WikiLeaks

Dear Victorious,

This thing with WikiLeaks seems to be getting out of hand. And it seems to polarize people in that some are okay with it and some are upset about it. What is the appropriate response? Is there a Biblical principle that would be applicable here?

Don D. - Katy, TX

Dear Don,

Yes, I do think there are some Biblical principles that would be applicable relative to the dilemma the world seems to have on its hands with WikiLeaks. Basically we've got one man who believes that forcing transparency among the world's super powers is somehow a virtuous thing to do. There is no question that transparency is a virtue. But forcing it upon anyone is less than righteous.

Consider, for example, if someone got hold of your diary and your checkbook --- and published them both on WikiLeaks. The internal communications of the U.S. government for example, are tantamount to the government processing its thinking. That's a pretty close parallel to your diary ... where you process your thinking. Perhaps publishing the private thoughts of individuals or a government are not particularly wrong. But it is not particularly right either. It's a forced transparency. Otherwise known as a violation.

Biblical principles like respecting those in authority over us, submitting to the government's that God installs over us and treating others as we would like to be treated ourselves - are all applicable here. I believe that WikiLeaks is wrong on several levels. Free speech is a good thing. But it doesn't not give you freedom to do what you want with the speech of others.