“Let his children be continually vagabonds, and beg”

Last updated on: October 7, 2020 at 5:43 am by Libby Anne

“Let his children be continually vagabonds, and beg” 2020-10-06T12:44:45-04:00 Libby Anne

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

While conservative evangelicals claim to take the Bible literally, there are many, many, many instances where they don’t. And it can get very very strange. Let’s have a quick look at one example.

Andre Henry, formerly of Relevant Magazine, frequently takes on white evangelicals—including those he has worked alongside or among—for their racial insensitivity, both within the workplace (something he has experienced) and in how they interpret the Bible.

Have a look at this tweet, for instance:

https://twitter.com/andrehenry/status/1312774826612858881

Someone told him that Paul commanded early Christians to pray for Caesar. Interestingly, this is actually not true. Paul nowhere commands this. Paul told the early Christians to obey the government, yes, but even that was in a specific context: they were members of a small new religious movement living under a non-democratically elected authoritarian government. Obeying the government was the best way to stay out of trouble. Paul nowhere tells early Christians to pray for Caesar.

Now, the Bible does sometimes command people to pray for their leaders. This seems to be what conservatives are drawing on to argue that all Christians must pray for the president’s recovery. However, as Henry notes in an article for Religion News Service, the Bible also sometimes commands the exact opposite:

The Bible at times encourages us not to intercede for others. “How long will you mourn for Saul,” God asks the prophet Samuel, referring to the deposed king of Israel, “seeing I have rejected him from reigning over Israel?” As the Israelites await deportation by Nebuchadnezzar’s imperial forces, God tells the prophets not to pray for Israel’s king or people because it won’t make a difference: “Do not pray for this people or offer any plea or petition for them, because I will not listen.” It was time for them to face the consequences of their actions.

Perhaps the best example of this is Psalm 109, which I think is worth looking at at length:

1 Hold not thy peace, O God of my praise;

2 For the mouth of the wicked and the mouth of the deceitful are opened against me: they have spoken against me with a lying tongue.

3 They compassed me about also with words of hatred; and fought against me without a cause.

4 For my love they are my adversaries: but I give myself unto prayer.

5 And they have rewarded me evil for good, and hatred for my love.

6 Set thou a wicked man over him: and let Satan stand at his right hand.

7 When he shall be judged, let him be condemned: and let his prayer become sin.

8 Let his days be few; and let another take his office.

9 Let his children be fatherless, and his wife a widow.

10 Let his children be continually vagabonds, and beg: let them seek their bread also out of their desolate places.

11 Let the extortioner catch all that he hath; and let the strangers spoil his labour.

12 Let there be none to extend mercy unto him: neither let there be any to favour his fatherless children.

13 Let his posterity be cut off; and in the generation following let their name be blotted out.

That’s … harsh. But it is in the Bible!

Whether this psalm was written by David or by some other early Israelite leader, the import is clear: the author is calling down God’s wrath on his enemies, in stark terms. Phrases like “love your enemies” and “pray for those who persecute you” were written down much later, by the authors of the gospels.

If evangelicals spent more time grappling with the contradictions between these various passages, I would have more respect for their scholarship, but as it is, they rarely even acknowledge that there are contradictions. Instead, they choose whatever passage or interpretation is most convenient for them at the time, and then throw that one out there as though it is unchanging truth.

And frankly, I’m tired of it.

White evangelicals and other conservatives need to take a step back and realize that the Bible offers many different models for approaching one’s enemies or one’s leaders. People can decide for themselves how and whether they want to pray for President Trump, but if one person refuses to pray for his healing or another prays for him to actually suffer, their words are completely in line with the traditions laid out in the Bible.

Personally, I’d rather follow my own moral compass, which does not center on deciphering an ancient text. But that is neither here nor there.

I have a Patreon! Please support my writing!

Uncategorized

Previous Post

October 6, 2020

Republicans Have Become the Party of Death

Next Post

October 8, 2020 VP Debate Rundown and Open Thread

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Atheism Evangelicalism/Fundamentalism Family Feminism Homeschool Meta Parenting Patriarchy Politics Purity Quiverfull Social Justice Uncategorized Worthwhile reads

Select a Month February 2021 January 2021 December 2020 November 2020 October 2020 September 2020 August 2020 July 2020 June 2020 May 2020 April 2020 March 2020 February 2020 January 2020 December 2019 November 2019 October 2019 September 2019 August 2019 July 2019 June 2019 May 2019 April 2019 March 2019 February 2019 January 2019 December 2018 November 2018 October 2018 September 2018 August 2018 July 2018 June 2018 May 2018 April 2018 March 2018 February 2018 January 2018 December 2017 November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012 April 2012 March 2012 February 2012 January 2012 December 2011 November 2011 October 2011 September 2011 August 2011 July 2011 June 2011

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

I climbed a tree to see Jesus passing by because I was short in stature and curious about this teacher. Who perched in the branches?

Select your answer to see how you score.

Matthew Bartimaeus Zacchaeus Nicodemus