Purpose:

          It is the purpose of this study to aid the citizen to know biblical principles that should affect government.

I.                   God ordained institutions

A.      Different kinds of government institutions

1.                 Individual government

* When the individual governs himself.  This is a God-ordained governor and charged to bring forth good fruit

2.                 Family

* God has given responsibility to the home, and it is charged to bring forth good fruit.

3.                 Church

* God has given responsibility to the church, and she is charged to bring forth good fruit.

4.                 Civil government (state, national, and local)

* God has given responsibility to civil government, and it is charged to bring forth good fruit.

Thought:      There is plenty of evil in politics, but perhaps no more than in the other three institutions.  Each has the power to do good or evil.  Satan is not the creator but the corruptor of all four.  The church is to be a positive impact on our society.

II.                The need of Christians to understand

A.               The Christian must know his duties and obligations and that of those governing.

1.                 This is true in all God’s ordained institutions.

* Discuss this need in the home and church.

2.                 This is true particularly in civil government.

* If God’s word teaches it, we need to know it.

3.                 Sadly, we don’t know what we don’t know.

a.                  Are there any limits to appropriate government power?

b.                 How do I decide if a proposed government action is appropriate?

c.                 What are the social responsibilities of government, etc., etc.?

* All answers must be justified by scripture.

B.                The Christian should be involved.

1.     You are involved whether you know it or not.

a.                  We fund abortion.

b.                 We fund teaching of alternative lifestyles.

c.                 We fund teaching on evolution, etc., etc., etc.

* By our inaction are we guilty of being an accessory to these offenses to God?

2.     When we get involved, be prepared from scripture.

a.                  There is no neutral ground for a Christian.

Matthew 12:30

b.                 A Christian who understands his duties and the duties of those who govern are better leaders.

III.             Some foundations to build upon

A.               As relativism grows in America, the absolutes decrease in the minds of her people.

1.                 The two are completely incompatible.

2.                 Moral relativism is a close companion to atheism.

          * Therefore, your political view is inextricably linked to your theology.  To a Christian, “Thou shall not commit adultery” is an absolute; but to a moral relativist, it may not be if one is careful in the area of disease.

B.                Individual action or collective action

1.                 Individual action is one person and does not require a collective effort.

2.                 Collective action is like a co-op or an agreement of two or more.

* Government is a collective activity.  As long as the people are allowed the freedom to choose whether to participate in the collective effort, there is no moral issue involved in the decision.  All involved should benefit from the activity.

Point:           Understanding the difference between individual activity and collective activity and voluntary and compulsory is critical to discerning the right and wrong way for government to operate.

3.                 All biblical requirements for individual behavior apply equally to all individuals acting collectively.

* There is no double standard.  It is understood we have plenty of biblical guidelines for good government.

Question:     Does holding political office give individuals license to undertake actions that would be prohibited if they were actions individually?

C.               Understanding authority and power

1.                 In civil government the key to minimizing evil lies primarily in limiting it to its proper role of operating within its proper authority.

* Examples of power used beyond biblical governmental authority are Hitler, Stalin Mao Tse-Tung, etc.

2.                 “Legal power or a right to command or act over a subject” is Webster’s definition.

3.                 The root word in authority is author.

* Who is the source of that legal power is, or should be, the question.

4.                 Good government is measured by the degree to which its power is limited to its proper authority and the degree to which its authority is backed by appropriate power.  Any imbalance between authority and power produces disastrous results.

* A government without sufficient power is incapable of protecting the rights of its citizens.

5.                 All legitimate authority ultimately rests with God.

a.                  Man has only the authority given by God and practiced according to His guidelines.

b.                 Man loses this authority the moment he steps outside the boundaries that God prescribes.

c.                 God has and always will have all authority.

* He may give authority, but He never gives authority away; and what He gives, He can take away.

D.               Understanding rights

* If we can clearly define what rights are, we can know when our rights are being taken away.

1.                 God-given (natural) rights are absolute and are only limited by other God-given rights.

2.                 God-given rights divide into three categories.

a.                  Personal (what you do with your mind and body)

b.                 Familial (what you do with your family)

c.                 Property (what you do with the things you own)

3.                 How we view our rights depends on where we think these rights come from.

a.                  If we believe the eternal God created us, then He also gave us our rights.

b.                 If we believe we evolved, then we have no absolute rights.  We have only the rights of the survival of the fittest.

4.                 The Constitution is not and does not claim to be the source of our rights.

Government is to protect the peoples’ “God-given rights”.

5.                 Even atheists believe in natural rights.  To them the rights are granted by virtue of being born human.

a.                  Observe the foundation of this view is pragmatic and without absolute truth.

* Legislators would be free to design laws and formulate rights in various way should they so choose.

b.                 Survival of the fittest or the most powerful will always take more rights or suppress others’ rights when there are no absolutes.

6.                 How must Christians protect our rights?

“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, and that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights.”

a.                  If government can give us rights, then government can take them away.

* It is dangerous when government attempts to take natural rights away but far worse when government attempts to grant a natural right.  No entity can grant when it does not first possess.  Beware, for this is always packaged as a positive, i.e., giving something to the people.

b.                 If God is the only source of rights, then our rights will be protected.

E.                What we need to know about government

1.     What is government?

George Washington:        “Government is not reason; it is not eloquence; it is force?  Like fire, it is a dangerous servant and a fearful master.”

2.     What is the proper role of government?

What should government do about the poor?

Should government ban abortion or protect it?

Should government have a military draft?

a.                  The founding fathers placed boundaries so it would not become dangerous.

b.                 The single purpose of the Constitution was to define the allowed powers of the new federal government and set limits that should not be breached.

3.     What is the purpose of government?

“The role of government is to maximize our freedom by protecting our God-given rights.”

a.                  Others believe it should give consumer protection, manage the economy, care for the needy, and educate our youth.

b.                 As government is expanded, it loses its real purpose of protecting rights.

* For example, when government cares for the needy, it ignores the rights of all in favor of inventing rights for some.

4.     Where does government get its authority?

a.                  Different views of the source of authority

1)                 There is no such thing as authority.

2)                 Power creates authority.

3)                 Authority comes from the majority - “democracy”.

4)                 Authority is the divine right of kings.

5)                 Authority comes from the individual.

b.                 The true view of the source of authority

“Authority comes from God.”

1)                 God, through scripture, gives us direct principles for the role and boundaries of government.

2)                 Government cannot be the source of its own authority, or there will be no check on its power.

3)                 The majority cannot be the source of authority because it offers no protection for the rights of the minority.

* Without God there is no political liberty, only a survival of the fittest.

c.                 Evaluate every possibility this way:

1)                 Is it likely to produce small government or big?

2)                 Is it likely to produce just or unjust government?

3)                 Is the standard that it creates relative or absolute?

4)                 Does it provide accountability and checks and balances?

IV.            Some issues to evaluate

A.               Let’s discuss the needy.

1.                 Who is behind this great deception?

a.                  Satan is subtle, not scriptural.

b.                 He promotes promiscuity by calling it love.

c.                 He promotes selfishness by calling it self-fulfillment.

d.                 He promotes license by calling it liberty.

e.                  He promotes theft by calling it charity.

2.                 What is the great deception?

a.                  In charity, the provider of the resource gives voluntarily; but in theft the provider is compelled against their will to “give.”

b.                 Charity is very good, and theft is very bad in God’s eyes.

3.                 From this we can test the morality of every effort to help the needy.

* Simply determining if the source is giving voluntarily.

* List areas of government giving to the needy persons or countries and ask, Is it done voluntarily?  Ask, Is government aid charity?  Ask If government “charity” is successful or a miserable failure.  It is through obedience we are blessed, not good intentions.

B.                Let’s discuss a democracy.

1.                 Is America a democracy or a republic?

a.                  In a democracy the majority is the ultimate source of civil authority.

b.                 In a constitutional republic the law or the Constitution is the ultimate source of civil authority.

* This is the supreme law over all other laws and cannot be changed by a majority and exists to protect the rights of the minority from the majority and give stability to the nation.

2.                 Democracy is the ultimate example of relativism.

* In a democracy government can demonstrate no absolute truth or justice, only the will of the people at the moment.

C.               Let’s discuss the supremacy of God’s law

1.                 Lower laws are only valid if they conform to and are consistent with higher laws.

2.                 All laws in the land must be consistent with the Constitution and the law of God.

* Most people understand the need to comply with the laws of our civil government, but what do we do when a civil law contradicts the Constitution or God’s law?

D.               Let’s discuss equality and liberty.

* Equality is often cited as a virtue in our society.  Before we say we favor equality, we first must determine what we want to be equal.

1.                 God made us unequal.

* Different talents, different looks, height, intellect, etc.

2.                 Government does have three ways to approach equality.

a.                  Equality of outcome

* To do this we must treat everyone differently to set the same outcome, for God made us all different.  With respect to material wealth, the only way to produce similar outcomes is to hinder the creative and productive individuals and to subsidize the less productive.  Remember, God often gave blessings unequally, which should cause us to question the virtue of government effort in the area of equality.

b.                 Equality of opportunity

1)                 This is much better than equality of outcome, but is it right?

2)                 To accomplish this, the rights of the rich would be violated.

* Tax them to give free education to the poor.  Perhaps force the rich to go to the same public schools as the poor.

c.                 Equal under the law

1)                 This is the only form of equality that should concern government.

* This is clearly what is meant in the Constitution:  “Created equal and endowed by the Creator with certain unalienable rights.”

2)                 This equality is usually an asset, not a liability.

* Those with more than their share of intelligence, talent, education, and wealth often contribute substantially to society.  It is said that a rising tide lifts all the boats.

3.                 What about the needy?

a.                  It is the attempt of government to produce equality that produces poverty.

1)                 By redistributing wealth, incentives of talented people are reduced.

2)                 By receiving something for nothing, the incentive to work is reduced as well.

b.                 It is the individual’s voluntary charity that brings about the desired result.

* Schools and hospitals are started, and, most importantly, this is God’s will.

Point:      The role of government in equality is to treat all its citizens equal under the law.  This means that every citizen should be equally subject to the nation’s laws.

E.                Let’s discuss socialism.

1.                 Identifying socialism

a.                  Its philosophy

1)                 It is a mindset of economic equality.

2)                 It is a mindset of forced charity.

* Which is not charity at all

3)                 It is a mindset of central planning and government control.

b.                 Its practice

1)                 Government ownership or control of capital

2)                 Redistribution of wealth

* The source of the funding usually receives no benefit from the use of these funds.

“From each according to his ability, to each according to his need.”

2.                 Explaining the wrong of socialism

a.                  It is atheistic.

* It develops a dependence on government, not God, and rejects God’s authority.

b.                 It is incompatible with individual rights.

* Government cannot control capital without violating the God-given right to own and control property.

c.                 It destroys freedom and individual liberty.

d.                 It is the result of and promotes envy (covetousness).

e.                  It is theft.  “Thou shalt not steal.”

* To redistribute wealth involves the taking of one person’s property and giving it to another.

f.                   It discourages true charity.

g.                 It creates poverty.

* Incentives to work are reduced or eliminated.

                          * Socialism is big government.

Thought:      Every policy should be first evaluated by the “should” question.  Should the government do this?  Far too often (always) it goes right to the “how” question.  How will we implement this policy?

F.                Let’s discuss making laws or voting on laws.

1.                 How do we decide on laws?

a.                  Laws that violate God’s law are subject to God’s judgment.

b.                 Laws must flow through God’s wisdom that is found in scripture.

* All laws must not violate God’s law or individual rights.

2.                 Some examples to consider

a.                  A law to ban fireworks

b.                 A law to give tax money to other countries

c.                 A law that seat belts must be worn

d.                 A law to subsidize some crop or thing

e.                  A law to provide money to Africa for the AIDS problem

f.                   A law to pay for abortions

g.                 A law to bail out banks or car manufacturers

Point:           Christians must learn to ask the “should” question.   Whether they should or not is found in the principles of scripture and our Constitution.

3.                 Should the situation determine the legality of an action?

a.                  Situational decisions make what is legal today illegal tomorrow.

* Respect for all law is lost.  The cry “Why doesn’t the government do something” is far too common or “This product must be safe or the government wouldn’t allow it to be sold.”

b.                 When laws are so common and based on situations, the unscrupulous will take advantage.

* They could create a crisis to get a law.

c.                 The end of a situation must not be used.  This is relativism.

1)                 The means must be answered first.

* Does it pass God’s law and the Constitution?  It is a moral decision first.

2)                 We are to do right for the right reason.

* It is right to buy a car but wrong if it is done with stolen money.  The same principle is true in government.

* Should the government provide free breakfast, lunch, and medical care to school children?  Don’t answer with relativism or situational ethics.  Do answer on how government acquired the money and whether this charity agrees with the Constitution and God’s word.  If the funds were acquired through illegitimate means, we cannot support it and must oppose it.

G.               What then is needed to make a right decision about potential laws?

This list contains 14 critical tests that can be used to evaluate any proposal relating to public policy.  A proposal that fails ANY of these tests is probably not worthy of adoption:

1.           Does it violate God’s Law?

2.           Does it violate people’s God-given rights?  Property rights?  Free speech?  Freedom of worship?  Etc.

Does it compel people to pay for products or services that they do not receive and that are not absolutely necessary for the minimal role of government?

Does it invite or encourage people to use products or services that are to be paid for by someone else?

3.           Does it violate the Constitution?

4.           Does it promote the honoring or worship of government or a dependence on government?

5.           Does it lead toward a “rule-by-man” and away from a “rule-by-law”?

Does it lead toward a democracy (mobocracy)?

Does it reduce the consistency, clarity, and respect for the Constitution?

6.           Does it centralize power more than absolutely necessary?

7.           Does it reduce or violate the separation of powers?  Vertically?  Horizontally?

8.           Does it attempt to protect people from themselves?

9.           Does it create or increase debt?

10.       Can the law or policy be uniformly applied to similar situations and still be just?  Is it consistent when applied to a logical extreme?

11.       Is it unnecessarily complex?

Would a person of average intelligence be able to fully understand it?

12.       Can the task/function being proposed be performed by the private sector?

13.       Does it grant special privileges or apply Unequally to all citizens?

14.       Does it use public resources to promote a particular ideology or theology?

V.               Who should vote

A.               Is the problem voter apathy or non-participation?

1.           Is the ultimate goal of our electoral process broad participation?

“Get out and vote.”

2.           It may sound noble, but is it good policy?

* Do our nation’s problems stem from non-participation?

B.                Is the problem voters are not making quality decisions?

1.           The answer for this is not more voters.

* We don’t need more opinions when our car won’t run; we need a well-informed mechanic.  Those with opinions likely have the best of intentions, but if they lack information, it is not enough for a quality decision.

2.           The answer for this is not democracy.

* We are constantly told that democracy is the best form of government and the quality of our political decisions improve as we become more democratic.  This is clearly not the prevailing view of the founders of our nation.

C.               Is the problem that the voter is not principle informed?

1.           To go to the polls uniformed is worse than staying home.

2.           To go to the poles principle informed brings glory to God.

* True as long as we vote in agreement with God’s principles.

VI.            Understanding our enemy

A.               Satan wants centralization of power to do his bidding.

1.     If he can consolidate, he need only defeat the top of any organization to extend his influence throughout its structure.

2.     Whenever there is a vast concentration of power in one place, there is far greater potential for evil to flourish.

3.     As government grows and becomes centralized, the institutions of church and home are weakened.

a.                  In many ways the church and home are competitors to government’s power.

b.                 Yet if home and church function well, there is little need for government’s social programs.

4.     Examples of this are crime in big cities and the failure of schools as they are consolidated.  True also in government.

(Power corrupts, and absolute power corrupts absolutely.)

B.                Satan wants to deceive us.

1.                 We spend great energy pointing out the flaws in their guy and overlook the flaws in our guy.

2.                 We put much energy into people and personalities and not enough emphasis on the issues.

3.                 We oppose a proposed government policy by logic or degradation of the person.

* Even if we defeat the policy this way, it will soon return again.  This may win a battle but not the war.

4.                 Our strategy to defeat a policy or person must always focus on the issues where he or she or it is in principle error.

5.                 People oppose or support a person not knowing where that person stands on major issues.  They assume something because they like him.

Conclusion:

A.               Some guidelines for good government:

1.                 Recognize God is the source of all rights.

2.                 Limit government to the task of protecting these rights.

3.                 Minimize collective decision-making and maximize individual decision-making.

4.                 Preserve and protect the rule of law instead of the rule of the masses.

5.                 Limit government by establishing and maintaining separation of power, strong churches, and strong homes.

6.                 Debatable roles of government should be handled at the lowest possible levels.

B.                Some guidelines for the informed voter:

1.                 Don’t place too much reliance on parties, labels, or personalities.

* Such as liberal/conservative; even “Christian” does not make it true.

2.                 Listen to what they say, but believe what they do.

3.                 Know the candidate’s history.  Leopards rarely change their spots.

4.                 Be aware of “one world-ism” or any effort to unify the world politically or economically.

5.                 Evaluate the candidate’s friends.  Birds of a feather flock together.

6.                 Remember the real action is often in the reaction.

7.                 The ends don’t justify the means.

* No matter how desirable the goal may be, it is neither wise nor morally acceptable to use corrupt methods to attain that goal.