Following the killing of Renee Good by an ICE agent, theologian Russell Moore warns that many Christians instinctively turn to Romans 13 to justify state violence and silence moral unease.
He argues this passage is often misused as a blanket defense of government power, despite its historical misuse to oppose movements like the American Revolution and civil rights protests.
Read in context, Romans 13 follows Paul’s call to reject vengeance, bless persecutors, and overcome evil with good. The passage affirms legitimate authority but also places moral limits on power, holding rulers accountable for wrongdoing.
Using Romans 13 to avoid questioning injustice, Moore contends, distorts Scripture rather than honoring it.
