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SBC Anthropology Pt 5: Man and Government A

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SBC Anthropology, Pt 5

Man and Government A

Introduction to Topic

As a human grows up, he learns there’s just not himself!  He awakens to the presence of family.  If things are going well, his religious community.  And then…hold on, who are these people that remain strangers and yet exert so much influence?  The State!  

What do the Scriptures have to say about that relationship?  Did God ever mandate it, or might it be an optional arrangement?  How far does it authority extend and how binding is its authority?  What if the State doesn’t honor or even reference the God of Scripture – is it thereby disqualified?  

Should a person be loyal to his government?  Is that different from being a patriot?    

Before the 1940s the Pledge of Allegiance didn’t include the phrase “under God.”  Was it a good thing for that to be included?  Should there even be a pledge of allegiance?   Around that time a segment of the National Association of Evangelical’s was pressing for “God” to be more specifically named as “the Lord Jesus Christ” – good or no?  Should laws be based on the opinion of the majority, or should Christians only comply with biblical standards?  If so, on what basis?  Is the government opposed to the people of God, by definition or historically?  If Christ is Sovereign over all, should Christians care about the political process?  A lot or a little?  

Well, in our treatment of government in our study of biblical anthropology, I’m afraid that for sake of time many of these questions will go unanswered.  But hopefully they’re getting your brain moving in the right direction.  

*With gratitude to David Van Drunen

Plan

From the Scripture, Four Important Characteristics of Political Institutions, including Civil Government

Before we begin with some inductive reasoning from the Scripture, it’d be helpful to fly over the Scripture and take away some observations about government.

Legitimate – a right and obligation to carry out its proper work, which is to promote justice.  The Spirit bears witness to the legitimacy of government by direct exhortation and by plenty of examples that show governing agents doing helpful things.

  1. New Testament Witness
    1. Direct Citations
      1. Romans 13 – the authorities that exist are appointed by God.
      1. 1 Peter 2: 13, 14 – submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord’s sake, whether to the king as supreme…
      1. Titus 3:1 – be subject to rulers and authorities, to obey, to be ready for every good work
      1. 1 Timothy 2: 1,2 – I exhort prayers be made for all men, for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence
    1. Indirect references in Acts
      1. Paul never challenges the offices or the governing laws
      1. Acts 16:37 – Paul argues from established law
      1. Luke often presents the government acting reasonably and within the bounds of laws – 16:38,39; 18:14-16; 19:35-41; 22:25-29; 23:16-35; 27: 42,43
    1. Holding office is allowed – Zacchaeus, Cornelius, Sergius Paulus (Acts 13:6ff)
  2. Old Testament Witness
    1. Pharaoh offers protection – Genesis 47
    1. King of Moab protects David (1 Samuel 22:3-4)
    1. Nebuchadnezzar’s reign affords some good (Jeremiah 29:5-7)
    1. Cyrus the Persian is a friend to God’s people
    1. God’s people make covenants with gentile rulers/governments
      1. Gen 21:22-32
      1. Genesis 26:26-31
      1. David & Solomon – 2 Sam 10:1-2; 1 Kings 10:1-3; especially Hiram of Tyre (1 Kings 5
      1. (some governments were off limits – Deut 7:1,2)
    1. Some of God’s servants held political office
      1. Joseph
      1. Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach, Abednego
      1. Nehemiah
      1. Esther
  3. Implication and Application – 
    1. Christians shouldn’t assume an opposing posture to the government.  Neither should they dismiss out of hand that there are people – perhaps plenty of them – of goodwill in the government.  
    1. The government is by definition coercive, and that’s as it should be.  The teaching of Jesus on ‘turning the other cheek’ doesn’t nullify this.  
    1. It does no good to act as if the government isn’t real or important and an important way by which God is ruling the world, and instead refer only to the kingdom of Christ.
    1. Christians can serve in the government

Provisional – set in place for a limited time and purpose until something greater arrives.  The Spirit bears witness to this by imagery and by demonstrating the limitations and even evils of government/rulers.

Common – Civil governments wield authority for the benefit of the entire population, and not just for one particular group.

Accountable – a government should deal with people of various religious convictions, but that doesn’t mean it should be morally neutral, steering away from a specific morality toward reason; or appeal to the majority conviction, etc.  Because government is accountable to God.

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