Foundation for Vision:
God's Institution - Government
Why does Biblical Christian Solutions In Government, and why should God's people and every person submitted to government, seek to see cultural influence and government set upon the word of God? For the same reason that the majority of Founding Fathers of the United States did. For the same reason that earlier political philosophers and jurists such as Sir William Blackstone and political philosopher John Locke did. You see, we are not looking to only return our country, our states, our people back to God's principles as if they are only good principles for government. While that is true, and while that was constantly pointed out by our Founding Fathers, even if this country's Federal and State governments had never been built on the foundations of Christianity, even if governments in other areas of the world are not founded on God's word, we recognize one thing: Government is to be built upon the foundation of God's word because he created Government, he created the Family, and he has called people to follow him, and that segment of society and the structures he ordained for it he calls the Church. Each of these structures that affect society are created by God, founded on his Law and word, are used by him to accomplish his purposes in this world, and all are to be submitted to his Law and word and each works best and finds fulfillment in their purpose when they are. This is why many governments in the world still recognize their departments as “ministries,” such as the “ministry of education,” or the “ministry of the interior,” etc. God lifts people into influential positions to advance his plan in the world. He has given the responsibilities of his ministry, of his plan, to servants in the world.
“By me kings reign and rulers make laws that are just; by me princes govern, and all nobles who rule on earth.”
- Proverbs 8:16 (NIV)
“Jesus said, 'My kingdom is not of this world. If it were, my servants would fight to prevent my arrest by the Jews. But now my kingdom is from another place.... You are right in saying I am a king. In fact, for this reason I was born, and for this I came into the world to testify to the truth. Everyone on the side of truth listens to me.' Pilate [the Roman Governor] said. 'Don't you realize I have power either to free you or to crucify you?' Jesus answered, 'You would have no power over me if it were not given to you from above.'”
- John 18:36-37, 19:10-11 (NIV)
“... there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God.... For rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but for those who do wrong... For he is God's servant to do you good... He is God's servant, an agent of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer.... This is why you pay taxes, for the authorities are God's servants, who give their full time to governing.”
- Romans 13:1b, 13:3a, 13:4, 13:6 (NIV)
National Accountability
When those servants abuse God's Law, word, and purposes, he brings judgment. You only need to look to God's dealing with Israel to see that he would not allow them as a people, and as a government, to abuse his word and his character. He finally brought the Assyrian kingdom against the northern kingdom of Israel. At a latter time, he brought the Babylonian kingdom against the southern kingdom of Israel (Judah). Both were for their blatant sin against God, and both were horrific exiles. He used his own people to judge other ethnic groups and nations. (Genesis 15:16, Psalm 7:8, Psalm 9:8, etc.)
God judges nations, and he can pull them down in disaster, war, corruption and failure, or incremental judgment. Individual people suffer for the bad decisions of our leaders and wrong cultural decisions about right and wrong, good and bad (2 Samuel 24, 2 Kings 24:3, Exodus 32, 1 Corinthians 15:33, etc.). It reminds me of the story of an epitaph that a wander in a desert once found, of an ancient king. It said “Look around at my kingdom, see my power, and tremble.” The observer looked around and commented that all he saw, other than the plaque, were the waste lands of sand dunes. As God says:
“He [God] will rule from sea to sea and from the River to the ends of the earth. The desert tribes will bow before him and his enemies will lick the dust.”
- Psalm 72:8-9 (NIV)
This principle of national accountability to God led many of our Founding Fathers to express what Jefferson so pointedly said:
“I tremble for my country when I reflect that God is just: that His justice cannot sleep forever.”
Quoted From: Barton, David, Original Intent: The Courts, the Constitution, and Religion (Aledo, TX: Wallbuilder Press, 2010) , 340: originally quoted from Jefferson, Thomas, Notes on the State of Virginia (Philadelphia: Mathew Carey, 1794), Query XVIII, 237.
Why are Jesus and Christianity attacked in America
You want to know why there is an attack in American culture and political environments against Jesus and Christianity? Quite frankly, it is because our laws are founded on Jesus' word and on the principles of Christianity. Erode that foundation, and then you can try to redefine the purpose of law - to reject God for a whole society. Effectively blacking out the influence of what is good, and what encourages a life of fulfillment, and effectively creating an environment of destructive behavior which has destructive consequences to persons, families, and a nation's life. God is not a figment of imagination as some think he is. God's justice does not sleep forever, and the injustice and suffering which public officials in government inflict on others as a result of public policy and cultural decisions, when they rebel against God's Law and word, is one of the most cruel acts that human beings can inflict. It robs people of a fulfilling life in both this life and eternity; obscuring their view of the savior of the world, salvation, and eternity (including eternal judgment for those who do not receive God's gift of forgiveness in Jesus [Matthew 18:8, 2 Thessalonians 1:9, Hebrews 6:2, (Revelation 20:10 and Revelation 21:6-8)]).
Make no mistake, God is advancing his purpose of establishing his kingdom in this world, and bringing some from each ethnic group to turn to and follow him (Matthew 24:14, Matthew 28:18-20, Revelation 5:9, Revelation 7:9). Governments are established to enable God's word to be established in public policy, in a culture's understanding of right and wrong. To encourage people toward a fulfilling life in God, in Jesus. The purpose is to allow administration of a people in a way that encourages and enables God's purpose, as revealed in his word, the Bible, of redeeming some from each ethnic group in the world. That is why government should encourage God's word, encourage Jesus' word, encourage a relationship with Jesus.
Human law must rest its authority on God's Law
Even those who reject God recognize,
overall, the goodness of justice, of love. They also recognize that
taking someone's life unjustly, confiscating property that does not
belong to you, forcing children into violating situations, lying,
murder, etc. are not something they want happening to themselves.
Yet, these laws, these public policies have a source. That source is
God, his law; his word. That murder is wrong is not just a
revelation from the Bible, that revelation has been encoded into law
for the good of society. If you think that people just came to that
idea, then take a look at the current laws of countries of the world
and see that there are other countries that do not have the same
restrictions on murder that we do. Take a look at our own country's
twisting of the law, and its rejection of submission to God's Law, in permitting
abortion – which not only is a violation of God's Law (Natural Law)
[Psalm 139:13-16], it is prohibited in the first section of the 14th
amendment, and also in article I section 9 of the U.S. Constitution on the prohibition of bill of attainder. Bill of
attainder is a legislative act
that punishes an individual without a trial – including execution
and confiscation of property. What kind of "reason" is
it when a child in the womb is only seen as a person by the courts if
it's life is taken against the desires and will of the mother? There
is no such thing as a law-abiding citizen where there is not an:
- absolute standard of God's law,
- a future state of rewards and punishments in standing before God, and
- a culture that decides to follow God's law as the foundation for law and encourages a personal relationship with God through Jesus.
The whole principle that a public official is not above the law, comes from Deuteronomy 17:14-20 of the Bible.
As author and historian William Federer points out: The very source of people being equal depends on being made in the image of God, which is revealed to us in God's word - the Bible. The very source of unalienable rights depend on the revelation from God's word that God is the source of rights, and governments must respect them or be held accountable to him for violation of what he has ordained. The very source of a system of limited laws depends on an internal restraint inside human hearts, as well as being conscience of accountability before God for future judgment and rewards or punishments. This internal restraint can only come from God working inside a person, and is preceded by a personal relationship with God through Jesus.
Without God personally entering a person's heart, there is no such thing as a sustainable limited government, and there never has been a government in the world able to ultimately subdue their citizens. Only God's word in a human heart can subdue destructive behavior, and bring fulfillment in life. Only peoples whose governments have recognized this, and encouraged God's law in his word, and only during that time, have been able to remain limited and free from oppression.
For instance, review American government, which at the time of our founding recognized its obligation to God and encouraged the principles of Christianity. The Founders use to encourage the Bible as a school book. Why? Because our laws were built on it; it defined our understanding of right and wrong. It told us that murder, adultery, divorce, false testimony, stealing a person's property, etc. were wrong. This is why these were understood to be wrong in our law. In addition, the Bible told us how to respond to these situations, and how to reconcile. It enabled an escape from vices. As Thomas Jefferson said,
“The precepts of philosophy, [And] of the Hebrew code, laid hold of actions only. he [Jesus] pushed his scrutinies into the heart of man; erected his tribunal [court] in the region of his thoughts, and purified the waters at the fountain head.”
Quoted from: Photographic facsimile of Thomas Jefferson's letter to Benjamin Rush on April 21 1803. From Thomas Jefferson Papers at the Library of Congress collection.
Even those who have no standard for right and wrong in life look to law to define right and wrong. God's Law and word were not only to direct our own personal lives, but were the very source of Good, right, and wrong, and it is the responsibility of government to establish policy, punishments, and rewards based on what God's word says.
Do you think if our national policy was still to use the Bible in education that the next generation would be more or less likely to murder, steal, rape, practice homosexuality, have an abortion, raise an out-of-wedlock family, get a divorce? Would they be more or less likely to turn their lives over to their God? Do you think there would be more or less Christian missionaries coming from America? Do you think the Gospel would have advanced further, and in a more meaningful way, or not? During the founding of our country, there was an understanding that even those who were atheists benefited from the principles in God's word, and were instructed in the foundations of God's Law and word, and therefore they, and other students, were instructed in the basis of American law.
Sir William Blackstone was an attorney, jurist, political philosopher, lectured on law, was elected to Parliament in England, chaired the Bar in England, and was a judge in the court of Common Pleas in England. Blackstone's Commentaries on the Laws of England became a premier legal work used by the Founders, and were practically the final word in law for much of America's history. Because God created the world and it's structures, what Blackstone says is a natural way of seeing the world when he says:
"Man, considered as a creature, must necessarily be subject to the laws of his Creator, for he is entirely a dependent being.... he should in all points conform to his Maker's will. This will of his Maker Is called the law of nature.... This law of nature, being coeval [coexistent] with mankind and dictated by God himself, is of course superior in obligation to any other. It is binding over all the globe, in all countries, and at all times: no human laws are of any validity, if contrary to this; and such of them as are valid derive all their force, and all their authority, mediately or immediately, from this original.... The doctrines thus delivered we call the revealed or divine law and they are to be found only in the holy Scriptures. These precepts, when revealed, are found upon comparison to be really a part of the original law of nature.... Upon these two foundations, the law of nature and the law of revelation, depend all human laws; that is to say, no human laws should be suffered to contradict these."
Quoted From: Barton, David, Original Intent: The Courts, the Constitution, and Religion (Aledo, TX: Wallbuilder Press, 2010) , 223: originally quoted from Blackstone, William, Commentaries on the Laws of England (Philadelphia: Robert Bell, 1771), Vol I, 39, 41-42.
John Locke, was a political philosopher, theologian, diplomat, educator, lectured at Christ Church College of Oxford University on Greek, Rhetoric, and Philosophy, was a diplomat to Madrid, and wrote numerous works including Two Treatises of Government, and The Reasonableness of Christianity. Similar to Blackstone, Locke pointed out that:
"Thus the law of nature stands as an eternal rule to all men, legislators as well as others. The rules that they make for other men's actions, must,... be conformable to the law of nature, i.e. to the will of God...”
Quoted From: Locke, John, Two Treatises of Government (London: Printed for R. Butler, W. Reid, and J. Bumpus, 1821), Book II, 305, Chapter XI, §135.
Locke noted, quoting from Richard Hooker:
" ...[T]hat laws human must be made according to the general laws of nature, and without contradiction to any positive law of scripture, otherwise they are ill made.”
Quoted From: Locke, John, Two Treatises of Government (London: Printed for R. Butler, W. Reid, and J. Bumpus, 1821), Book II, 305, Chapter XI, §136 footnote quoting Hooker's Eccl. Pol. l. iii, sect. 9.
When God originally created humanity he governed them by his direct relationship. When sin entered into this world, and after he chose Israel, he governed Israel through judges. In addition to his word, which at the time consisted of the first five books of Moses, God revealed his purposes to these judges (many of who were prophets), or through prophets or angels, and confirmed to others the message was from God through supernatural confirmation of events or signs. Then Israel asked for a king.
Asking for a king was not God's desire for Israel; it is not God's design for a people. It was a direct affront to God. It is God's rightful position to be king, and it is he who has the rightful authority, is holy God, and has the character of true justice and mercy, to be king (1 Samuel 8:6-22). Samuel the prophet and judge pointed out the oppression that God said would result from placing a human king over themselves (1 Samuel 8:11-18). In addition, God, who allowed a king, pointed out that a king must follow God's words or the people will suffer for it (Deuteronomy 17:14-20). From that point forward there was a thin balance between the support of the people and the authority of the king. Kings that followed God's word with integrity blessed the nation and the people. Kings and officials that did not follow God's word were dishonest, took bribes, perverted justice, and encouraged other destructive patterns by their lives, policy, and in law - which affected the peoples' lives in cruel ways, and encouraged the people themselves to lawlessness and cruelty.
Jesus entered the world and revealed God's word and forgiveness to us (Deuteronomy 18:14-19, Isaiah 9:6-7, John 1, Galatians 3:18-24). His kingdom, God's kingdom, has been advancing in the past from those who placed their trust in the coming messiah, and is advancing in the lives of people throughout this world who place their trust in Jesus (Romans 3:25-26). Jesus' words, God's word, and authority is to be the very foundation of law and government. Recognizing this our Founding Fathers, submitting to God's authority over government, founded our government on the principles of Christianity, and of the word of God recorded in the Bible as a whole.
Vision
It is ludicrous to think government, law, and decisions of cultural rights and wrongs, are not of interest to God, and are not to be submitted to his authority, and divine Law and word in the Bible. It is ludicrous for those who understand God's word and Law from the Bible to be the furthest away from serving humanity in this ministry of God – called government. It is ludicrous to think God would be pleased to leave such a crucial ministry that affects everything from law, negotiations and influence with other nations and peoples, enforcement of God's law and principles as it affects their society, to those who stand against him. Who will respond to this ministry of government, and by their service not only serve humanity generally, but also serve God's church, his structure of the family, and his purpose of redeeming some from each ethic group by their service?
Make no mistake, governmental decisions affect everything from what your church feels comfortable teaching (just ask your pastor to evaluate a candidate in terms of Biblical principles in a sermon), to entrance visa issues which effect missionaries, to justice (which cannot be truly understood outside of God's word and character), to what public education will teach, to parenthood, etc.. Is it God's intention for his ambassadors to allow his word to affect personal lives only, but not his structure of Government, which direct and strongly influence personal lives? As Governments move toward despotism, and away from God and his word, it's public officials dominate every aspect of society without regard, and in cruelty.
The vision of Biblical Christian Solutions In Government is to:
- Offer Education concerning Biblical principles and God's word applied to government, law, justice, administration and public policy, culture, and God's purpose in the world.
- Lobby and Advocate for Biblical principles and God's word in law, public policy, and in culture.
- As a secondary purpose, and a primary purpose of a future sister sponsored organization, To establish, sustain, and develop a movement that identifies candidates for public office who have a Biblical worldview, and are (and will be):
- Followers of Jesus that have a Biblical Christian worldview;
- Will support, with integrity, the
Declaration of Independence and the US Constitution; and
- Will understand, apply, and support God's law, word, and purpose as the rightful foundation for the content of all law, government, justice, and liberty.
We believe this is the major key in systematically moving our government and culture toward its rightful foundation on God's Law, word, and will (being one in the same). It is right for those who know God to be his ambassadors in society (2 Corinthians 5:20). This is true whether it is among the ministry of God in a family, among the ministry of God in the mission of the Church, and among the ministry of God in Government.
It is right for God's ambassadors to take the rightful seat God has ordained in bringing his word to the table of public discussion about policy, law, and culturally “who will we be as a people?”
That this would happen not by one or two candidates who will constantly have to battle against the seeming majority, and be possibly tempted to compromise, but to send significant amounts of candidates for various offices together into elections for the people to have real choices.
For the people to make those who will stand up for God's Law and word the majority, not the minority.
For God's ambassadors to establish their conduct and life upon the basis of God's word, of Jesus' word, and not on the greed of human power.
For God's ambassadors to have the kind of integrity that only God can bring about in a person who has submitted themselves to him in a trusting relationship in Jesus.
For God's ambassadors to listen, present bills, represent the people who elected them, enforce laws appropriately, judge with integrity and honesty, and to do these in accordance with the foundation of God's Law and word.
For government to submit itself to God's Law and word as God accomplishes his purpose in the world using both people, but also governments.
That is our vision. Will you consider being a part, making it your vision, and of advancing this vision to reality?
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