God and Government, Episode 3
The third episode of our discussion on God and government begins NOW!
Let me begin this episode with a couple of objections that might be brought up by my fellow fundamentalists.
The first objection would be that Exodus 20 is speaking to just the Israelites and is not the ideal form of government for other nations in the era of Moses or the Old Testament age. This is certainly a viable issue.
My answer is to go back to the Old Testament and see how God treated other nations.
Often in the early history of Israel God commanded the Israelites to drive out the other nations that inhabited Canaan, which was the promised land of Israel (Jdg 1:1-2:10). God also promised to lead in this endeavor (Ex. 23:27-33). This was not only because these nations would corrupt Israel if left intact, but also because these nations do not obey God (Jdg 2:1-5). However, Israel failed on its side of the agreement. This led God to allow these nations to stay to be a snare to the people (Jdg. 2:4). We may not fully understand God's purpose for this punishment but we should understand that this was NOT ideal. The reason that God did not ask Israel to take over the world was because God believes in different people groups as divided up at the Tower of Babel (Gen. 11).
God also worked in the lives of some leaders who were defiant and arrogant even when a prophet was in their courts. Nebuchadnezzar thought that he was the best king ever because of his own accord (Dan. 4:28-33). God punished and humiliated Nebuchadnezzar for this abject pride. Nebuchadnezzar was forced to act like an animal for seven years! Why? Because he did not reverence the God of Exodus 20. Nebuchadnezzar realizes this fact and no longer worships himself in Dan. 4:34-37. Nebuchadnezzar would have been right at this point to set up a theocracy, but we do not see that happening which led to his Grandson* Belshazzar turning against God and ignoring the truth of God's prominence in heaven and earth. He also ignored that God planned to have Persia defeat him and set up a new empire (Dan. 5:1-29). This new empire set up a new leader, known as Darius. Darius was tempted to set himself up as the god of the land and did so by the law of the Medes and Persians. When he realized his sin, he repented, released Daniel (who was worshippping God like everyone should have been), and then made this decree:
"That in every dominion of my kingdom men tremble and fear before the God of Daniel: for he is the living God, and stedfast for ever, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed, and his dominion shall be even unto the end." (Dan. 6:26). Here Darius sets up a temporary theocracy. Sadly, this government is not followed by the later leaders of Babylon and Persia fell to Greece about 150 years later.
What does God require of nations? That their people obey God and serve Him forever and that their government enforce this behavior to the fullest extent of the law. This smacks in the face of libertarianism, Americanism, republicanism, democracy, socialism, and communism.
Let me begin this episode with a couple of objections that might be brought up by my fellow fundamentalists.
The first objection would be that Exodus 20 is speaking to just the Israelites and is not the ideal form of government for other nations in the era of Moses or the Old Testament age. This is certainly a viable issue.
My answer is to go back to the Old Testament and see how God treated other nations.
Often in the early history of Israel God commanded the Israelites to drive out the other nations that inhabited Canaan, which was the promised land of Israel (Jdg 1:1-2:10). God also promised to lead in this endeavor (Ex. 23:27-33). This was not only because these nations would corrupt Israel if left intact, but also because these nations do not obey God (Jdg 2:1-5). However, Israel failed on its side of the agreement. This led God to allow these nations to stay to be a snare to the people (Jdg. 2:4). We may not fully understand God's purpose for this punishment but we should understand that this was NOT ideal. The reason that God did not ask Israel to take over the world was because God believes in different people groups as divided up at the Tower of Babel (Gen. 11).
God also worked in the lives of some leaders who were defiant and arrogant even when a prophet was in their courts. Nebuchadnezzar thought that he was the best king ever because of his own accord (Dan. 4:28-33). God punished and humiliated Nebuchadnezzar for this abject pride. Nebuchadnezzar was forced to act like an animal for seven years! Why? Because he did not reverence the God of Exodus 20. Nebuchadnezzar realizes this fact and no longer worships himself in Dan. 4:34-37. Nebuchadnezzar would have been right at this point to set up a theocracy, but we do not see that happening which led to his Grandson* Belshazzar turning against God and ignoring the truth of God's prominence in heaven and earth. He also ignored that God planned to have Persia defeat him and set up a new empire (Dan. 5:1-29). This new empire set up a new leader, known as Darius. Darius was tempted to set himself up as the god of the land and did so by the law of the Medes and Persians. When he realized his sin, he repented, released Daniel (who was worshippping God like everyone should have been), and then made this decree:
"That in every dominion of my kingdom men tremble and fear before the God of Daniel: for he is the living God, and stedfast for ever, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed, and his dominion shall be even unto the end." (Dan. 6:26). Here Darius sets up a temporary theocracy. Sadly, this government is not followed by the later leaders of Babylon and Persia fell to Greece about 150 years later.
What does God require of nations? That their people obey God and serve Him forever and that their government enforce this behavior to the fullest extent of the law. This smacks in the face of libertarianism, Americanism, republicanism, democracy, socialism, and communism.
The second objection works with the first and that is the New Testament era allows for much more types of governments including anti-Christian leadership, libertarianism, etc. Nothing could be further from the truth!
The New Testament passages that speak to government emphasize two principles.
First and foremost, the Christian citizen is required to obey the governments over him unless they command him to deny the faith or to disobey God (Acts 5:28-29, I Timothy 2:1-2, I Peter 2:17). The New Testament follower of God is expected to obey his secular government leaders because they are appointed by God to punish evil and reward the good.
Second, the government is to enforce the moral laws of God within its borders. Romans 13:1-7 explains this principle.
Romans 13:1-7 NKJV
The New Testament passages that speak to government emphasize two principles.
First and foremost, the Christian citizen is required to obey the governments over him unless they command him to deny the faith or to disobey God (Acts 5:28-29, I Timothy 2:1-2, I Peter 2:17). The New Testament follower of God is expected to obey his secular government leaders because they are appointed by God to punish evil and reward the good.
Second, the government is to enforce the moral laws of God within its borders. Romans 13:1-7 explains this principle.
Romans 13:1-7 NKJV
Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God. Therefore whoever resists the authority resists the ordinance of God, and those who resist will bring judgment on themselves. For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to evil. Do you want to be unafraid of the authority? Do what is good, and you will have praise from the same. For he is God’s minister to you for good. But if you do evil, be afraid; for he does not bear the sword in vain; for he is God’s minister, an avenger to execute wrath on him who practices evil. Therefore you must be subject, not only because of wrath but also for conscience’ sake. For because of this you also pay taxes, for they are God’s ministers attending continually to this very thing. Render therefore to all their due: taxes to whom taxes are due, customs to whom customs, fear to whom fear, honor to whom honor.
In Romans 13:1-7, it is obvious that God expects the believer to obey the government authorities that has set up over the Christians and unsaved. If the believer fails to obey the local authorities above him, he is disobeying God and can expect to be punished by the government and to be chastened by God (Heb. 12:5ff). At the same time, there is a milder expectation of local government. Government authorities are expected to punish evil and to reward good. Local government does not glorify God when it fails to exact the correct consequences to good works and to evil works. Government is pleasing to God when it enforces the moral law of God correctly.
The next obvious step is to discuss what laws a God-honoring government should be enforcing and why. Paul already covered this in Romans 13:8-14
Romans 13:9-14 NKJV
The next obvious step is to discuss what laws a God-honoring government should be enforcing and why. Paul already covered this in Romans 13:8-14
Romans 13:9-14 NKJV
Romans 13:8 NKJV
Owe no one anything except to love one another, for he who loves another has fulfilled the law. For the commandments, “You shall not commit adultery,” “You shall not murder,” “You shall not steal,” “You shall not bear false witness,” “You shall not covet,” and if there is any other commandment, are all summed up in this saying, namely, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” Love does no harm to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfillment of the law. And do this, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep; for now our salvation is nearer than when we first believed. The night is far spent, the day is at hand. Therefore let us cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light. Let us walk properly, as in the day, not in revelry and drunkenness, not in lewdness and lust, not in strife and envy. But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts.
Paul states that the TEN COMMANDMENTS are to be the bounds of God-honoring governments and God-honoring people in the stewardship of grace. Then Paul expands these bounds to mean that his audience should be showing love to their neighbors. This means that the church is expected to be expressing BIBLICAL love internally and externally. This love starts with obeying the Ten Commandments in the work of the Holy Spirit and then showing true love to others by actually doing more than just avoiding offending others (James 2:1-13).
When the believers loves other he fulfills the law. What is love? It is pleasing God by doing what is best for someone else. This does not mean that one does what his friend wants him to do. This means that you and I do what is best, according to the Scripture, for our family, friends, and neighbors. If your friend wants one last sip of an intoxicating beverage before he dies instead of receiving medical care, you should ignore their desires and seek all necessary medical assistance for your dying friend. If the neighbor woman wants her Christian neighbor to show love by having an affair with her, the Christian neighbor should show Biblical love by running the other way and praying for his neighbor. Biblical love does not fulfill another's sinful desires. Instead it fulfills the will of God.
But how can I show biblical love to my neighhbors if the government is not punishing those who fail to show love? How is it possible for me to develop a friendship with my co-worker when all he cares about is stealing from the company by lying on his timecard? How is someone safe when his neighbors are promiscous and are risking their former lovers taking revenge? How can a city prevent crime when it does not arrest people for consuming mind-altering substances? The answers to all these questions is the same: it is not humanly possible to succeed in these situations. God expects local government to protect its law-abiding citizens from these situations and more. Those who do good are the only ones who can be and should be free. The freedom to do what is right is the only freedom that can be granted by the government. The freedom to do righteousness without any selfish ambitions or personal punishment has already been granted by God (James 2:8).
I could say a lot more on this topic but instead, I will provide two more passages on which you should contemplate. First, Galatians 5:1-6:4 which speaks of the Spirit-filled life and the works of the flesh. The other passage would be James 1:19-2:13 which talks about how to do what is pleasing to God in the right way and for the right purpose.
What I am proposing is separation of church and state but also state dependency on Scripture.
I will explain the Biblical way to implement this government in my conclusion.
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