether…Tribute [or Honor] is RIGHTFULLY due or not!’

There may possibly be a conflict of Rights and Duties, and the lower may have to yield to the higher. All that is alleged is that, ‘primâ facie,’ the Magistrate can claim the Obedience of the Subject. ‘But supposing the Magistrate calls upon the Subject to do that which some Other Authority co-ordinate with that of the Magistrate forbids [as with the case of God’s Law and Ordinance]?…

There will always be a certain debatable ground within which Opposite Duties will seem to clash, and where General Principles are no longer of any avail. ‘Here the INDIVIDUAL CONSCIENCE [subject to God’s Law] must assume the Responsibility of Deciding which to obey.’” – CHARLES ELLICOTT, An Old and New Testament Commentary for English Readers, 1878, 1897; edited

II. TEACHING

“This is My commandment, that you love and unselfishly seek the best for one another, just as I have loved you. No one has greater love [nor stronger commitment] than to lay down his own life for his friends. You are my friends if you keep on doing what I COMMAND you [‘entellomai,’ ἐντέλλομαι-‘Order, Charge’].” – JOHN 15:12-14, AMP

AMERICA’S BONHOEFFER MOMENT. I have used that powerful phrase only once before to describe what for me at least, is the ‘Isomorphic Parallel’ between early Nazi Germany and 2020’s America. To that degree, therefore, we are thrust by powerful spiritual, political and sociological forces to consider the ordeals of the great (but hardly perfect) Christian theologian DEITRICH BONHOEFFER.

Without much agonizing over what the German Martyr had to contend with come the fully existentially Gravest Meanings of Paul’s Letter to the ROMANS, CHAPTER 13. As a Professor and Teacher of the Law, Bonhoeffer was undeniably tormented over what the “Right thing to do” in the context of Nazi Totalitarianism, as countless thousands and then millions of Jews and other undesirables defined by Adolf Hitler were slaughtered.

‘As must we all likewise agonize, beloved! To reach the Mind of God here in Trump’s rapid assembly of what I fully consider is an AMERICAN FOURTH REICH.

I came across a compelling and all-too-rare right rendering of that Vital Passage by an exquisitely qualified scholar and pastor. DR. ARDEL CANEDAY. Ardel completed the MDiv and ThM at Grace Theological Seminary and the PhD in New Testament at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School. He is a founding Teaching Elder of Christ Bible Church (Roseville, MN).

His essay is titled, “What Romans 13 Does (Not) Mean,” published in his online blog for pastor-theologians, Christ Over All, published in his November 2023 issue. Here are his FOUR FACTORS that explain his interpretation of the passage.

Ministers Are NOT to be Silent: They are to Follow Paul’s Example by Speaking Clearly and Biblically to Political Issues. “Paul wrote the Letter of Romans to Christians who lived in Rome, the Capital of the Roman Empire. We Christians are not exempt from being influenced to read Scripture from our contemporary situation and thus impose our perspective onto the text. Of course, the Apostle Paul does not write his directives from the Relative Freedom we Americans have [sic]…The fact that he writes these Directives concerning how Christians are obliged to relate to those in human government indicates that Ministers of the Gospel are obligated to provide preaching that imitates this Prophetic Teaching concerning Cultural-Social-Political-Moral-Ethical issues. ‘Many Ministers of the Gospel REFUSE to address Political Issues because they lack the requisite knowledge, wisdom, and courage to do so.’ Lamentably, many who do attempt to speak on these matters do it so poorly and superficially that it becomes manifestly transparent that they do not think deeply about the Gospel and its ramifications at the level of ‘Comprehensive Worldview Thinking.’”
Submission Does NOT Mean Silence! “‘The fact that the Apostle Paul calls on Christians to be ‘Subject to’ governing authorities and tells us that to Rebel against governing authorities is to Rebel against God hardly suggests that Christians are to adopt a posture of simpering Pawns and obeisant Sycophants [which we indeed have become!]. It does not suggest adopting the Martyr’s Complex and never DEFENDING themselves against False Accusations and never speaking on public policy issues.’ If that is Paul’s objective, why does he even bother writing these things to the Christians in Rome? No! We must understand this BLANKET COMMMAND in light of Paul’s actions elsewhere…’Because the Apostle knows and understands that human governments are ordained by God, he is neither timid to APPEAL to governing officials to preserve his life from jackals and wolves who would devour him, nor bureaucrats in high positions who think that they would be doing God a favor.’”
The Role of Governing Officials Is NOT to Do Whatever They please, But to: ‘Commend Doers of Good and to Be a Terror to Evildoers.’ “In his Commentary on Romans 13, John Calvin makes an apt observation that is worth quoting in full: ‘Magistrates may hence learn what their vocation is, for they are not to Rule for their own interest, but for the Public Good; nor are they endued with unbridled power, but what is restricted to the wellbeing of their subject.’ In short, they are Responsible to God and to Men in the exercise of their power. ‘For as they are Deputed by God and do His business, they must GIVE AN ACCOUNT to Him:’ And then the Ministration which God has committed to them has a regard to the subjects, they are therefore debtors also to them. And private men are reminded, that it is through the divine goodness that they are defended by the Sword of Princes against injuries done by the Wicked…’It is another part of the Office of Magistrates, that they ought forcibly to REPRESS the waywardness of Evil men, who do not willingly suffer themselves to be governed by Laws.’ And to inflict such Punishment on their offenses as God’s Judgment requires; for He expressly declares, that they are armed with the sword, not for an empty show, but: ‘That they may smite Evil-Doers!’”
ALL Christians Are Obligated to Remind Governing Officials of Their God-Appointed Role. “‘By virtue of their leadership roles in Christ’s Church, Ministers of the Gospel generally have greater opportunities and frequency to apply publicly the Teachings of Scripture on State and National issues. This, however, does not alleviate Lay Christians from actively participating in doing the same within their own individual spheres of influence.’ Hence, ‘Ministers are obligated to LEAD THEM by example’ and to admonish them to live fully in keeping with their Christian confession: “JESUS is Lord!” The Apostle Paul sends his letter containing a ruler’s obligations not to the emperor’s palace, but to Christians in Rome. ‘By doing this, the Apostle Paul is instructing us that we Christians have an OBLIGATION TO TEACH our own Families and our Neighbors concerning our Roles as Citizens but also to remind those who govern us [of THEIR duty to obey God!]

III. BONHOEFFER’S RESISTANCE THEOLOGY

“He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me; and he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who does not take his cross [expressing a willingness to endure whatever may come] and follow Me [believing in Me, conforming to My example in living and, if need be, suffering or perhaps dying because of faith in Me] is not worthy of Me.

Whoever finds his life [in this world] will [eventually] lose it [through death], and whoever loses his life [in this world] for MY SAKE will find it [that is, life with Me for all eternity].” – MATTHEW 10:37-39, AMP

In light of the Theological Foundations found in Romans 13, we now turn our attention to a nuts-and-bolts Practicum based on the combined teachings of DIETRICH BONHOEFFER. I take this from an AI Overview (ret. Jan. 29, 2026; edited). ‘It offers us rich yet down to earth First Steps we can consider in putting Feet to our Faith in America’s increasing Fascism that can no longer responsibly be denied.’

OPEN. Dietrich Bonhoeffer, the German Pastor executed for his role in the Resistance against Hitler, provided A BLUEPRINT for Moral Action in Times of Tyranny. NOTE: These recommendations apply only to social and political conditions of LAWLNESSSNESS. ‘His Lessons focus on the SHIFT from Passive Belief to Active, Responsible Resistance.’

JAM THE SPOKES. Bonhoeffer argued that the Church’s Role isn’t just to help victims of injustice, but to actively STOP the Source of that Injustice. [‘within the Bounds of God’s Law’]. He famously stated that we are not simply to bandage the wounds of victims beneath the Wheels of Injustice, we are to: “Drive a spoke into the Wheel itself.” And when a group is being “Taken away to death,” those who fear God have a: ‘Moral Obligation to ‘INTERVENE AND RESCUE them.’” – “SAVE [‘natsal,’ הַ֭צֵּל – ‘defend, snatch away, rescue’] those who are being taken away to death. Keep them from being killed. If you say, ‘See, we did not know this,’ does not He Who knows what is in hearts see it? Does not He Who keeps watch over your soul know it? And will He not pay each man for his work?’” – PROVERBS 24:11-12, NLV
REJECT “CHEAP GRACE.” In his book The Cost of Discipleship (1937), Bonhoeffer critiqued what he called “Cheap Grace”—the preaching of forgiveness without requiring repentance or following Christ. “Costly Discipleship:” ‘TRUE FAITH requires Obedience and Action [Faith without works is dead,’ James 2:17], even when it is dangerous or unpopular. “Living the Cross:” ‘SUFFERING is often the “Badge of True Discipleship,” as the [True] Disciple must be willing to suffer as Christ did.’”
SILENCE IS COMPLICITY (OR CONSENT). Bonhoeffer emphasized that Staying Neutral in the face of Evil is a ‘CHOICE’ that actively supports it. Bonhoeffer is often attributed with the Teaching that: “Silence in the face of evil is itself evil: God will not hold us guiltless! Not to speak is to speak. Not to act is to act.” He believed that if you do not speak for those who are Voiceless, you are failing a fundamental Biblical Demand.
THE “STUPIDITY” OF POWER.” In his essay, “After Ten Years” (1943), Bonhoeffer analyzed why good people fall under Tyranny. “‘Functional Stupidity’ happens when a “strong upsurge of power” infects people with “Stupidity,” depriving them of their inner independence and making them incapable of seeing Evil as evil.’ [Effectively becoming “hypocritical liars, whose consciences have been seared as with a branding iron” – 1 Timothy 4:2. Which Bonhoeffer argues leads inexorably to the “Failure of the Reasonable:” ‘People who try to be “reasonable” or “pious” often end up making small compromises that eventually lead to full complicity.’
RESPONSIBLE ACTION OVER MORAL PURITY. One of his most Radical Lessons was that truly responsible action might require a person to “get their hands dirty” and accept Guilt for the sake of their neighbor. “The Ultimate Risk:” Bonhoeffer’s decision to join a plot to assassinate Hitler was an act of “Free Responsibility”—Choosing a “Lesser Evil” (Militance) to stop a “Greater Evil” (Genocide), while throwing himself on God’s Mercy rather than justifying his own Purity.

DK CAVEAT. Now 10.5 years into this Spiritual Battle that underlies the increasingly violent Political Conflict that is taking place all around us, I have not thus far had the freedom to advocate the Force of Arms in Resistance of the Beast President, Donald Trump. I still do not so advocate. But I will not judge Bonhoeffer, (God has already done so and will yet do so), given the Savagery he was witnessing as the Jewish people were being summarily (and sometimes joyfully) tortured and slaughtered every day.

“Schindler’s List.” In addition to Bonhoeffer’s Principled Heroism, another example of it is that of OSKAR SCHLINDLER (28 April 1908 – 9 October 1974). Schindler was a German industrialist, humanitarian, and member of the Nazi Party who is credited with saving the lives of 200 Jews during the Holocaust by employing them in his enamelware and ammunitions factories in occupied Poland and the Protectorate of Bohemia and Moravia. ‘He often LIED to the Nazi authorities about what his business was truly about.’ He is the subject of the 1982 novel Schindler’s Ark and its 1993 film adaptation, Schindler’s List. – Wikipedia, Jan. 30, 2026; edited

IV. LAST THOUGHTS

AMY HAWK. My good friend and brave colleague posted on TikTok just yesterday (Jan. 29, 2026) THREE THINGS that we must do in order to RESIST this Doctrinal and Political Plague that Donald Trump has visited upon America (at our repeated invitation!).

TELL THE TRUTH. Specifically, about just who and what Donald Trump is, and ‘Expose him!’ EPHESIANS 5:11. “And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather EXPOSE them.”
STAY IN FREEDOM. Her wise point here is that given the Spiritual Toxicity that now exists in nearly all Evangelical Ministries today, ‘do not return’ to that deadly cultural and spiritual milieu. GALATIANS 5:1. “STAND FAST therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage.”
LOVE GOD AND NEIGHBOR. ‘As you have never loved them before!’ That is why we are here, beloved. We carry out His Great Commission by following TWO COMMANDMENTS: “‘Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?’ Jesus said to him, ‘You shall love the Lord your God with ALL your heart, with ALL your soul, and with ALL your mind.’ This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.” – MATTHEW 22:36-40.

ICE ARREST OR DETENTION. Most of us are not attorneys, familiar with the basics of our Constitutional Rights under the Law of the Land. So what follows is simply a BRIEF PRIMER should you be accosted, arrested or detained by ICE. Yes, beloved, this is where we are an its coming to many cities in the US in the next several months.

‘Be Ready!’ Adapted from an AI Overview (ret. Jan. 30, 2026; edited).

OPEN. If accosted, arrested, or detained by ICE, remain calm, do not run, and immediately invoke your right to remain silent and to an attorney. You are not required to answer questions about your birthplace, immigration status, or entry method. Do not sign any documents without a lawyer.

If Stopped in Public, Home, or Workplace.

Remain Silent: Explicitly state, “I am exercising my right to “Remain silent.”

Ask if Free to Leave: Ask the officer, “Am I free to leave?”. If they say yes, walk away calmly.

Do Not Consent to Search: If officers enter a home or try to search you, say: “I do not consent to a search.”

Show a Rights Card: Hand the officer a ‘Know Your Rights card’ that explains you are exercising your rights.

Record the Interaction: Record the incident on your phone if safe to do so.

If Arrested or Detained.

Demand an Attorney: Immediately ask for a lawyer and do not answer questions until they arrive.

Do Not Sign Anything: Do not sign any papers (such as voluntary departure or stipulated removal orders) without speaking to an attorney, even if pressured.

Contact the Consulate: If a Foreign National, you have the right to have your Consulate notified.

Memorize Important Information: Keep your “A Number” (Alien Registration Number or Emergency Contact Number) memorized or with a trusted person to help locate you.

Assert Fear of Return: If you fear returning to your home country, clearly state this to agents.

If ICE Comes to Your Home.

Keep the Door Closed: You do not have to open the door unless agents have a Judicial Warrant signed by a Judge (not an administrative warrant from ICE).

Ask to See The Warrant: Ask them to pass it under the door or through a window.

SHOULD WE EVER FIGHT BACK? ‘It’s complicated,’ is the very first thing that come to mind as I typed those words, after a review of an exquisite law review concerning The Question that now hangs in American Air as it did in Germany nearly a century ago, beloved.

So here we go.

Our Teacher for this Last Section of our conversation is DR. MICHAEL GREGORY, Assistant Professor of Philosophy and Law, Liberty and Justice Coordinator at Clemson University. His essay is titled, “The Moral Right to Defend Yourself Against ICE” (Public Seminar, Jan. 22, 2026; edited).

QUESTION. “If you saw an armed stranger in body armor forcing his way into your neighbor’s home at dawn, dragging a screaming mother away from her children while pointing a rifle at the family, would you have the right to stop him? ‘By any means necessary?’ Now the Forbidden Version: ‘What if that Armed Stranger has a Badge?’ Most of us have been trained to defer to law enforcement, especially when things look urgent. We figure they must know something we don’t, that compliance now beats resistance even when what’s happening looks wrong. ‘But what happens when the Agents themselves are Violating the Constitutional Limits that supposedly legitimize their Authority in the first place?’”

THESIS. “Seven years ago, philosopher Jason Brennan laid out what he calls the MORAL EQUIVALENCE THESIS: ‘Government officials are subject to the same Moral Principles as everyone else. The Rules that determine when you can use defensive force against private wrongdoers also apply to government wrongdoers. There’s no special moral immunity that comes with a badge.’”This Principle already exists in Military Ethics. The Uniform Code of Military Justice ‘Requires service members to refuse orders that are “patently illegal”—orders whose illegality would be obvious to anyone with basic sense. “I was just following orders” has been dead since Nuremberg.”

LAW. ‘The Fourth Amendment prohibits Unreasonable Seizures. Graham v. Connor requires that Force must be ‘objectively reasonable,’ Proportional to the threat. When ICE Agents violate these constraints, they’re NOT exercising Legitimate State Power.’ They become, in Brennan’s words,‘Private Aggressors in Government costume.’ This isn’t just rhetorical flourish. Think through the implications. ‘An ICE Agent who Forces Entry into a home using only an Administrative Warrant—which lacks Judicial authorization for entry—is committing an Unlawful Act!’”

HYPOTHESIS. “Here’s THE QUESTION that makes everyone uncomfortable: ‘What if someone in Minneapolis had shot Officer Ross before he shot Good? By Brennan’s Principle, if Ross was committing or about to commit an Unjust Action comparable to what a private actor might commit, such Defensive Force could be morally justified.’ Not tactically wise—it would trigger overwhelming retaliation. Not legally protected under Current Law. ‘But “Morally Justified” by the same Principles that justify Defensive Force against private wrongdoers.’ This is NOT a call to action. The practical realities are brutal: Resistance will fail, will be prosecuted, will trigger massive State Response. ‘But we need to be clear about the Moral Logic.’”

CLOSE. Brennan’s Argument clarifies what’s at stake: Either Constitutional Protections are ‘Real Constraints’ on Government Power—in which case their Violation must sometimes justify Resistance—or they’re merely ‘Decorative,’ in which case we should stop pretending Americans have ‘Rights’ rather than ‘Revocable Privileges.’ THE CHOICE is between a Constitutional Republic and something else entirely—Something with Constitutions and Courts and Elections, but where “RIGHTS: exist only until Government finds them inconvenient.’”’

DECIDING WHAT TO DO. “‘For I know THE PLANS AND THOUGHTS that I have for you,’ says the Lord, ‘plans for peace and well-being and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.

Then you will CALL ON ME and you will come and pray to Me, and I will hear [your voice] and I will listen to you. Then [with a deep longing] you will seek Me and require Me [as a vital necessity] and [you will] find Me when you search for Me with ALL your heart…[And] I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you [who are willing to learn] with My eye upon you.” – JEREMIAH 29:11-13; PSALM 32:8, AMP

Time to Kneel Down in order to Rise Up, beloved, and firmly REFUSE to shrink back into old ways. ‘It’s Time. ’Indeed, it’s Way Past Time Now’. Selah.

MEDIA

YOUTUBE: https://youtu.be/o92N5oVnpzQ