Justification
(Published June 17, 2018)
Not since my days in Bible College have I seen so much passion over a single passage of scripture.
Much has been written, debated, and discussed about Romans 13 since our Attorney General quoted (the beginning of) the chapter as a defense of our country’s immigration policy. There were pieces in both the New York Times and The Atlantic, offering a historical perspective on how the verse has been used to promote both obedience to the King of England and the American Revolution. And how it’s been used to justify support of Nazism, Apartheid, and slavery.
It was reviewed ad nauseam on cable television, with some networks devoting significant resources to the debate while others remained conspicuously silent.
Then there is my own perspective. I may not use my Biblical Studies major as much as I once thought I would, but that doesn’t mean the skill set is lost. As a former southern baptist pastor of mine used to regularly point out, it is important to remember that the Bible is both a holy scripture — and a culture document. In the case of the New Testament book of Romans, we have a letter written to a specific group of people at a specific moment in history. And while there is much we can learn from it today, that history is part of the lesson. The author, Paul, was speaking to a group of Christians being persecuted by the Empire. And this passage serves a warning — to respect the rule of law so as to not end up jailed or executed; much as Jesus says in Matthew 22, “Then render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s; and to God the things that are God’s.”
To turn this passage into the justification of ANY government action, takes said passage out of context. Especially, when only a handful of verses from the chapter (or complete thought) are invoked.
In it’s entirety, Romans 13 goes on to reference the Ten Commandments, with particular emphasis on “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” Adding in verse 10, “Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.” We then see Paul issue a challenge to “put on the armor of light” and live as examples.
Tell me then, how this verse justifies the current administrations immigration policy? How we can quote Paul to add validity to separating children from their parents and locking them in cages?
The most devastating part of this story I saw play out on social media, with a Facebook user posting a photo of a detained child and asking Trump supporters if they were okay with this. The responses ranged from “smash his little fingers with a bat so he won’t hold the cage damn it!!” To “fuck no, the little fucker is still breathing.” Matthew 25:31–46? No. The New Colossus? No. This is us.
For anyone following along, I have been extremely critical of the community in which I was raised over the past 18 months. In my opinion, they’ve fallen down on the job — choosing short-term issue driven gains over the long term moral and spiritual health of our nation.
Then came the response to our immigration practices. From the (amazing) resolution from the Southern Baptist Convention, to the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, to the Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism. From evangelical leaders like Franklin Graham to members of the President’s own Evangelical Council, to Cardinals and Rabbi’s, have come a strong and pointed rebuke of the “disgraceful” act of separating children from their parents.
This is a specific issue, at a specific moment in history — and the world, and our children, and their children are watching. I applaud all, even those with whom I regularly disagree, who have stood up against this unconscionable act and demanded that we do better.
If there is one constant in the universe, regardless of your moral, political, or spiritual beliefs, it is that we must always do better. May we continue to find common ground, continue to challenge each other, and continue to live as examples — of the best humanity can be, together.
(Photo by Wellington Rodrigues)
