The Bat

The bat...Romans 13 has been repeatedly used to beat folk into submission and oppression. 

Let's talk about it...It's long, but overdue.

This passage of scripture has often been interpreted to mean that Christians must blindly obey the government with no dissent or questioning. 

It's been used as a bat by Christian leaders throughout history to ensure total and blind submission during turbulent and horrific times. For instance, it was used against slavery abolitionists, the Civil Rights Movement, opposition to Hitler in Nazi Germany, etc. 

Blind obedience and submission is not what that passage means for other scripture let's us know we shouldn't disobey...or rebrand (calling evil good and good evil)...God in our obedience to and support of man. 

In the Romans 13 passage of scripture, Paul says that rulers are not a terror to good works, but evil. You should be afraid if you do evil, not good. 

Context is important. Paul wrote those passages during the early part of Emperor Nero's reign. During that time, Nero was a tolerant ruler...kinda sorta. He did a lot of not good stuff--like murdering his own family members--but he wasn't targeting Christians then. 

When Jewish leaders in Caesarea wanted to kill Paul, he appealed to Nero for justice. Paul's life was spared and he was put under house arrest in Rome while he awaited trial. 

Think about it. Would Nero have helped Paul if he'd been firing off letters during his house arrest to Christians, calling Nero a murderer, tyrant, and self-indulgent ruler? 

I'm going to say this and some folk ain't gonna like it but it's the truth. Paul was a great man who was great because he allowed God to use him. BUT Paul was not a divine being walking on earth. He was flesh and blood just like you and me. He faced the same human struggles we do when making choices, acting, and keeping ourselves in check. He said himself, "I die daily." 

Anyhoo...it was like Paul was telling the Christians that even though the Emperor is doing stuff like killing his own family members, they didn't have to be scared. Just obey the laws and they'd be good. 

Paul was right...until he wasn't. 

After the Great Fire of Rome, Nero flipped the switch. A witness claimed Nero actually started the fire himself, but he blamed it on the Christians. 

Obey the laws of the land or not...submit to governmental authority or not...dissent to injustice or not, Nero slaughtered--torn apart by animals, crucified, and used as human torches--Christians, and he eventually killed Paul. 

Jesus wasn't blindly obedient to the governing laws. He told the disciples to render unto Ceasar that which is Ceasar's--pay your taxes, but He also pushed back when He was confronted about "breaking" Jewish law regarding the Sabbath. 

Jesus elevated spiritual authority and righteousness above governmental (secular) authority. 

We've been taught a lot of things by religious leaders throughout history for different reasons, some of which were not to help, instruct, or edify. It was to push and support agendas and personal preferences. 

The bat--scripture--has been/is being used by some to ensure submission, retain compliance, tighten control, and/or as a method of oppression. That is NOT God's way.

I'll wrap this up with learn to recognize the bat swings by knowing God's Word for yourself. 

Just keepin' it real...