Is Romans 13 the Best Text for this Situation?

 Much has been said in the past couple of days about Attorney General Jeff Session’s comments referencing the Apostle Paul’s words in Romans 13.  Paul gives instructions in this text about obeying the government because they are given their authority by God and worthy of respect.  
 
This is most certainly true. Before you write it off as being ridiculous, go and learn more about the Roman government that is in power as Paul is writing this.  You’ll discover that he’s living under an emperor who is violently anti-Christian and this is not a reference to simply Christian governments.  
 
However, while the command for respecting our government is true, I’m not sure if that is the most helpful place to go in Scripture when talking about the way that we treat other people. 
 
If Christians are going to invoke scripture when discussing policy and especially policies related to the treatment of other human beings, might we also consider:
 

•  “Which commandment is the most important of all?”  Jesus answered, “The most important is, ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’The second is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.”(Mark 12:28-31)

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• And behold, a lawyer stood up to put him to the test, saying, “Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?” He said to him, “What is written in the Law? How do you read it?” And he answered, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself.” And he said to him, “You have answered correctly; do this, and you will live.” But he, desiring to justify himself, said to Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?” Jesus replied, “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and he fell among robbers, who stripped him and beat him and departed, leaving him half dead. Now by chance a priest was going down that road, and when he saw him he passed by on the other side. So likewise a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. But a Samaritan, as he journeyed, came to where he was, and when he saw him, he had compassion. He went to him and bound up his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he set him on his own animal and brought him to an inn and took care of him. And the next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper, saying, ‘Take care of him, and whatever more you spend, I will repay you when I come back.’ Which of these three, do you think, proved to be a neighbor to the man who fell among the robbers?” He said, “The one who showed him mercy.” And Jesus said to him, “You go, and do likewise.”(Luke 10:25-37)

 

• Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.’ Then the righteous will answer him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.’ Matthew 25:34-40

 
 
Having laws are important. God has instituted government and given it authority for good order and keeping the peace.  However, as Christians we are called to love our neighbor as much as we love ourselves and to care for those who we find around us. We really have no excuse not to do this. 

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