| Why Be a Lawyer? | [Contents] |
During this time, Petitioner has encountered numerous instances of powerless people being oppressed by a bureaucracy or someone brandishing the legal system. Although Petitioner does not consider himself an American citizen (Philippians 3:20), and has no interest in solving problems through political processes, he believes that it is his religious duty to "practice Law" (i.e., Biblical Law), that is, defend those who are attacked by the law of man:
Proverbs 31:8-9It is also Petitioner's Christian duty to begin replacing the reign of Humanistic Man with the Kingdom of Christ. Petitioner can do this in the power of the Holy Spirit because -- in contrast to non-Christian kings and rulers -- Petitioner is a true king:
Open thy mouth for the dumb in the cause of all such as are appointed to destruction. {9} Open thy mouth, judge righteously, and plead the cause of the poor and needy.Isaiah 1:17
Learn to do well; seek judgment, relieve the oppressed, judge the fatherless, plead for the widow.Job 29:12
Because I delivered the poor that cried, and the fatherless, and him that had none to help him.Jeremiah 21:12
O house of David, thus saith the LORD; Execute judgment in the morning, and deliver him that is spoiled out of the hand of the oppressor, lest my fury go out like fire, and burn that none can quench it, because of the evil of your doings.Jeremiah 22:16
He judged the cause of the poor and needy; then it was well with him: was not this to know me? saith the LORD.Isaiah 59:4,14
None calleth for justice, nor any pleadeth for truth: they trust in vanity, and speak lies; they conceive mischief, and bring forth iniquity. {14} And judgment is turned away backward, and justice standeth afar off: for truth is fallen in the street, and equity cannot enter.Zechariah 7:9
Thus speaketh the LORD of hosts, saying, Execute true judgment, and show mercy and compassions every man to his brother:Psalm 82:3-4
Defend the poor and fatherless: do justice to the afflicted and needy. {4} Deliver the poor and needy: rid them out of the hand of the wicked.Proverbs 24:11
Deliver those that are being taken away to death, and those that are ready to be slain;
Revelation 5:10The systematic uprooting of Christian legal traditions in this nation under its Constitution,[1] and the removal of Christian influence from institutions such as schools, has produced a secular society. Petitioner's personal contact with the resulting human brokenness found in criminals, drug addicts, the homeless, and the mentally ill, has convinced him that he cannot put his faith in Constitutionalism, but must nevertheless be present in the lives of those assaulted by institutionalized violence.
And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth.1 Peter 2:9
But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should show forth the praises of Him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:Psalm 72:1,2,4,12-13
Give the king thy judgments, O God, and thy righteousness unto the king's son. {2} He shall judge thy people with righteousness, and thy poor with judgment. {4} He shall judge the poor of the people, he shall save the children of the needy, and shall break in pieces the oppressor. {12} He shall deliver the needy when he crieth; the poor also, and him that hath no helper. {13} He shall spare the poor and needy, and shall save the souls of the needy.Proverbs 29:14
The king that faithfully judgeth the poor, his throne shall be established for ever.Isaiah 1:23
Thy princes are rebellious, and companions of thieves: every one loveth gifts, and follo- weth after rewards: they judge not the fatherless, neither doth the cause of the widow come unto them.Jeremiah 22:3
Thus saith the LORD; Execute ye judgment and righteousness, and deliver the spoiled out of the hand of the oppressor: and do no wrong, do no violence to the stranger, the father- less, nor the widow, neither shed innocent blood in this place.
The Spirit of the Lord has given Petitioner a desire to aid those who are needy and afflicted by "the powers" and by the powerful, and Petitioner has been told he has been blessed with gifts and talents which can be used effectively to accomplish this end, but
Petitioner is informed by "the Powers" that he cannot fully aid the needy and afflicted without obtaining a license from the State.
Since he is committed to be in "submission" to those Powers, and seeks to avoid prosecution for "unauthorized practice of law" (i.e., living the Christian life),
He is resolved to do everything he can to obtain that license, short of disobeying the Law of God.