Re: [MLUG - DISCUSSION] [POLITICS][RELIGION] Billy Graham and the Presidents

[Mike Miller <EMAIL:PROTECTED>]

On Mon, 3 Sep 2007, Stephen Montgomery-Smith wrote:

> Mike Miller wrote:
> > On Mon, 3 Sep 2007, Stephen Montgomery-Smith wrote:
> >
> > > Mike Miller wrote:
> > >
> > > > Apparently, this is what the Bible says in Romans 13:1:
> > > >
> > > >   Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there
> > > >   is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities
> > > >   that exist have been established by God.
> > > >
> > > > Putting that together with what you are saying, this means that in 
> > > > Christian theology, God gave Hitler his authority and by following 
> > > > Hitler, the Nazi soldiers were following the will of God.  That's 
> > > > pretty sick and crazy in my book.  I know there are plenty of good 
> > > > things in Christianity, but this kind of authoritarianism isn't one of 
> > > > them.
> > [snip]
> > > Your interpretation of Romans 13:1 is essentially correct. Nevertheless 
> > > this does not conflict with the notion that what Hitler and the Nazis 
> > > did was very wicked and wrong.
> >
> > Sure, but isn't the problem with this verse that it is telling the people 
> > to follow their leader even if the leader is wicked and wrong? 
>
> No.  Read some books before you comment on stuff you don't understand. 
> (Clue: your interpretation is clearly in violation with other parts of 
> scripture.)

It is well-known that the Bible is riddled with self-contradictions.  I'm 
not surprised to hear that I would have to read "some books" to get a clue 
about what it all means.

I think the verse stands pretty clearly on its own.  It can be 
contradicted in other parts of the Bible, but there is no denying what it 
says.  There are lots of things in the Bible that seem really crazy and 
hard to justify.

Mike

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