Save Us From the Tyrany of the Majority

Right-wing operatives like to talk a lot about the "will of the people" these days, protecting us from "activist judges. Here are a couple of examples.

An excerpt from a Charles Colson column for the Christian Post regarding access to public restrooms for transgender people:

The American people are not asking for new bathroom laws. The truth is, this is an effort—by a small but radical minority—to use the force of law to punish anyone backward enough to believe there are only two sexes: male and female. The true goal behind the law is the radical remaking of our society—one in which faithful Christians, Muslims, and Jews will be punished for their beliefs.

This is taken from an American Family Association "Action Alert" calling for passage of the Federal Marriage Amendment that would write the prohibition of same-sex marriage into the U. S. Constitution:

Homosexual activists are determined to force homosexual marriage on America by using activist liberal judges, like those in Massachusetts and California. A Federal Marriage Amendment will finally put an end to activist judges tampering with the will of the people.

For people spouting off about the Bible, they sure are latching on to a very unbiblical concept.

What if Noah had listened to those around him who thought he was nuts while he was buidling the ark?

What if Moses had listened to the people complaining about lack of food and turned them around back to Egypt and into slavery?

When Jesus was tried by Pontius Pilate, he offered Him and Barabbas, a convicted murder, in front of crowd and allowed them to decide which one to set free. They chose Barabbas, not allowing an "activist judge" like Pilate could have been to have a chance to act on his conscience. So much for the "will of the people."

Jesus' ministry was all about going AGAINST the majority, bringing a message that transcended the will of the people and showing them the vastly more important will of His Father. An important part of that will is to show love to the poor, sick, and downtrodden minorities.

If right-wingers want to make a case, they need to be a lot less interested in poll numbers and put more effort into discerning the will of God, a God who loves people even if they don't agree with the right-wing agenda.