Surely we're not blind

Haiku for those who can see.

Who was the person

whose sin caused this man’s blindness?

Doesn’t work like that.

A miracle tale

as Jesus heals a blind man.

Much consternation!

The authorities

refuse to see the new thing

that God is doing.

Oppressive doctrine

is the cause of much blindness;

now, as it was then.

Blind authorities

still betray; they are captive

to lust and power.

Blindness all around.

We quite like this blissful state;

pretend innocence.

No, it wasn’t me;

I’ve not seen their suffering,

do not know their pain.

Surely we’re not blind!

If you were, you’d have no sin;

but your sin remains.

He comes seeking us;

the one who opens closed eyes.

Let us see, Jesus.

© Ken Rookes 2020

two realms???

"This passage has been understood by many people to say that there are two realms, those of politics and of religion. We should obey the state and obey God, and the two don’t overlap. Try telling that to Martin Luther King. Try telling that to Nelson Mandela. Try telling that to Dietrich Bonhoeffer and the confessing church in Hitler’s Germany.

It has been coupled with Romans 13, which has been used for centuries to justify passive obedience to the state, even when the state has been monstrous. How could Paul be referring to the state when he said that the authorities are put there by God, and whoever resists them resists God? (Rom 13:1-2) He lived under the brutal and murderous regime of Rome!

I would suggest that we re-read Romans 13 with a completely different understanding. Perhaps the “authorities” Paul is talking about are the leaders of the church. In the surrounding chapters Paul is talking about the marks of the true church and how we ought to live together in peace and love. I can hardly imagine Paul telling us to submit to anyone other than to God and to each other as Christians. It doesn’t appear to be about obeying governments at all. And neither is Matthew 22, where Jesus’ punch line is “Give to God what belongs to God.”"

http://laughingbird.net/ComingWeeks.html