Day 2 - A Proper Celebration - Robert Seiple

On 11 January, Robert and Margaret Ann Seiple returned for their 13th visit to Laos, a country where they have been integral in efforts to promote religious freedom. During their trip, they will meet with representatives from the Lao government, including Vice President of the Lao Front for National Construction, Mr. Tong Yeu Tho, and provincial governors; U.S. Ambassador to Laos, Patricia Haslach; and Lao religious representatives at the national and local level.

It was a treat today to deliver an address to the Lao Foreign Affairs Institute on the subject of religious freedom. January 16 is National Religious Freedom Day in the United States, the date 221 years ago when Thomas Jefferson’s Virginia Statute, perhaps the most important legislative building block for human rights in general and religious freedom specifically, was adopted as Virginia Law. It would become the law of the land a few years later as the First Freedom in the First Amendment to our federal Constitution. We have often said this represents our most significant gift to the world. It was somehow fitting to be giving the following message in a country inextricably linked with our own, through a difficult history, a history still unfolding 8,000 miles away. Jefferson would be pleased. De Tocqueville would understand.

The Q and A that followed was most interesting as the issues were generated from religious and government officials alike.

For example:

1. When you become a Christian, can you stop obeying the government?

I stressed the necessity of obeying laws, respecting culture, while practicing faith. “Render unto Caesar the things that are Caesar’s and to God, the things that are God’s,” was my proof text.

2. The Sunni/Shia violence was questioned as to rationale.

I was grateful for the global inquiry and responded that this was not the best of faith, but rather the worst of religion.

3. A number of questions re: the power of religion.

I discussed religious passions, the role of religious identity, and the aberrant religions that bring harm to others, the caveat in all international covenants that call for responsibility with that freedom.

4. Many wanted to know how to continue progress in the future.

I suggested that both government and religious figures alike needed to better articulate the recent religious freedom legislation.

5. One asked if Laos was owed an apology for the spillover of our war in Vietnam.

My reply: governments do not do apologies well. Individuals can and should. As I have done on other occasions, I offered my apology for participating in the secret air war over Laos.

6. An attendant question, one asked about the issue of unexpended ordnance and the victims still being created 30 years after the war.

Basically, the United States’ moral authority was being questioned. The casualty numbers averaged 140/year for the last three years. The U.S. has a program to diffuse unexpended ordnance (and has for some time), expending $5.6 million dollars in 2006. I marvel how close to the surface this conflict continues to be. This is one place where we need to stay and finish the job.

Comments

[Matthew Scott]

I love the refreshing honesty of the first question: "now that I am a Christian can I stop obeying the government?" When liberty is scarce or strained, and if God feels tangible and real, it seems entirely straightforward to ask permission to be whisked away from it all, as if by some science-fiction transport device. Apart from encouraging such a follower to 'render to Caesar', what can Western Christians, who experience no such persecution, do to help?

[Amy Rowe]

Although I have read about it before, I found your willingness to apologize for your participation in the "secret war" moving, and a bit challenging. How rarely we (I) apologize. Thanks for the post.