PPPEs
I have some political pet peeves. No, let me correct that---I have a LOT but the top two would be when believers say: “We must submit to authorities” or “Magpray ka na lang.” Let’s start with the second first and with a challenge.
Read the entire Old Testament. No, don’t skim through it, don’t scan it. Read it book by book, chapter by chapter, verse by verse, and word for word. You will see how God called out injustice and what you won’t see is prophets saying, “Magpray ka na lang.” This is a pet peeve not only because it betrays a lack of understanding of a running Old Testament theology but it implies that the “other” side is not praying. Believe me, I do pray for the government every single day and it’s not imprecatory in nature for I go down with it if it fails in its mandate.
What also irks me is when the same people who tell us to “pray na lang” don’t even follow the news.
“I am not interested.”
“So what do you pray for?”
“Yun salvation nila.”
“Yeah,” I say in agreement. “Because God loves them and does not want them to perish but have everlasting life but what else?”
“Busy ako. Walang time.” Surely we must make time for things that matter.
“Ayoko ng negative.” And we do?
“Toxic.” Which is why all the more we need to follow and know how to pray for it specifically. But the next one takes the cake for me.
“I read the more important news---the religious news.” When it comes to things that matter, there is no hierarchy. It is not an either-or thing. Yes, “religious news” is important as it helps us to pray for people in other places especially the unreached and the persecuted but politics has a spillover. It was politics that prevented a travel ban back in January and now we find our income slowly depleting as we disinfect like crazy.
Now let’s go to Romans 13. Yes, Paul did tell us to submit, and yes, it was in reference to one of the most notorious emperors to have ever lived. But you know what? Paul never said, “Proud NNS ako.” He never defended Nero’s actions by misusing the Torah. And he never hobnobbed with him “para makawitness sa kanya” even though Paul had all the pedigree to easily gain a position of power and influence.
Then sometimes this passage is misquoted as saying that to go against the government is to go against God Himself. Note that it actually says "what God has established." (v.2 NIV)
Yes, "we are called to submit to authorities" but let us remember that having a different opinion expressed in a peaceful manner is not being unsubmissive.
As much as we are all entitled to our own opinion, the same does not go for how we use Scriptures. If we (which includes and especially yours truly) must quote the Word to back up our political convictions, let us tread carefully lest we misrepresent it and have to answer for it before the Living Word.
I have some political pet peeves. No, let me correct that---I have a LOT but the top two would be when believers say: “We must submit to authorities” or “Magpray ka na lang.” Let’s start with the second first and with a challenge.
Read the entire Old Testament. No, don’t skim through it, don’t scan it. Read it book by book, chapter by chapter, verse by verse, and word for word. You will see how God called out injustice and what you won’t see is prophets saying, “Magpray ka na lang.” This is a pet peeve not only because it betrays a lack of understanding of a running Old Testament theology but it implies that the “other” side is not praying. Believe me, I do pray for the government every single day and it’s not imprecatory in nature for I go down with it if it fails in its mandate.
What also irks me is when the same people who tell us to “pray na lang” don’t even follow the news.
“I am not interested.”
“So what do you pray for?”
“Yun salvation nila.”
“Yeah,” I say in agreement. “Because God loves them and does not want them to perish but have everlasting life but what else?”
“Busy ako. Walang time.” Surely we must make time for things that matter.
“Ayoko ng negative.” And we do?
“Toxic.” Which is why all the more we need to follow and know how to pray for it specifically. But the next one takes the cake for me.
“I read the more important news---the religious news.” When it comes to things that matter, there is no hierarchy. It is not an either-or thing. Yes, “religious news” is important as it helps us to pray for people in other places especially the unreached and the persecuted but politics has a spillover. It was politics that prevented a travel ban back in January and now we find our income slowly depleting as we disinfect like crazy.
Now let’s go to Romans 13. Yes, Paul did tell us to submit, and yes, it was in reference to one of the most notorious emperors to have ever lived. But you know what? Paul never said, “Proud NNS ako.” He never defended Nero’s actions by misusing the Torah. And he never hobnobbed with him “para makawitness sa kanya” even though Paul had all the pedigree to easily gain a position of power and influence.
Then sometimes this passage is misquoted as saying that to go against the government is to go against God Himself. Note that it actually says "what God has established." (v.2 NIV)
Yes, "we are called to submit to authorities" but let us remember that having a different opinion expressed in a peaceful manner is not being unsubmissive.
As much as we are all entitled to our own opinion, the same does not go for how we use Scriptures. If we (which includes and especially yours truly) must quote the Word to back up our political convictions, let us tread carefully lest we misrepresent it and have to answer for it before the Living Word.