Gary discusses several principles from his book God and Government to a class of homeschoolers.
A brief survey of the Bible and its principles will show that it has directives for all areas of life. Does this, however, include civil government? Is God as concerned about the structure and principles of political systems as He is about families? Or, has God left the area of political systems for man to develop according to the needs of a particular era or to satisfy the desires of a particular people? Or, does the Bible claim “neutrality” in certain areas of life, leaving man to create his own directives?
For example, is there a Christian economic system? Or, is the study of economics a neutral enterprise? Does the Bible set forth directives in the area of science? Are there certain creational laws that God has established to order the universe? Is it possible to develop an educational system from Scripture? Can educational facts have any meaning if they are not related to God and His word? Can one really be “educated” if Christ is not at the center of his life, giving meaning to all facts and experiences? Are there commandments that address the issues of business?
The Bible clearly teaches that Jesus is Lord and that His lordship extends over all the facets of society and its institutions, including the family, economics, science, education, and civil government. There is no realm of society where the lordship of Jesus Christ can be ignored. When political systems rule, they rule in accordance with a law system. This is inevitable. There can be no neutral law system. “It must be recognized that in any culture, the source of law is the god of that society.”[1]
If man is the source of a society’s laws, then man is the god of that society. If society ignores the governing principles that God has set forth in His word, then that society is competing with the Lord of all creation. But Scripture is clear; God does not compete with His creation: “That they may know that Thou alone, whose name is the Lord, art the Most High over all the earth” (Psalm 83:18). God shares His glory with no man, society, or political system: “I am the Lord, that is My name; I will not give My glory to another, nor My praise to graven images” (Isaiah 42:8; 48:11).
God and Government
With a fresh new look, more images, an extensive subject and scripture index, and an updated bibliography, God and Government is ready to prepare a whole new generation to take on the political and religious battles confronting Christians today. May it be used in a new awakening of Christians in America—not just to inform minds, but to stimulate action and secure a better tomorrow for our posterity.
Buy NowGary discusses several principles from his book God and Government to a class of homeschoolers. What should the Christian response be to the civil government? We are not always to obey, and we are not always to resist. The civil magistrate has a legitimate and biblically defined role. “We must obey God and not man” (Acts 5:29) must be understood in its proper context.
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[1] R.J. Rushdoony, Institutes of Biblical Law, 4.