What a pity it is that at this late time in history we should find our government misusing a verse from the Bible in order to try to justify tearing children from the arms of their parents at our border. The apostle Paul himself, who is quoted by Attorney General Jeff Sessions from Romans 13, would be horrified at the evil twisting of his words. Nor is this the first time this particular verse has been misappropriated by the powers in order to justify evil. It was used in the past by American slave holders. It was used in Germany by the Nazis.
How anyone (with a brain) can imagine that Paul was encouraging his followers to be obedient to authority even when the authority runs clearly against the message of Christ is a mystery in itself. Paul himself stood starkly in conflict with the law, both of the Jews and of the Romans. Time and again, he was imprisoned, beaten, and ultimately he was beheaded under the authority of the Roman empire.
So what was Paul really saying? Basically, merely to do good--because in doing good, one has done what is right and proper. On the other hand, it is clear that doing the wrong thing cannot be the right thing. It's a no-brainer.
Whenever one comes across a verse that seems at odds with the whole of scripture, or at odds with the established theology of a particular writer (such as Paul), one needs to look more closely in order to see what he is missing. What is the context? What event or situation is being addressed? Who is the writer talking to, and about what? Forcing the verse in where it doesn't fit just won't work.
Move just a little further into Romans 13, and you find the following: "Owe no one anything except to love one another, for he who loves another has fulfilled the law … Love does no harm to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfillment of the law". Love, therefore, is the obedience that is ultimately being spoken of.
How anyone (with a brain) can imagine that Paul was encouraging his followers to be obedient to authority even when the authority runs clearly against the message of Christ is a mystery in itself. Paul himself stood starkly in conflict with the law, both of the Jews and of the Romans. Time and again, he was imprisoned, beaten, and ultimately he was beheaded under the authority of the Roman empire.
So what was Paul really saying? Basically, merely to do good--because in doing good, one has done what is right and proper. On the other hand, it is clear that doing the wrong thing cannot be the right thing. It's a no-brainer.
Whenever one comes across a verse that seems at odds with the whole of scripture, or at odds with the established theology of a particular writer (such as Paul), one needs to look more closely in order to see what he is missing. What is the context? What event or situation is being addressed? Who is the writer talking to, and about what? Forcing the verse in where it doesn't fit just won't work.
Move just a little further into Romans 13, and you find the following: "Owe no one anything except to love one another, for he who loves another has fulfilled the law … Love does no harm to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfillment of the law". Love, therefore, is the obedience that is ultimately being spoken of.
1 comment:
Well said
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