Jeff Sessions and Romans 13

19 Jun, 2018 by Barry 3 Comments

I have no tolerance for Bible idolatry, and a similar tolerance of the current US administration, so when Jeff Sessions quotes the Bible to justify the inhumanity of separating children from their parents at American borders, I can’t stay silent.

Firstly, how can an administration of a country that supposedly is neutral on the matter of religion, quote any “holy” text to justify its actions? Why the Bible and not the Quran,  Shreemad Bhagavad Gita, Tripitakas, Kojiki, Agamas, or Kitáb-i-Aqdas? Come to think of it, what defines a “holy” text? What’s wrong with using reason, compassion and common sense? These are “God given gifts” that we should be using at every opportunity.

Secondly, Sessions is selectively using a Biblical passage out of context. There’s a very good explanation of what Romans 13 is all about from a peace maker’s point of view over on Thinking Pacifism. I’m not a fan of Paul’s writing, as he was a man of his time, and in today’s context, much of it is out of place or simply wrong. A USA Today article gives further insight into the passage and shows how it has been used and abused in American history.

Whatever evangelical and fundamentalist American “Christians” believe the message of Jesus of Nazareth is, it most certainly is not supporting or obeying unjust laws.