Paul: Wrong on all authority from God

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This morning's reading from the Christian Scriptures is Romans 13:1-7. I imagine that the Republicans love this when they are in office and hate it when they are out. "Let every person be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except from God, and those authorities that exist have been instituted by God. Therefore, whoever resists authority resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment." I have to say that I think Paul is just plain wrong. I don't believe George W. Bush was appointed by God. And in fact I think it is my duty as a Christian to resist the war in Iraq, instituted by Mr. Bush. And it is my duty as a Christian to advocate for a more equal distribution of resources, something Bush and his allies clearly oppose. I believe I have to oppose "don't ask, don't tell," another Bush policy.

The very next paragraph (verses 8 to 10) says that the commandments are summed up in "love your neighbor as yourself." Here I think Paul is almost right, and I think that he contradicts what he just said. The Iraq war isn't loving our neighbor. "Don't ask, don't tell" isn't a loving policy. And we don't love our neighbor when we allow the government's economic policies to put him or her out of work. In Matthew 22 Jesus has a slightly different take: 36 "Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?" 37 Jesus replied: "'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' 40 All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments."

I don't think we love God with all our heart, all our soul, and all our mind when we support an unjust government.