Government in Biblical Terms

Image by Diez Photography via Flickr

There is a lot of talk about government and religion in the Christian community here in the United States.  There are proponents for basing government on religious values, and others for entirely separating church and state.  Is there a common ground?  Perhaps studying the Bible, which is the written authority for the Christian viewpoint, can clarify the question.

The first established biblical government was formed in Genesis.  Moses was in put charge of the Hebrews after freeing them from Egypt.  God used many miraculous signs to establish the authority of Moses to the people.  He then provided the Ten Commandments, delivered to them through Moses, to establish a broad code of conduct.  Moses was both the prophet and judge for all of them; he brought them God’s word and commands, and as such he was the authority in questions or disputes. 

Well, being a judge for a million or so people got to be a daunting task, so Moses established a hierarchy of authority which made more sense and served the people better.  Since God was pleased with Moses, one can assume that He approved of the model.  Moses built upon the fact that God originally put Adam in authority over Eve.  In a household, following God’s model, the mother and father would be of equal importance and each have given tasks.  But the father would have final authority.  So, Moses established the father as in authority over his immediate family.  The oldest elder was authority for his tribe, and anything that couldn’t be settled there went to Moses to be judged.  It was understood that the final authority was God, who spoke through Moses.

In America we don’t live in tribes, but in communities.  Sheer numbers of people have stretched the model somewhat, but the model remained essentially the same – at least up until the 1960’s.  In a family unit the parents were in charge; they were under the authority of community government, then county, then state, and finally federal government.  So far, so good.

Moses also used the tribal elders, as well as other counselors, to help him.  He conferred with them in matters of national importance.  He used their input to better understand their local issues.  They did not have a vote, because their leader was also a prophet of God.  Let’s face it; you don’t outvote a Prophet and live.  But they did have a say.  Later, after Moses died, a judge was in charge and a prophet was in attendance to the judge.  Together they ensured that the government continued fairly and equitably, and God remained the final authority.

America could not follow that model as we are not privy to a prophet.  We have, however, God’s written word, and so the laws were based upon its precepts.  American government was set up with a president, the house and senate, and the supreme court as a triune leadership.  Since the president is not a God-appointed judge or prophet but a fallible human, the three governmental branches were intended to check and balance each other, keeping the power evenly distributed and assuring that the rights of the people were protected.  It was understood for a long, long time that God was the final authority.

Biblically, the Hebrew government began to break down around 1055 B.C.  Israel was an established country ruled by God, with His precepts delivered and overseen by judges.  The Israelites decided they couldn’t manage that way any more.  They wanted a human king like other countries had; someone they could see and hear to follow.  God let them know He was not pleased with their decision, but He provided a king.  His name was Saul, and though at first he was a good king, he eventually became a huge disappointment.  His failures stemmed from forgetting the source of his power.  He came to think of himself as the source rather than God, though originally he was quite a humble and unassuming man. 

Throughout the Bible, a study of the kings of Israel show this precept holds true.  If the king was one who depended on God as his source of power, he reigned well and Israel prospered.  His focus remained on pleasing God and protecting his people.  If he got full of himself, though, he reigned badly and Israel suffered.  His focus changed to serving himself and furthering his power.  Meantime the people lost their focus.  Instead of serving God, they often served the king.  Within just a few generations Israel split into two nations; not long after that the Northern Kingdom was annihilated forever.  The Southern Kingdom survived but lost their freedom shortly thereafter, and did not regain it as a nation for close to 2000 years.

America is backing away from her original roots just as Israel did.  Since the 1960’s there have been concerted efforts to remove God from government.  A large part of that effort is equating faith and focus with religion.  Those who say religion should not be part of government are quite right, if we are to ensure the individual’s right to worship as he sees fit.  However, to omit faith from the individuals who serve in government causes the focus of that government to shift.  Faith in God, however one worships Him, keeps the focus of government on serving the people.  Lack of faith, by and large, causes individuals, to serve themselves.  Thus we see the individual branches of power vying with each other instead of upholding; each usurping power for themselves where they can.  The result is anger, backbiting, and open hostility within the government, tearing it apart and pulling its citizens into factions that follow suit.  In any country whose history is studied, this state of affairs leads to great division – which we are now experiencing.  At the least it weakens the country as a whole.  At the worst it leads to war, separation, or even annihilation.

The United States began as probably the closest biblical model of government possible, while still allowing its citizens the right to worship as they chose.  It remained strong and was blessed as long as its government kept their focus on maintaining a country that upheld God, and the individual rights that He grants to all people.  By removing the emphasis of faith in God, our government has lost its focus.  The result is a steady weakening of that country which once was a shining beacon to the world.