Law & Government

Romans 13:1 Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God.

Romans 13:4 For he is the minister of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil.

2 Timothy 2:1-2 Thou therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also.

 

Too often we Christians, especially in America, have an abject attitude or independent spirit towards the laws of man. We also sometimes speak reproachfully toward authority; if not in action then certainly in spirit.

God blesses authority and ministers to mankind through it. He has blessed His people through military dictators, theocracies, despots, kings and monarchies, and democracies. Each of these forms can also be terror to God’s people when we rebel or just stand in their way as a re-minder that “God rules in the affairs of men.” That is why Paul admonishes believers to pray for civil authority so we can live peaceably, and still evangelize and worship freely without persecution.

That is why our forefathers legally constituted a democratic republic, not just a Grecian style democracy. Modeled after the trinity, our government was divided into three parts; the Executive (President), the Congressional (law developers), and the Judicial (law interpreters and enforcers).

When law is weak and unenforced, it by default of its failure becomes tyranny to its people. When is becomes too strong or biased, then it also becomes tyranny to its people. When one branch becomes unbalanced or overpowering then the other branches must act together to stop the imbalance. Meanwhile, we the people must both trust and be active for the right. That is our privilege and duty as Christian citizens.

Our forefathers did just that when they threw off the shackles of England. The Declaration of Independence was not a paper about rebellion or anarchy. It was a declaration that a legally free, autonomous nation cannot be brought into bondage by any nation or leader(s). That we are governed by God, first, as over men, and then by our fellow men. Law-Government under law is not evil but “holy.” Romans 7:14 states, “For we know that the law is spiritual: but I am carnal, sold under sin.”; a teacher, Galatians 3:24 “Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.”, and for the “righteous” 1 Timothy 1:8-9a “But we know that the law is good, if a man use it lawfully; Knowing this, that the law is not made for a righteous man, but for the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and for sinners…”

X