Megachurch Pastor Rev. Robert Jeffress gave President Donald Trump, leader of the free world, his blessing to wipe out North Korea, citing the book of Romans during his released statement he said “In the case of North Korea, God has given Trump authority to take out Kim Jong-Un.”
“When it comes to how we should deal with evil doers, the Bible, in the book of Romans, is very clear,” Jeffress said in a statement. “God has endowed rulers full power to use whatever means necessary – including war — to stop evil.”
As Written By Phillip Wegmann for the Washington Examiner:
Both as a matter of theology and politics, this should be disturbing. It’s well and good to acknowledge the Christian scriptural tenet that, in principle, war can be justifiable in certain cases. But this alone can’t be the basis for “taking out” a particular ruler or making specific policy decision about a specific war.
After all, declaring war in this democracy requires a president to go to Congress. Laying out a fleece just isn’t enough of a justification for regime change.
As a proof text for aggression, the pastor points to Romans 13, which teaches that governments are “agents of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer.” But as soon as Jeffress cites Scripture for a mandate, he confronts the political-theological problem. Anyone basing their actions on the Biblical text must explain why that scripture is authoritative and according to what spiritual or state authority. The Quaker could read Romans and call for peace while a Catholic’s priest could read Romans and call for a crusade. Who decides which world leaders are the wrongdoers and which are the “agents of wrath?” Even for those who draw on and follow universal principles from scripture, particular cases require human judgment.
God doesn’t give Trump authority to take out Kim Jong Un, Pastor Jeffress. Congress does
