I…am…typing…this…post…really…slowly…so…that…the…NSA…can…follow…it…better…in…real…time.
Forget it.
Why should I make it easier for them to spy on me?
Okay, in case you haven’t guessed yet, I want to draw your attention to the NSA/PRISM/Phone/Internet spying scandal currently rocking the nation. I’m not going to go back through the story with you—just hit Google up for it if you don’t already know what I’m talking about—instead, let’s talk about how the Church should respond.
The Church’s Response
We’ve talked before about whether we should support “hacktivists,” like Anonymous, but this is shades different. This is our government—the “God-given” authorities—spying on innocent citizens. How do we respond to this in light of Romans 13:1-5:
1 Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. 2 Consequently, whoever rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves. 3 For rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but for those who do wrong. Do you want to be free from fear of the one in authority? Then do what is right and you will be commended. 4 For the one in authority is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for rulers do not bear the sword for no reason. They are God’s servants, agents of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer. 5 Therefore, it is necessary to submit to the authorities, not only because of possible punishment but also as a matter of conscience.
See, this is really difficult for me as anti-imperial, big-government-hating “Merican.” As a big fan of the Founding Fathers and…oh I don’t know…freedom and liberty, I find it really hard to submit to a government that has totally invaded my privacy and the privacy of my fellow citizens. Then again, this passage from Romans has Paul, who had been beaten by and would eventually be arrested, tried, and executed by the government, telling his readers to submit to a government that would soon be turned against them as well.
Hmmm. I just don’t know how to respond. Oh! I know who to ask!
Hey! NSA intern reading this blog post! What do you think about this? Just call me with your thoughts. I know you can get my number.
All joking aside, this is a serious issue, and before we get on Twitter and start calling for impeaching of politicians or imprisonment for traitors, let’s let God weigh in on the issue.
What are you hearing from God about the NSA scandal?
Brandt Hardin says
We’re finally seeing the true dangers of letting our civil liberties get compromised over the past decade. Under the guise of fighting terrorism, the Patriot Act was adopted WITHOUT public approval or vote just weeks after the events of 9/11. The laws are simply a means to spy on our own citizens and to detain and torture dissidents without trial or a right to council. Are we really living in this Orwellian society of Fear? Some say we’re at war with ourselves at http://dregstudiosart.blogspot.com/2011/09/living-in-society-of-fear-ten-years.html