About Jeff Sessions comment on Romans 13

Blog sort of by request. 

I was asked to offer the facts around a recent comment by US AG Jeff Sessions.

"I would cite you to the Apostle Paul and his clear and wise command in Romans 13 to obey the laws of the government because God has ordained the government for his purposes," Attorney General Jeff Sessions said.

He is right. To a point. He does not complete the thought.

"Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfilling of the law." Romans 13:10

Likewise, when a foreigner, who is not of your people Israel, comes from a far country for your name's sake (for they shall hear of your great name and your mighty hand, and of your outstretched arm), when he comes and prays toward this house, hear in heaven your dwelling place and do according to all for which the foreigner calls to you, in order that all the peoples of the earth may know your name and fear you, as do your people Israel, and that they may know that this house that I have built is called by your name. 1 Kings

GUMMINT ORDERS

Christians are to obey the government unless there is a direct contradiction between God's Word and man's law. If there is a contradiction, Christians must refuse to obey, even if it means their death. Christians may not fight against government punishment unless specifically ordered by God. Meshach, Shadrach and Abednego. Despite being innocent, Jesus gave himself over the government authorities, as have so many martyrs, because:

• The government ordered it.

• They refused to break God's law and thus were subject to man's law for that refusal.

Sessions is correct in what he says. According to the Bible, all government is ordained by God. Some people argue against this. Witness the ancient Jewish people subjugated by the Egyptians and made slaves with no rights, not even a right to life. Later in the Old Testament, the Jewish people were conquered by other peoples because they turned away from God. Witness in the New Testament, the conquering of the Holy Land by Roman invaders.

So. When Sessions says the above, he is correct. God gave government the power to do this. We are to obey.

Is this right? I say no. Is it fair? Again, I say no. Under the Bible is he correct? Yes. Does anyone have to like this? No. Does government have to be fair or right by my definition under the Bible? No.

CARING FOR THOSE FOLKS

The passages people quote against Sessions - saying the Bible tells us we should care for the widows, the orphans and the poor is also correct. However, this is instructions for people, NOT the government. Nowhere in the New Testament is the government ordered to do anything. The OT does sometimes. Exodus 12:49 There shall be one law for the native and for the stranger who sojourns among you. This is also qualified in other places in the Bible, see below.

The passages about accepting the foreigners into your midst, which the objectors also quote is also accurate, but not complete. 

These sections of the Bible also say the foreigner who comes to you must be accepted AND must assimilate into your culture. Also, this is a directive to people, not to government in the New Testament. In the OT it can be either or both.

Ezekiel 44:7: In addition to all your other detestable practices, you brought foreigners uncircumcised in heart and flesh into my sanctuary, desecrating my temple while you offered me food, fat and blood, and you broke my covenant.

Deuteronomy 18:9-14: 9 “When you enter the land that the Lord your God is about to give you, don’t learn the detestable practices of those nations there.10 There must never be found among you anyone who sacrifices[a] his son or daughter in fire, practices divination, interprets omens, practices sorcery, 11 casts spells, or who is a medium, an occultist, or a necromancer. 12 Whoever practices these things is detestable to the Lord, and the Lord your God will expel them before you because of these things. 13 You must be completely faithful to the Lord your God, 14 because those nations that you are about to dispossess listen to those who practice witchcraft and divination. But the Lord does not allow you to act this way.”

If the foreigner does not assimilate, he must still be treated fairly, but that is all.

“A foreigner residing among you who wants to celebrate the Lord’s Passover must have all the males in his household circumcised; then he may take part like one born in the land. No uncircumcised male may eat it. The same law applies both to the native-born and to the foreigner residing among you.” Exodus 12.

ORDAINED AND IN PLACE

In the Old Testament, God warned the Israelites what would happen if they got a man-directed government. God said if the people truly wanted a man-made government, then He would ONLY step in to take action against the government in very exceptional circumstances. He said it would not be pleasant. See the books of Judges and Chronicles for examples.

1 Samuel 8: He (Samuel) said, “This is what the king who will reign over you will claim as his rights: He will take your sons and make them serve with his chariots and horses, and they will run in front of his chariots. 12 Some he will assign to be commanders of thousands and commanders of fifties, and others to plow his ground and reap his harvest, and still others to make weapons of war and equipment for his chariots. 13 He will take your daughters to be perfumers and cooks and bakers.14 He will take the best of your fields and vineyards and olive groves and give them to his attendants. 15 He will take a tenth of your grain and of your vintage and give it to his officials and attendants. 16 Your male and female servants and the best of your cattle[c] and donkeys he will take for his own use. 17 He will take a tenth of your flocks, and you yourselves will become his slaves. 18 When that day comes, you will cry out for relief from the king you have chosen, but the Lord will not answer you in that day.” (empahsis mine)

Above, I tell you "Christians may not fight against government punishment unless specifically ordered by God." However, our form of government allows and encourages protests against government. There is no contradiction with God's word here.

We may protest. We may argue. This is legal under our secular laws. However, we must always respect that same government, including the current president, says God.

NO SEPARATION

Legislative bodies may be opened with prayer.

Nothing in the Constitution specifically calls for a separation of church and state. People misunderstand 1A. It only says Congress cannot establish a state religion. This is not separation. Religion, per Supreme Court decisions, may be a part of government. See decisions regarding prayer in schools, teaching the Bible as a religious matter in public schools 

And actually, a sizeable part of the law in the United States is based on Biblical principles, which are based on the Code of Hammurabi. Hammurabi is an excellent read.

As for Sessions quoting the Bible, anyone can quote the Bible. Doesn't make 'em right, wrong, informed or ignorant. Albeit any time a politician quotes the Bible I see that person as both ignorant and stupid.

1 John 3:17 ESV: "But if anyone has the world's goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God's love abide in him?"

In short, Sessions is correctly quoting the direct word of the Bible as a member of the government. As an individual, he is contravening the spirit of the Word of God. In this case, he is anot NOT acting as a Christian either personally or as a government official.

One more thing -

Individuals are to take in the foreigners IF they assimilate. If government says this is wrong, individuals must continue to do this, under God's word. If we are caught, then we are subject to punishment under Man's law.