GOVERNMENT (AN
INTRODUCTION)
As
the book of Genesis closes Joseph is the “ruler” of
Joseph was part of the Egyptian administration.
FROM TIME TO TIME I AM ASKED QUESTIONS THAT RELATE TO CHRISTIANITY AND THE GOVERNMENT. IT IS MY INTENTION TO TAKE SOME SUNDAY NIGHTS, STARTING TONIGHT, AND PRESENT SOME INFORMATION ABOUT CHRISTIANITY AND GOVERNMENT.
a) I want to begin with a foundation that has three points.
i) Where did civil government come from?
ii) What should a government do?
iii) If God’s will is followed, what “form” (type) of government will exist?
b) In dealing with the origin of civil government I want to acknowledge that views differ.
i) There are some who affirm that civil government originated with man.
ii) Some believe that civil government was instituted as a form of rebellion to God.
iii) The basis for this view is found in Gen. 10.
iv) In the 10th chapter of Genesis we are told about a man named Nimrod.
v) The name Nimrod means, “Let us rebel.”
vi) The text also says that Nimrod was a “hunter.”
vii) The word translated hunter describes someone who persecutes others; tyranny; oppression.
viii) Because Nimrod founded a kingdom some think he created government.
ix) Some argue that civil government was founded by Nimrod in his rebellion.
c) Although some brilliant men have made this argument this cannot be right.
i) Listen to Rom. 13:1.
ii) The “powers that be” (exist—civil governments) are ordained of God.
iii) When Paul wrote this statement he used the perfect tense.
iv) From the ancient past to the present time civil government is from God.
v) The participle used by Paul is also in the passive voice.
vi) This implies that God was the one who ordained civil government.
vii) In spite of what Paul wrote some have asserted the devil is the creator of governments.
viii) Even now some religious groups make this assertion.
ix) Additional support for this view is sometimes taken from Mt. 4.
x) Satan said he would give the Jesus the kingdoms of the world if the Lord worshipped Him.
xi) Some have said Satan’s possession of the kingdoms governments belong to him.
xii) Since Satan was associated with governments, governments cannot be of God.
xiii) This assertion is flawed
xiv) Even if Satan had control of these kingdoms it does not mean he created them.
xv) The creator of civil government, as stated by Paul in Rom. 13:1, is God.
2) IF WE WISH TO SUPPLEMENT ROM. 13:1 WITH SOME OTHER REFERENCES WE MAY APPEAL TO THE PSALMS. PS. 22:28 SAYS, “FOR DOMINION BELONGS TO THE LORD, AND HE RULES OVER THE NATIONS.” ALSO, PSALM 47:7-8: “FOR GOD IS THE KING OF ALL THE EARTH…GOD REIGNS OVER THE NATIONS.
3) Civil government is from God and He (not Satan) is the one who “rules over all the nations.”
a) If God is the one who is over all governments what should governments do?
b) They should do and function as God does and functions.
c) We might compare this to Christianity.
d) Christians are “of God” so what are they to do? They are to be obedient and righteous.
e) If civil government is also “of God”, what should it do? The same thing.
f) God blesses those who do what is right and punishes those who are evil.
g) Civil government has the power to do these same things and this power should be used.
h) If civil government is from Satan and not God we have a thought-provoking question.
i) What should governments do?
j) If governments are “of Satan” shouldn’t they follow Satan?
k) Though some good men have said governments are evil this view is dangerous.
l) Civil government is from God and this fact implies it has many important responsibilities.
m) Let’s look at a few of them.
i) The first comes from Mt. 22:15-22.
ii) This is the passage where Jesus said, “Render to Caesar the things that belong to Caesar.”
iii) The government is charged with taking certain things from its citizens.
iv) There are governments that take whatever they want.
v) Taking whatever it wants is not consistent with God’s will.
vi) Governments have not been authorized to take what they want.
vii) Jesus said, “What belongs to Caesar.”
viii) Governments have been authorized to take tax money from its citizens.
ix) Jesus taught that governments are supposed to collect tax money.
x) Just as money is needed to make a household run so governments need to be funded.
xi) Governments are supposed to use these funds wisely but that doesn’t always happen.
xii) Whether the funds are used wisely or not, a government is to be supported by taxpayers.
n) Scripture teaches that governments are to do more than collect taxes..
o) Governments have been given the authority to have a military – Mt. 22:1-7.
i) Jesus spoke of a king (a man who was in charge of a government), verse 2.
ii) The 7th verse of Mt. 22 says, READ.
iii) A government should have a military force.
p) A armed force can be used in different ways, and one of those ways is war.
q) Hopefully the leaders in a government will make wise choices about the use of troops.
r) Tonight we are not looking at the choices governments make.
s) Our goal is to learn some of the Bible basics about government.
t) Another basic purpose for government involves justice and stability (Prov. 29:4).
i) Governments should provide a way to deal with disputes (“judgments”)
ii) There should be some type of court system and judges.
iii) This ensures equitable treatment and stability.
iv) A nation will be “strong” if it follows the plan given by God.
4) The thought of a nation being strong and offering justice is related to Rom. 13:3-6.
a) If this passage is carefully studied several points are found regarding civil government.
b) I am going to read all four of the verses (Rom. 13:3-6).
c) Governments are to be a “terror” to those who commit crimes.
d) In other words, those who don’t behave should be afraid of the government.
e) This implies that governments are to make laws.
f) Certain acts are to be condemned and those who break the laws are to be punished.
g) This also implies that a government should do its best to deter crimes and bad behavior.
h) Not everyone can be deterred but governments can deter a lot of crimes and problems.
i) Governments also “praise the good” (final thought in verse 3).
j) Governments should commend or reward good behavior.
k) We live in a time when bad people and the crackpots are praised.
l) Sometimes the criminals receive the pat on the back.
m) God says that governments should praise those who are good.
n) Another point from Rom. 13 is the “execution of wrath” upon wrongdoers (end of verse 4).
o) Those who break the law are to be punished by a government.
p) Since the word “sword” (an instrument of death is mentioned), capital punishment is okay.
q) Timothy McVeigh is on death row.
r) This man has been to court, he is guilty, and the government has the right to take his life.
s) Not only does this dispense justice this allows government to protect other citizens from him.
t) These are some of the basic functions of a government if it is abiding by God’s will.
5) WE KNOW WHERE GOVERNMENT HAS COME FROM AND SOME OF THE THINGS IT SHOULD DO. WHAT KIND OF GOVERNMENT IS BEST? WHAT KIND OF GOVERNMENT PLEASES GOD?
a) The Bible does not provide a specific model to follow.
b) There are, however, some guidelines.
c) One of these guidelines is that a one-world government is not the way to go.
d) There are people who would like to see the entire world under one government.
e) Some fear that we are moving in that direction.
f) Both testaments teach this is a very bad idea and it inconsistent with God’s will.
g) Listen to Deut. 32:8.
i) God has “divided the nations.”
ii) There are “bounds” for the people.
iii) This information should remind us of the tower of Babel.
iv) What did God think about everyone getting together and being one?
v) The Bible says the people were scattered by God.
vi) This is the same message found in Deut. 32:8.
h) A similar statement was made by Paul in Acts 17:24-28.
i) The idea of a worldwide empire (or at least a very large empire) has already been tried.
ii) In addition to the tower in Genesis, Rome attempted it. There was also Napoleon and Hitler.
iii) God predicted that the only universal kingdom would be the church.
iv) Even in the ancient world every “world empire” failed.
v) Egypt, Assyria, Babylon, Persia, and Greece all failed to literally conquer the world.
i) What kind of government pleases God? We know one of the systems that doesn’t please Him.
i) In trying to answer this question we must conclude that various forms of government are okay.
ii) This is a logical conclusion for in the Bible we find several different forms of government.
iii) There are tribes, monarchies, republics, and empires.
iv) There are different forms but there is one overriding consideration.
v) This universal consideration is found in Deut. 17:14-15; 18-20.
j) The Hebrew people were told they could have a king.
k) However, their ruler (and their nation) would need to follow God’s laws.
i) This principle was apparently true for the other types of governments as well.
ii) No matter what system was used, the government was supposed to follow God’s laws.
iii) By in large our government was established on this basis and it has prospered.
iv) If a government wants to base itself on God’s laws it can expect to be blessed.
v) On the other hand to base or to reshape a nation’s laws into what is wrong is bad news.
vi) That nation is signing its death warrant.
vii) Another point that emerges from studying governments is this.
viii) Quite often in the Bible there was a separation of powers.
ix) David was “elected” by the voice of the people (2 Sam. 5:1-5).
x) David made “a covenant with the elders.”
xi) The Old Testament refers to elders, priests, and prophets.
xii) Moses appointed some subordinate judges (Ex. 18:13f).
xiii) David consulted with his “commanders” (1 Chron. 13:1f).
xiv)
These references (and others) suggest that a government
should have a separation of
powers.
xv) Our government was founded by some men who believed in the Bible.
xvi) How is it arranged? There is a separation of powers.
6) Whether we are dealing with a government or individual people we come back to the same point.
7) Obedience to God is what matters.
8) We cannot make our government obedient to God but we can be obedient to heaven’s will.
9) Are we living as God wants? Have we obeyed the gospel?