Did you miss the irony of a government official quoting Romans 13 to church leaders?
It happened because church leaders have called into question the US government’s policy of separating children from their parents. In Canada we have already seen the devastating impact and trauma caused by en masse policies of separating children from their parents. In fact, as a people we are slowly coming to terms with reality: The willful division of families as an effort to demoralize and project power on the bodies and psyche of another people is wrong.
The claim to ecclesial power and divine permission, even divine mandate, for such immorality is nothing new. So the church probably should not be surprised by the current claim by Jeff Sessions that they are wrong. That’s why he recently leaned on Romans13 to squash the mouths and conscience of church leaders. He may as well try to silence God.
Not surprised, but not taken in?
Romans 13. The bible does indeed say “be subject to the governing authorities.”
1Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. 2Consequently, whoever rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves. 3For 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. 4For the one in authority is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for rulers do not bear the sword for no reason. They are God’s servants, agents of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer. 5Therefore, it is necessary to submit to the authorities, not only because of possible punishment but also as a matter of conscience.6This is also why you pay taxes, for the authorities are God’s servants, who give their full time to governing. 7Give to everyone what you owe them: If you owe taxes, pay taxes; if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor. Romans 13:1-7
But, Romans 13 is a more subversive text than the civil leader and the casual reader of Scripture may realize. And herein is the irony. Sessions is using the Apostle Paul’s letter a church immersed in tension. They were a diverse church that gathered in homes under the watchful eye of Rome in the first century. The Gentile and Jewish background members of these congregations were familiar with the push and pull of the Empire. These congregations had probably been impacted by Emperor Claudius’ edict forcing Jews to leave Rome. Before the edict the churches likely had a strong Jewish cultural flavour and ethos. However, with the edict a more Gentile / Roman and Hellenized ethos prevailed in the congregations. Then in AD 54, the edict lapsed and the Jews began to return to Rome. This would have included Jewish Christians who would have found a gap between their expectations and their experience in the congregations of Rome. This conflict is the occasion of Paul’s letter to the Romans.
Paul expresses a pastoral concern for how these two cultural streams of Christians are going to get along with each other and with an Empire that has a love/hate relationship with them. Even as these believers declare, “Jesus is Lord” Paul seems to want to help them figure out how to be citizens and residents of Rome. He is helping them enter the tension between “Jesus is Lord” and Ceasar as the head of the empire. Romans 13 then does indeed affirm the gift of governance that maintains a civil society and the believer’s responsibility to the civil authorities. But Romans 13 also affirms a higher call and way: the call of Christ and the way of love. Paul continues on Romans 13:
Romans 13:8-148Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for whoever loves others has fulfilled the law. 9The commandments, “You shall not commit adultery,” “You shall not murder,” “You shall not steal,” “You shall not covet,” and whatever other command there may be, are summed up in this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” Love does no harm to a neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.11And do this, understanding the present time: The hour has already come for you to wake up from your slumber, because our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed. 12The night is nearly over; the day is almost here. So let us put aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light. 13Let us behave decently, as in the daytime, not in carousing and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and debauchery, not in dissension and jealousy. 14Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the flesh.
So whenever Christians hear someone call out, “Hey you, be subject to the governing authorities,” these same believers must also hear loudly in their consciences, “Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another.” When someone says, “Hey you, shut up and be subject to the governing authorities. Remember God gave us to you,” then the believers must also hear the Spirit of God say, “Love your neighbour as yourself. Love does no harm to a neighbour. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.”
For the true believer trained by the Word of Jesus, any mention of Romans 13 is code for “Clothe yourself with the Lord Jesus Christ.”
So why speak up? Why show up? Why can’t love just be quiet? Yes, sometimes, even most of the time, love must act quietly. However, at the intersection of citizenship and followership is a person: that’s you and me. We are citizens of a country and we are following Jesus Christ as Lord. At that intersection our lives and decisions are political. Commenting and protesting immorality, even immoral policies, becomes necessary if we are truly to love our neighbour as Jesus envisioned “your neighbour.” Taking seriously Jesus’ words on the treatment of children and His call to be the true neighbour requires that we cry out for the respectful and non-violent treatment of all those who cross our borders.
Romans 13 : Clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ.
Very insightful words about how a believer is to conduct ourselves in relationship to government, people, and believers.