The Obedient Government-II

GOVERNMENT IS

PROTECTOR: The Books of Samuel, Kings, and Chronicles are filled with stories of the Kings of Judah and Israel protecting their people against invaders, such as the Philistines, the Ammonites, the Arameans, the Assyrians, the Babylonians, and more.  In Romans 13:3-4, Paul writes, "For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad....for the authority does not bear the sword in vain." It appears that there are times when governments must use a heavy hand to protect the good within their sphere.

     However, the government is to use the heavy hand in relation with the other functions which are to minimize or prevent any violent government actions.  Violence is to be the last resort of government. See the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew 5-7, and Sermon on the Plain in Luke 6.  

PEOPLE CENTERED: Government is to respect the humanity of all.  As the Church says, "There is no longer Jew or Greek, there is no longer slave or free, there is no longer male and female; for all of you are one in Christ Jesus." (Galatians 3:28)  People are valued.  The Golden Rule: "Do to others as you would have them do to you." (Luke 6:31) sets the standard for honoring all humanity.  Paul writes in I Corinthians 12:26: "If one member suffers, all suffer with it; if one member is honored, all rejoice together with it."  Yes, Paul is addressing congregational culture, but the Church, the congregation, are the crucibles for governmental actions.  As the Church cares for people, so are governments to care for people.  Why?  Because all people are created in the Image of God.

CALLED TO GUIDE PEOPLE TO FREEDOM: The Exodus story found in the Books of Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy is a journey to freedom, a journey to the Promised Land.  After decades of oppression in Egypt as slaves, God led the People of Israel to new life.  Moses and the tribal leaders, the government, were responsible for leading them to Canaan. As the song goes, "Let my people go!" Governments are to lead their people to freedom, out of oppression, out of slavery, to a new free life.    

TO INSURE ENOUGH FOR ALL: The Year of Jubilee in Leviticus 25 was meant to level the economic playing field once every 50 years, in an attempt to make sure all people had land and resources for life.  The wealthy and powerful were not given a forever license to scarf up all land for their own profit and use the rest of the population for their slaves or indentured servants.  In Amos 2:6ff, we read, "For three transgressions of Israel, and for four, I will not revoke the punishment; because they sell the righteous for silver, and the needy for a pair of sandals."  In Acts 2:45, we read that the People of the Way "...would sell their possessions and goods and distribute the proceeds to all, as any had need."  Everyone is to have enough for living.  Government is to insure that all people have enough for life!

TO GUARANTEE UNBIASED COURTS: We read in Exodus 23:2-3, "You shall not follow a majority in wrong-doing; when you bear witness in a lawsuit, you shall not side with the majority so as to pervert justice; nor shall you be partial to the poor in a lawsuit."  In other words, courts are to be unbiased in making their judgements. Leviticus 19:15 says, "You shall not be partial to the poor or defer to the great."  Governments are to guarantee that the courts adhere not to ideology but to truth for the sake of the common good.  Lady Justice is blind!

TO EXPOSE EVIL: "Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them.  For it is shameful even to mention what such people do secretly, but everything exposed by the light becomes visible." (Ephesians 5:11-12).  James 5:16 urges us to "...confess your sins to one another,...so that you may be healed." Healing comes through openness, through a mantra of "If you mess up, fess up." "The truth shall make you free." (John 8:32) Cover-ups are wrong.  To deal creatively with what is wrong and causing discord, the truth of what is actually happening needs to be engaged.  Governments are to insist on this practice.

NEXT: Part III and the Conclusion

Peace!

Ron