ENEMY OF THE STATE PART FIVE: THE ENEMY OF GOD (PART TWO)

The Letter of James serves to condemn Edward Snowden and his actions as an enemy of God. There is also a second Bible passage that explains how Snowden’s actions go against what a Christian and true servant of the Lord God is to do, found in the Letter to the Romans. For it is said in Romans 12, “Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them. Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. Live in harmony with one another; do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly; do not claim to be wiser than you are. Do not repay anyone evil for evil, but take thought for what is noble in the sight of all. If it is possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all… Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good” (Romans 12:14-18). Once again, for a host of reasons, Edward Snowden is not living his life as a servant to the Lord but rather as an enemy of God. Snowden certainly does not live by the guideline expressed in Romans 12, to “not claim to be wiser than you are” (Romans 12:16). He rather is often found singing his own praises, as he brags of his capabilities and power. For example, in an interview, he made note of what he considers a tremendous capacity for hacking as he said, "I, sitting at my desk, certainly had the authorities to wiretap anyone, from you, or your accountant, to a federal judge, to even the President if I had a personal email.” Self-important boasters like Snowden are not true servants of God, but rather His enemy. Snowden’s tendency for arrogance as well as his many other qualities that violate the guidelines set in Romans 12 make him not one who overcomes evil with good, but rather one who was overcome with the evils and sinful tendencies of human nature, and, thus, an enemy of God.