I know that I need to stay in my lane of family discipleship. However, a hot topic on everyone’s mind and lips is politics. In this day of focus on personality, what bothers me is that we have lost sight of the principles from God’s Word.
The heart of the Christian life is eternal and can flourish under any government system. Nevertheless, the more a system takes into account man’s true nature, the more sinful humanity and society can flourish. Man’s law needs to be in line with God’s law.
As I talk with those in their twenties I find a profound ignorance of these principles. We have to teach and reteach biblical reasoning that applies to governing. Here are a few that are on my mind.
1. Government is ordained by God to encourage those who do good and punish those who do evil.Be subject for the Lord’s sake to every human institution, whether it be to the emperor as supreme, or to governors as sent by him to punish those who do evil and to praise those who do good. 1 Peter 2:13-14
All legislation is morality. Therefore, the more in line a government’s understanding (and our understanding) of good and evil is in line with the Bible’s, the more we will flourish. As our country’s understanding of good and evil becomes increasingly corrupted, we can expect more injustice and disorder. Just laws will be in line with God’s moral laws.
The government bears the sword to punish those who do evil. In today’s therapeutic age we are hard-pressed to call things wrong. But the government can and should punish for the sake of all involved – victim, villain, and order in society.
2. Human life is of utmost importance. Human rights come from God. The government should protect those rights. The first right is the right to life. Innocent human life should not be taken. This is foundational. Government is called to defend its citizens from other citizens who would seek to take a life. This applies no matter the status or size of a person. When two people create a human life, they may not then kill that person just because he or she happens to be smaller or invisible to the rest of the world.
3. Free market exchange and competition create wealth, reward hard work, benefit everyone, and lift individuals out of poverty. This is one of those actions that the government should encourage and reward. Wealth can be created. The pie is not one size to be sliced among people. It can increase in size. Human beings, as made in God’s image, are infinitely creative. They have ideas that will better our world. They will be motivated to work hard and take risks when they can keep much of the reward.
In addition, work is good for the soul. Living off what someone else earned rots your soul. Living off what you earned is enobling and builds the soul.
4. Family life is divinely created and a cause for social order. For civilizations to prosper, good, well-adjusted citizens come from children who have a father and mother in a married relationship. The government has an interest in encouraging child-rearing and healthy families. Disrupting this natural process leads to social consequences.
5. Because sinful men and women make up the government, it should be kept as small as possible. Sinful, well-meaning elites want to take liberty away. “Unlimited power in the hands of limited people always leads to cruelty” said Alexander Solzhenitsyn.
We need to remember the principle of subsidiarity. What individuals are able to do, society should not take over, and what small societies can do, larger societies should not take over. Practically that means we should devolve decisions to the lowest practical level.
Two Practical Points
6. The activities the government taxes always decrease. What the government subsidizes, or gives money to, will always increase. Government naturally expands, taking away individual liberties. It sees itself as the giver of benefit, and creates dependency.
7. There is no such thing as free. Somebody is always paying. Whenever you help one group you are penalizing another group. For example, to “forgive” student loans – the taxpayer is paying. In addition, this is grossly unfair to those who worked through college and were financially frugal.
These are just a few. I could keep going but this is not my area of expertise. What would you add?
What biblical principles of government and society do you want to teach your children? I would love to hear from you!
