Posted on 11/25/2014 6:34:19 AM PST by Biggirl
In light of what has happened last night in Ferguson, this passage of scripture came to mind:
Romans 13:1-7
"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. 2 Therefore whoever resists authority resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment. 3 For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. Do you wish to have no fear of the authority? Then do what is good, and you will receive its approval; 4 for it is God’s servant for your good. But if you do what is wrong, you should be afraid, for the authority[a] does not bear the sword in vain! It is the servant of God to execute wrath on the wrongdoer. 5 Therefore one must be subject, not only because of wrath but also because of conscience. 6 For the same reason you also pay taxes, for the authorities are God’s servants, busy with this very thing. 7 Pay to all what is due them—taxes to whom taxes are due, revenue to whom revenue is due, respect to whom respect is due, honor to whom honor is due."
The blacks hate the police, so why should they get in harms way to protect what their feral youth are burning and looting? Can't have it both ways!
I know the bible is the word of God and all, but what we are seeing here is the words of Paul, to a church. Paul was inspired by God,no doubt, but what about the scripture about women not speaking in church, and hair length of men and women?
Etc.
IOW, much of his advice was cultural. Now, this thinking can be applied to his teaching on homosexuality, marriage (recommended against it) and other issues as well, so I need to be clear that I am merely asking the questions, not providing answers.
It can be argued that our founding fathers very much violated Romans 13 and this nation was born in sin. But what of those hiding Jews in Nazi Germany?
Romans 13 is one of the most difficult chapters in the bible for me personally.
There’s a lot there to unpack. I would expect that the British were quoting that to the Americans in the 18th century.
**The blacks hate the police, so why should they get in harms way to protect what their feral youth are burning and looting? Can’t have it both ways!**
Give them a couple of weeks. They’ll be howling because there is no place to shop. And that is rassis.
Give them a couple of weeks. They’ll be howling because there is no place to shop. And that is rassis.
Nor any police protection.
Further, I’m sure there are liberals who would use this passage to condemn opponents of Obama. We should be very careful using such scripture in judgement of others when we, ourselves, have issues with a lawless administration that abuses their executive authority.
Are governments instruments of good when it is held by men of evil? Will they reward those who do good as Paul claims?
I’m not bothered by Ferguson because these aren’t as much the citizens of Ferguson but professional agitators bused in from elsewhere. They are like a locust plague of Alinskis who will move on to their next protest as soon as they’ve exhausted their rage here.
In this case, the police and the Guard are like parents quietly watching their children throw a tantrum. It will settle down soon enough but, unfortunately, the citizens of Ferguson are the ones suffering in their smoldering ashes. Pray for them.
One has to grapple with the fact that the Biblical instructions related to human government are in the context of monarchy - Caesar; the King.
Hierarchy was the cultural norm. Obedience was the glue that held societies together in peace.
One of the harder passages of scripture indeed.
I don’t think Romans 13 advocates for an evil, oppressive or genocidal government.
He wrote this while he was under one of the most oppressive governments to ever exist. It served Christians & Christianity no purpose to act like Ferguson protesters or “palestinians”. It’s how Christianity spread like wildfire during this time, because of their humble reactions to everything thrown at them. You don’t win converts by counter-attacking do you?
Romans 13:3 “For rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but for those who do wrong. Do you want to be free from fear of the one in authority? Then do what is right and you will be commended.”
Liberals don’t get to cherry-pick Bible verses when I argue with them. They love to quote Romans 13 when one of their own is in charge.
bttt
Paul refers to “authority”. What exactly does that mean? Does it refer to anyone who exercises governmental power, or only those who do so ‘legitimately’ (whatever that may mean)? And if legitimate “authority” can be distinguished from illegitimate exercise of power, who gets to decide what’s legitimate and what’s illegitimate?
My goal would be to make sure that I am using scripture to guide my life, even when (especially when?) the most appropriate scriptural guidance contradicts my instinctive response. Quite a bit of scripture supports disobedience to arbitrary or unreasonable rules, while just as much supports obedience. It's impossible to follow every passage simultaneously. Read Ecclesiastes 3. For everything there is a season.
If I dig through the Bible to find the passage that supports my goal ("Turn the other cheek"? No!! Not for this problem. I'll go Old Testament. I know I can find it there. Aha! "an eye for an eye", that's the one I want. Win!!!), then I am almost certainly aware that I am going against God's will. If I read thoughtfully to determine which passages provide the best decision for a given situation, then I am doing my job as a Christian - a follower of Jesus Christ.
Is there a ping list? They should be able to get this cleared up.
"For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power? do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise of the same:
For he is the minister of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil" (Rom 13:3-4 KJV)
The version quoted in this article mistranslates and makes "the authority" some kind of nebulous power that one does not exactly face, eyeball to eyeball. It minimizes the import that when you are resisting the individual law enforcement officer, you are not only doing something "bad" but evil, you are resisting the whole government that is behind him, and you are resisting a sworn officer who has the right to terminate your life, and likely will, if you keep trying to escalate in a way he cannot otherwise control.
KJV makes sure you understand this, which is the thought behind the Koine Greek it translates faithfully in this passage. Clearly, the black citizens of Ferguson have lost their fear of the minions of the law, taking them lightly.
What I meant to ask.
I guess governmental authority, although he could be talking about the Spiritual realm also. If we’re talking gov’t authority then we probably need to cross reference other Biblical verses:
1 Timothy 2:1-3
Titus 3:1
1 Peter 2:13-14
And finally....
Mark 12:17
I’m not advocating for an authoritarian gov’t. The simple rules of nature show that those don’t last long anyways. There’s not a thing that happens to us that God doesn’t allow to happen, since He controls it all. Maybe He doesn’t want us too concerned about the troubles of this world?
"Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God."
The higher powers, but not the highest power who is God Himself. Some use this passage to insist that we must bend the knee to the Obamas of the world even if they try to force use to oppose God! This is clearly ridiculous. These powers must themselves adhere to the law or face God's wrath which He doles out as He sees fit.
Frequently, some "progressive" Christians forget this passage:
"Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men." - Acts 5:29
When some tyrants seeks to remove your God-given rights, you are justified in opposing that tyrant since he is also in opposition to God, not in service to Him.
It would be wise to read, memorize, and apply to oneself Ecclesiastes 7:16-18, which fits every season:
"Be not righteous over much; neither make thyself over wise: why shouldest thou destroy thyself?
Be not over much wicked, neither be thou foolish: why shouldest thou die before thy time?
It is good that thou shouldest take hold of this; yea, also from this withdraw not thine hand: for he that feareth God shall come forth of them all."
Very clearly, the foolish parents of "children" Martin and Brown did not ingrain their upbringing with these basic life principles.
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