I have been summoned to 'serve' on a jury. This isn't the first time and I must say that one of the disadvantages of living in a rural county with a small population is that you get called up quite often. In my case as the sole breadwinner I've been able to wholly avoid it - until now. Apparently they're having trouble filling the jury pool and are unwilling to excuse people over the phone as in the past. I was told that I needed to appear and go through the process.
I've been reticent to do this because I know it likely won't go well for me. I've wrestled with simply answering the questions and getting rejected - probably by the judge and if not, by a peremptory challenge.
Otherwise if I make an ideological and ethical argument about jury 'service' and against it - or at least the notion or possibility of a Christian being on a jury there could be real problems. Depending on the judge, I could end up with many hours of community service, a night or two in jail, or perhaps both.
I decided to be pro-active and put my cards on the table. I filled out the worksheet, indicated that I would not trust the word of a policeman over a civilian (which is true) and that I was unable to follow the instructions of the court. This is also true. As I state in my letter, the defendant (as per the social contract) has a right to be tried according to the laws of the jurisdiction - in this case the Court of Common Pleas in Pennsylvania. As a Christian I cannot set aside my beliefs and ethics in order to judge by this flawed standard. I won't do it and as such my deliberations in a jury room would be grounds for a dismissal or appeal - the very thing the judge wants to avoid.
Further I cannot be a witness to the gospel when I serve as an officer/official of the state helping it to wield the sword - violently putting someone in a cage or taking their goods. The state is legitimate and if they want to do these things - so be it. God's Providence has placed them there but as a Christian I'm told to not engage in this sort of behaviour and the common argument of it being permissible due to an office (or vocation) is unscriptural. Paul contrasts Christian conduct in Romans with that of the state and his instruction is to obey the state and submit to it - not to help it. God's Providence may put Obama or Trump in the White House but it doesn't mean He sanctions either. We don't know His plan and all too often the choice is connected to judgment. In some cases it's obviously so.
I sent the following letter to the court:
To: Court Administration
xxxxxxxxxxxx
xxxxxx, xxx
25 January 2025
I have been summoned for session xxxxx on xx, xxx 2025 as Juror xxx.
I asked to be excused for two reasons. The first is simple and pragmatic and that is I am a self-employed and my wife does not work outside the home. I cannot afford to serve on a jury.
The second reason is ethical and involves conscientious objection on a religious basis. As a Christian I accept the legitimacy of the state, pay taxes, obey laws, and am productive – and raise my children to be the same. However, my calling as a Christian belongs to a different sphere. I cannot testify to a gospel of grace, mercy, and forgiveness while I take up the sword of the state and condemn men to a cage, the plundering of their goods, or death – regardless of whether they deserve it or not. These are effectively acts of violence which as a Christian I am not permitted to engage in. I cannot set aside Christian ethics for the sake of granting a defendant a fair trial according to the laws of the jurisdiction – which they are (according to the social contract and US Constitution) entitled to. The state certainly has a place in God’s economy for this present evil age, but it is not one for Christians who are called to bear the cross and look to God and His Providence for justice. Vengeance belongs to Him and while he may utilize the state in history, as Christians we are told to not seek vengeance or be part of it.
As I would be bound to acquit and I cannot take the oaths involved (or affirmations which are oaths by another name) – I have no desire to waste the court’s time, or mine for that matter. The court has a job to do but it has nothing to do with me. According to the New Testament I live as a second-class citizen and I do not utilize the courts or law enforcement and just as my conscience will not allow me to set aside my ethics to wear a uniform or badge and take up arms or sanction those who do by voting for them – I cannot exercise the judicial aspect of this same state power and violence. I am called to live as a stranger and pilgrim in whatever country or empire I reside.
As such I ask to be excused. If not, I will of course appear at the summons but I hope it’s clear enough, there is no possibility I will serve on a jury. And while I do not have any desire to face fines or incarceration on the basis of contempt, it’s a price I’m willing to pay.
Thank you,
And less than a week later I received a notice that I am excused on the basis of religious conviction. Praise be to God. It might not work in all jurisdictions but my goal was to come across aggressively enough that all things considered the clerk (and maybe the judge) just don't want to bother with me - and that's just fine. God bless them but keep them far away from me. I want nothing to do with law enforcement or the judiciary. They are necessary evils that I would rather not interact with. Christians have no business becoming entangled with them and those that do are disobeying express New Testament commands and should be subjected to Church discipline. I'm not holding my breath.