RUTH BADER GINSBURG
SHOULD CHRISTIANS REJOICE OVER THE DEATH OF RUTH BADER GINSBURG?
Key Facts
Ruth Bader Ginsburg, associate justice of the Supreme Court of the United States, died of complications from cancer on September 18, 2020. [1]
Ginsburg was known for her ideologies of equality and her firm pro-choice stance. Gonzales v. Carhart, Ginsburg voted (although in the minority) in favor of partial birth abortion. [2]
Danielle Rae, a Christian political commentator, responded to the death of Ginsburg stating, “Ruth Bader Ginsburg died today and the country is mourning her death. But fake is not something I was ever good at. RBG was a second female SCOTUS. She accomplished many evils and will now be hailed as a wonderful, strong woman. But I will not praise her, only pray for her.” [3]
Bob Goff, a best-selling Christian author, responded with an alternative approach, stating “Thank you Ruth Bader GInsburg for living a truly exceptional life. There’s no love without justice and there’s no justice without love. You were filled to the brim with both.” [4]
Key Scriptures
1 Peter 2:17 “Honor all people, love the brotherhood, fear God, honor the king.”
Ezekiel 33:11 “Say to them, ‘As surely as I live, declares the Sovereign Lord, I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but rather that they turn from their ways and live. Turn! Turn from your evil ways! Why will you die, people of Israel?’”
Proverbs 24:17 “Do not rejoice when your enemy falls, And do not let your heart be glad when he stumbles;”
2 Peter 3:9 “The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance.”
Ephesians 4:15 “Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ.”
Ephesians 4:29 “Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear.”
Application
Christians in the media have responded to the death of Ruth Bader Ginsburg in a variety of ways. Due to their fervent disagreement with her stances, some have praised the end of her term (and even the end of her life). These Christians may be recalling to mind some of the decisions that she made as a justice which are starkly contrary to the Christian worldview. Most notable of these opinions was Ginsburg’s belief that all women have a right to an abortion. Other Christians have remembered her fervent fight for the equality of women and their fair treatment in the workplace leading them to grieve the death of Ginsburg. How should Christians respond to the death of Ruth Bader Ginsburg as they attempt to sift through the positive and negative aspects of her time as a justice?
The Complexity of an Individual
When evaluating any person or historical figure, we should neither ignore their weaknesses and faults nor should we forget to acknowledge their strengths and virtues. When people are seeking to advance a political argument, it becomes easy to overlook either the good or the bad of a political leader depending what best serves that agenda. However, Christians are called to pursue truth above agendas (Eph. 4:25), which means being able to speak to both sides of a person’s life without dismissing one side or the other. It may require critical engagement and deliberate conversation to address the death of Ginsburg more holistically, but an oversimplified account is not reflective of the whole truth.
What Does the Bible Say?
There are a few Bible verses that we can use as a guide to navigating the various levels of response (public, personal, political) to the death of Ginsburg.
What should our personal attitude be?
2 Peter 3:9 teaches us that God wishes for all to come to repentance and into a saving relationship with him. As Christians, God’s love for His people should guide how we respond to the death of someone created in his image. We should mourn the death of someone who appears not to have been saved. Additionally, we believe that God’s kingdom is not of this world (John 18:36). To view RBG’s death primarily through a political lens rather than a spiritual one undermines our Christian worldview. Our first allegiance is to God and this means we love what he loves and hate what he hates. God does not want any to die in sin (Ezekiel 18:23). Neither should we rejoice in the death of an unsaved person. Political motivations should not be our first response because that suggests that we are primarily citizens of our earthly country whereas the Bible says we are first and foremost citizens of heaven (Phil. 3:20).
How should we respond publicly?
We are to be discerning about what speech we use, avoiding corrupting talk and being assured that it fits the occasion (Eph. 4:19). This means that discernment is key regarding how we respond on various platforms like social media and in our daily conversations. For example, a conversation about policy between you and a friend from church during this time may be okay. However, it may not always be wise to post on social media about one’s excitement for a new supreme court justice as we consider all the recipients of that message. To some, it could be perceived as rejoicing at the death of a political opponent. Christians must use discernment in their conversations and communication in order to best be a light during this time (Acts 13:47).
How should we evaluate the political implications?
We are called to speak the truth in love, which means neither compromising on our love for others or the truth that we know. Even as we mourn the loss of Ginsburg, we can and should clearly state that many of her decisions as a Justice were contrary to the Scriptures and unconscionable for Christians. For example, her pro-abortion stances promoted the exploitation of women and the extermination of babies in the womb. We should always speak out against and stand up for those who are being victimized. This is an important role as Christians love those around them.
Conclusion
We are called to honor all people (1 Pet. 2:17). This includes those who we may not deem worthy. While we recognize and speak against the injustices permitted and continued by Ginsburg, we should remember that our primary responses should reflect our primary citizenship in heaven. Although political change to protect the vulnerable is a great thing that each Christian should fervently strive for (Prov. 31:8-9), it should not come before our love for God and the desire that each person should come to a saving knowledge of Him.