As Americans celebrate the 242nd anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, it is a good time to reflect on the subject of government. Is there any Biblical basis for a particular form of government?
We often avoid talking about religion and politics–too many emotionally charged opinions! Both have to do with how people relate to each other. Religion often involves man-made rules that try to supersede the truth of God’s Word.
And Politics! A potentially explosive topic of conversation when people are caught up in the power struggles of the world. But Ephesians 2:2 tells us that we as Christian believers should not continue to walk “according to the course of this world.”
As Christians, we can develop a Biblical view of politics and government that will help us to live anywhere knowing that we are not of this world. We continue to pray for the freedom to “lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty” (I Timothy 2:2).
This series will present a survey of basic Biblical principles that set the foundation for government so that you and I can better evaluate political systems and decide what actions to take today.
Almighty God Over All
First, God is the Source of all life and is over all things. He has set up the rules of life and communicated “all things that pertain to life and godliness” to us in His Word. Christians are to walk by the “the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus.” Yet we all live in a world that is governed by men.
Some have described the three functions of government: to make laws, carry out laws, and make judgments according to those laws. This is seen in the separation of powers in the United States government. Interestingly, God has described Himself as carrying out these functions.
Isaiah 33:22:
For the Lord is our judge, the Lord is our lawgiver, the Lord is our king; he will save us.
In the United States, the three functions of government are reflected in the three branches of government: the legislative, the executive, and the judicial.
Biblical Principles of Government
As we consider what Biblical principles can be applied to worldly government, let’s keep in mind what a revolutionary American writer, Thomas Paine, said about principle:
“An army of principles will penetrate where an army of soldiers cannot; it will succeed where diplomatic management would fail…it will march on the horizon of the world, and it will conquer.”
There are many forms of man-made government. A government “of the people, by the people, for the people” (individuals with equal rights under the law) is commonly called a republic. In a republic, the power rests in the body of citizens (the people) who are entitled to vote with authority that is exercised by representatives chosen by them (the people).
In the least common denominator, all other forms of government that are not of, by, and for the people, result in tyranny in one form or another. Even a “democracy” is a tyranny—for each individual’s rights are neither secured nor preserved. The majority “rules” over the minority, for good or ill.
When Moses acted as the leader of millions of people, the children of Israel, he needed to set up rules and standards to help them live. He went to God on what and how His people should conduct themselves. Deuteronomy 4 begins to set forth God’s direction as Moses speaks to Israel:
Deuteronomy 4:5,6:
Behold, I have taught you statutes and judgments, even as the Lord my God commanded me, that ye should do so in the land whither ye go to possess it.
Keep therefore and do them; for this is your wisdom and your understanding in the sight of the nations, which shall hear all these statutes, and say, Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people.
A wise and understanding people that govern themselves according to the statutes and judgments of the Lord God will be a great nation. With God acknowledged as the Source, it becomes clear that the ideal government of any society of men and women would begin with a group of individuals who agree together to rule and be ruled by the one true God according to His Word.
NEXT TIME: Government of the People, and Government by the People
2 replies on “God and Government”
Awesome article! Keep up the great work.
Great topic! Love your point about religion and politics and how they both involve how people relate to one another. When politics and religion both try to take over God’s job, it does not work out well.