Submit to the Governing Authorities?

Leslie Weatherhead famously said: “The trouble with some of us is that we have been inoculated with small doses of Christianity which keep us from catching the real thing.”

It appears that Attorney General Jeff Sessions has been thus inoculated by quoting (out of context) Romonas 13:1 in defense of unsettling border practices by the current Administration. The Administration’s Press Secretary has also made similar Biblical claims justifying current policies. 

Sadly these policies have led to the separation of children from their parents who are being held in detention centers. Most of these parents are not economic illegals but rather foreign nationals seeking asylum in the United States—but regardless . . .

As an American, a parent and a pastor these border practices break my heart on several different levels. But what really disturbs me is the use of Christian Scriptures by government officials (Sessions and Sanders) to justify this incredibly inhumane policy. 

Scripture scholar John Dominique Crossan once told me that when one takes verses of Scripture out of context one ends up with pretext. In other words, when we carelessly rip parts of the Bible out of their historical context we most often end up with erroneous and careless interpretations.

Romans 13:1 reads as follows: “Let every person be subject to the governing authorities; for there is no authority except from God, and those authorities that exist have been instituted by God.”

In a recent blog author Kurt Willems writes that Romans 13:1 is not a verse of Scripture that can “be used to give government structures a blank ethical check.” 

This verse of Scripture has a long and repeated history of being used to do justify unethical and immoral government policies—so not much has changed over the years. 

Allow me to make a few brief observations relative to this oft misunderstood verse written by the Apostle Paul: 

First, Romans 13 must be read and interpreted through the lens of Romans 12 (which Sessions apparently has not done). Romans 12 actually describes what being a follower of Jesus actually looks like, as one faithfully lives within a non-christian environment such as the Roman Empire of Paul’s day. 

Second, the Christians to whom Paul was writing lived under the constant threat of government persecution (Nero) and being a Christian during that time meant risking personal harm or even death by an unsympathetic government. So Paul understood the practicality of being an obedient citizen, if for no other reason than not to arouse the ire of the government officials. 

Third, there did come a time in Paul’s life when he was compelled to be faithful to his convictions and was thus executed by the same government he earlier suggested that Christians obey. Those quick to quote Romans 13:1 in order to justify the government’s unethical and immoral policies rarely consider this historical fact. 

  

Finally, I object to the way some Evangelical interpreters use Romans 13 to justify their personal support of any political party or administration policy: 

Romans 13 does not teach total Christian compliance to unethical or immoral government behaviors.

Neither does it teach blind compliance to any secular government. 

Christian pastors have an obligation to teach their congregations the contextual truth about Romans 13:1. Regardless of the pastor’s political leanings it is incumbent upon him or her to call out government officials who continue to misuse our Scriptures in order to advance a political agenda—especially one as immoral as the current immigration policy seems to be.

In fact, Attorney General Jeff Session’s own church (the United Methodist Church) issued a statement in quick response to his improper use Romans 13:1 to justify separating children from their parents:

Jesus is our way, our truth, our life. The Christ we follow would have no part in ripping children from their mothers' arms or shunning those fleeing violence. It is unimaginable that faith leaders even have to say that these policies are antithetical to the teachings of Christ.

Christian sacred texts should never be used to justify policies that oppress or harm children and families (The United Methodist Church). 

Children should never to be used as political pawns—for any reason. It’s unethical and immoral and such policy is antithetical to the heart of the Christian Gospel. 

Period!

Let us pray that our government will immediately cease separating these children from their parents, while reuniting those who have already been separated. 

Nothing less is acceptable.