GOD AND GOVERNMENT

As we go forward in these end time crises things are going to get worse in the world and in governments around the world. Controversy, financial shaking, and confrontation are going to increase everywhere around us. We are going to have to live and function within this frame work as a church and community.

 

The more oppressive world government becomes the more we will be tempted to rebel and react in an ungodly manner. Everything we do in the future should be directed by godly desires and righteousness worked in us by the Lord. The Lord does not want us to falter due to the lawlessness that will surround us.

 

God’s interpretation of government is shown to us as an eternal pattern. Isaiah 9:6-7 God’s purpose in His government is to uphold His standards of justice and righteousness in society. In Eccl 10:2 we see God’s thoughts on the politics of the right and the left! Ha!

 

In reality often times leftist thinkers tend to lead toward unrighteous communistic, socialistic government that enslaves the population by doing away with personal property and civil rights. Often times a government built on conservative values have platforms that are more respectful of the people’s rights. We are not highly political, however, because we are citizens of God’s Kingdom. Jesus in not a republican or a democrat, He is a high priest, Torah observant Jew!

 

GOD’S THREE FOLD STANDARD OF GOVERNMENT

God’s standards are always righteous and just:

1. Imputed righteousness--God’s salvation always was through blood sacrifice. Salvation even in ancient days was not achieved thru the law, but by the blood sacrifice for sin when the law was transgressed. Imputed righteousness is through the blood of Yeshua. Saved by grace through faith in Jesus. The sacrifices prior to Jesus were to point us to the coming way that He would be making. Lev 4:20,26,31,35 sacrifices. Romans 3:21-26 complete salvation in Yeshua. 1 Peter 1:22-23 Born again.

 

2. Behavioral righteousness--How are we to live after receiving salvation? We are held accountable 1 John 3:7.

The righteous practice righteousness. To walk in righteousness we must have the Torah written on our hearts. All 

scripture is good for instruction in righteousness. 2 Tim 3:16-17  The commandments of God reveal His righteousness. There are standards of behavior.  Ps 119:172 The character and nature of God is revealed in the Torah. Ps119:123 God is calling us to a holy lifestyle, His judgments are righteous. Proverbs 11:30 The fruit of righteousness is a tree of life. The life of God saves and the just live by faith. Habakkuk 2:4

 

3. Community righteousness--Our walk has a affect on our relationships. If we are walking righteously we should have good relationships within our community/church. This requires accountability on everyone’s who is part of God’s community. This also means we are accountable to governmental authority within the church. We must show/live justice among ourselves. We need a justice system to function properly.

 

THREE ASPECTS OF GOD’S DIVINE NATURE

Three aspects of God’s divine nature oversee community righteousness, accountability, and judgment. Everything that goes on in heaven and earth are in these three. The Lord is Judge, Lawgiver, and King. Isaiah 33:22

These three also represent our form of government in the United States which is a Constitutional Republic. They are the Judicial, Legislative, and Executive branches. Our founders where seeking God when they set up this government. The Constitution was designed to be the spirit behind any laws that would be written. Men were guaranteed basic “natural laws” which were considered to be foundational laws of the Creator.

 

The Tabernacle/Temple design also showed God’s form of government:

1. Ark of the Covenant--Held the laws of God and was inside the Holy of Holies.

2. Altar--House of the King was the altar--we receive salvation at the altar, learn how to minister to God and to one another. The Ten Commandments: 1-4 ministering to God and 5-10 to one another.

3. House of Justice (Beit Din) The House of Justice was a rabbinical court made up of three rabbis who resolve business disputes under Jewish law and determine whether a prospective convert is ready for conversion. They made judgments and administered justice within the community.

To keep society civil we need to have courts and judges. Ex 18:13-27 We must walk according to the Torah and behave righteously to be blessed. Deut 6:18-20

 

POOR CHOICES

When Adam ate of the tree of knowledge of good and evil he literally moved out of God’s house. He transgressed the commandment of God and received judgment for doing so. Gen 3

 

Israel wanted a King in order to be like all the other nations. 1 Sam 8:4-6 They did not want to obey God and be special as God desired. Men want Kings to rule them not God. God gave them what they desired. They were no longer a pure Theocracy when Saul became king. Saul did things the way he thought was right and disobeyed God.

 

Later in the history men developed the doctrine of Divine Right of Kings--they ruled and acted as though they were divine. They were above the law. This was, and is not, God’s form of government. God will often allow us to do things our way in order to teach us His way. His patience endures forever!

 

God’s outline of government is found in Ex 21 and 23. These chapters outline the formal structure, general guidelines for judges, fair and equitable justice, need for investigation and  reliable witnesses.

 

THE TORAH SETS THE STANDARD

God’s judicial process is outlined clearly in the Torah. Most western nations have laws and a judicial structure that is based on the Torah. Most kings and governments write laws that reflect the law written in the Bible. Everything goes back to the Bible. In ancient times civilizations had kings and laws pertaining to the kingdom. The Torah was the first set of laws that were for a nation that had no king but God. A careful reading of the Torah introduces us to an incredibly just and righteous set of laws. These laws forbid charging interest, provided food for the poor, treated strangers with respect, preserved inheritance, and insisted on treating your neighbor as you would yourself.

 

How laws are interpreted and punishment is meted out is also clear in the Torah. Some punishments required death because in those times an adulterer or idol worshipper could cause a whole community to lapse into rebellion. Idolatry in most cases, for instance, included sexual practices which could cause disease and death. Therefore punishment by death could keep disease from breaking out and killing hundreds of people. These harsh laws at that time were in reality protection for the community.

 

CIVIL LAW TODAY

One of the main controversy’s in the church today revolves around which civil laws should or should not be obeyed and how far the authority of the church should go. According to the Bible God works through civil law to achieve His will and accomplish His plans. Romans 13:1-8 We are also told to pay our taxes, even when this is difficult or possibly unfair. Matt 22:15-22

 

When Israel decided to reject God and desired a king like all the other nations (even though God had told them they were to be a separate and special people) God allowed them to set up a civil government. He told them that now they would have to live with it and obey it. 1 Sam 8:4-20

 

Civil authority is set up to punish unrighteousness and keep society orderly. If we are to be righteous then we need to walk righteously and obey. In order to have a functioning civil government we must have taxes. If we understand this we will know how to pray for our government and our leaders during the difficult times ahead.

 

In Jesus’ time tax collectors were hated because they took extra for themselves. Luke 3:12-14 In this short passage Jesus tells individuals to obey the law and do their jobs righteously. Even Jesus paid the temple tax. Matt 17:24-27

If we submit to God He will provide the money we need. As believers we need to benefit the society we live in. We also want to keep things going well as long as possible in difficult times.

 

CHURCH GOVERNMENT

The church also has governmental issues and we need to deal with these things in house. Matt 18:15-20 This is the Beit Din or House of Judgment in the Hebraic model. Anything that concerns the church should be dealt with in the church and not in civil court. If someone in the church committed murder that, of course, would be handled within the civil court. Matt 18:15-20 deals with disagreements between those in the church. The Lord told Peter He would give Peter the keys of the kingdom. Matt 16:16-19 This is government in the church. In the Beit Din (House of Judgment) binding and loosing means to permit or forbid. This refers to church government.

 

A couple of examples:

 

A man or woman in an adulteress affair must be disciplined within the church, even though in the civil world it may not be an offense. If we allow it then the “gates of hell” are prevailing against us.

 

Same sex marriage may be OK in the world but not in the church. 1 Corinthians 5 and 6

 

Changes are occurring in the world today that will have profound effects on the church. We will be hard pressed to obey God’s laws. These two examples are areas where we will have to obey God and not man. Now is the time to prepare--mentally, physically, and spiritually.