Saturday, June 16, 2018

Suffer the little children

Nothing illustrates the complete moral and intellectual bankruptcy of Donald Trump's supporters, apologists, and enablers better than Jeff Sessions's Biblical justification for separating children from their families:
“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,” Sessions said during a speech to law enforcement officers in Fort Wayne, Ind. “Orderly and lawful processes are good in themselves. Consistent and fair application of the law is in itself a good and moral thing, and that protects the weak and protects the lawful.”
Perhaps Sessions has forgotten that the Holocaust was conducted entirely in accordance with German law?  Or that American slavery was likewise according to law (and Biblically justified by the very same passage that Sessions invoked)?  Or that Otto Warmbier was tortured to death in strict accordance with North Korean law?  Or is he seriously suggesting that it is the Will of God that we meekly accept these atrocities?

I'm frankly surprised that Sessions decided to invoke Romans rather than Mark.  After all, Jesus himself says that the little children should suffer.  If you're going to pervert the message of the Bible why not go all-in?

2 comments:

Publius said...

"Suffer" can mean "Allow"

I was going to go to bed, but then I happened about a particiularly noxious piece of your prose:

>After all, Jesus himself says that the little children should suffer.

Jesus does not say that in Mark 10:13-16:

The Little Children and Jesus
13 People were bringing little children to Jesus for him to place his hands on them, but the disciples rebuked them. 14 When Jesus saw this, he was indignant. He said to them, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. 15 Truly I tell you, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.” 16 And he took the children in his arms, placed his hands on them and blessed them.

The above is the New International Version translation; it doesn't have "Suffer the little children to come unto me, ..." -- that phrase is from the King James Version. In this sentence, "suffer" means "allow". "Suffer the little children" is one of two english phrases that one might hear that uses the word "suffer" to mean "allow".

Recap: Jesus does not say little children should suffer in Mark 10:13-16. In fact, he gathers them in his arms and blesses them.

Ron said...

> Jesus does not say that

Yes, I know that. That was actually the whole point.