BIBLICAL PRINCIPLES of GOVERNMENT · Biblical Principles of Government Section 1 Introduction 9 ... (IPS) is a Christian discipleship and para-church ministry headquartered in Modesto,

A Primer on Christian Citizenship

SUPPLEMENTAL READINGS & STUDY GUIDE – SIXTH EDITION

PRESENTED BY INSTITUTE FOR PRINCIPLE STUDIES

BIBLICAL PRINCIPLESof GOVERNMENT

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STATEMENT OF PURPOSE The purpose of this course is threefold. First, to educate, motivate, and activate Christians for responsible, informed action in the areas of government, public policy, and politics. Second, to encourage believers to work toward restoring American government to the role envisioned by our founding fathers. Third, to combat humanism, authoritarianism and other philosophies that deny God and usurp individual liberty. The following headings elaborate on the first three-pronged purpose of this course.

EDUCATION

I. Teach biblical and fundamental principles of good government with which the believer can evaluate and test public policy.

II. Teach the biblical and historical basis upon which our government was founded. III. Teach basic economic concepts. IV. Teach believers to be politically discerning. V. Teach the importance of a biblical worldview.

MOTIVATION

VI. Develop and encourage the believer's interest in political and economic issues. VII. Encourage active participation in the election and policy-making processes. VIII. Show the serious consequences of inaction and noninvolvement.

ACTIVATION

IX. Encourage active and regular prayer for our country and our leaders. X. Encourage prayer for divine guidance to help believers decide when and how to get

involved.

* * * This study guide is a working draft.

Revision 6.0 All rights reserved.

Copyright 1996 - 2019 Institute for Principle Studies No part of this study guide may be reproduced without the expressed written consent of the

author.

For more information on this course, contact: Institute for Principle Studies at (209) 575-2005

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

INTRODUCTION .......................................................................................................... 5 ABOUT THIS COURSE .................................................................................................................. 6 ABOUT THIS STUDY GUIDE ......................................................................................................... 7 ABOUT YOUR PRESENTER .......................................................................................................... 8 ABOUT IPS ................................................................................................................................... 9 CONTACT IPS ............................................................................................................................. 10 THE IMPORTANCE OF THIS STUDY ........................................................................................... 11 OVERVIEW & WORDS OF WARNING ......................................................................................... 13 COURSE MODULES & OUTLINE ................................................................................................ 15 DVD TIMES & READING ASSIGNMENTS .................................................................................. 17

CHRISTIAN INVOLVEMENT ...................................................................................... 21 GOVERNMENT AND THE GOD-ORDAINED INSTITUTIONS ....................................................... 22 POLITICS IS NOT A FOUR LETTER WORD ................................................................................. 23 MAKING THE CASE FOR CHRISTIAN UNDERSTANDING .......................................................... 24 MAKING THE CASE FOR CHRISTIAN INVOLVEMENT ............................................................... 26

BIBLICAL FOUNDATIONS ......................................................................................... 31 ARE THERE ABSOLUTES? ABSOLUTELY! ................................................................................ 32 INDIVIDUAL ACTION VS. COLLECTIVE ACTION ......................................................................... 33 ARE THERE BIBLICAL STANDARDS FOR GOOD GOVERNMENT? ............................................ 35 AUTHORITY AND POWER .......................................................................................................... 37 WHAT ARE “RIGHTS”? .............................................................................................................. 39 WHERE DO RIGHTS COME FROM? ........................................................................................... 41 NATURAL RIGHTS: A MATTER OF ORIGINS .............................................................................. 42 THE KEY TO PRESERVING LIBERTY .......................................................................................... 44 READ US OUR RIGHTS .............................................................................................................. 46 RELATIVISM & GAY MARRIAGE ................................................................................................ 51

WHAT WE NEED TO KNOW ABOUT GOVERNMENT ............................................... 57 WHAT IS GOVERNMENT?.......................................................................................................... 58 THE CENTRAL QUESTION OF POLITICAL SCIENCE .................................................................. 60 WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OF GOVERNMENT? ............................................................................ 62 WHERE DOES GOVERNMENT GET ITS AUTHORITY? ............................................................... 63 THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE .................................................................................. 67 THE PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGN: SIDE SHOW OR MAIN EVENT? ............................................. 71 WHY CONSERVATIVES AND CHRISTIANS LOSE ELECTIONS ................................................... 74

HOW DO WE LIMIT GOVERNMENT? ....................................................................... 79 AMERICA: DEMOCRACY OR REPUBLIC? .................................................................................. 80 HIERARCHY OF LAW .................................................................................................................. 82 RENDER UNTO CAESAR: AN EXPOSITION OF MATTHEW 22:15-22 ........................................ 83 GOVERNMENT AND ETHICS: LESS IS MORE ........................................................................... 85 THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA ..................................................... 87

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ECONOMICS ............................................................................................................. 107 ECONOMIC FOUNDATIONS .................................................................................................... 108 EQUALITY & LIBERTY: FRIENDS OR FOES? ........................................................................... 114 SOCIALISM ............................................................................................................................. 118 IN DEFENSE OF SPECULATION .............................................................................................. 121 NEGATIVE INTEREST RATES AND THE IMPOVERISHING OF AMERICA ................................ 125 A HOUSEHOLD UNDERSTANDING OF THE ECONOMIC CRISIS ............................................ 127 COMPETITION & FREEDOM: TWO SIDES OF THE SAME COIN ............................................. 130

WHAT ABOUT THE NEEDY? ..................................................................................... 137 CHARITY VS. THEFT ................................................................................................................ 138 A HUMBLING LESSON ........................................................................................................... 140

HOW DO WE MAKE DECISIONS?............................................................................ 149 PRINCIPLE VS. PRACTICALITY: WHICH IS MORE IMPORTANT? ............................................ 150 PRINCIPLE VS. PRACTICALITY: THE ROCKET'S RED GLARE ................................................. 152 PRINCIPLE VS. PRACTICALITY: SITUATION ETHICS ............................................................... 153 ENDS VS. MEANS ................................................................................................................... 155 ACQUISITION VS. DISPOSITION ............................................................................................. 160 DECISION MAKING TOOLS .................................................................................................... 162

HOW TO AVOID BEING DECEIVED ........................................................................ 167 UNDERSTAND THE DIRECTION OF THE ENEMY ................................................................... 168 FOCUS ON POLICIES, NOT PERSONALITIES .......................................................................... 170 SOME GUIDELINES FOR GOOD GOVERNMENT .................................................................... 171

PRACTICAL INFORMATION ..................................................................................... 175 VOTE? ..................................................................................................................................... 176 CAMPAIGN REFORM .............................................................................................................. 177 REAL WORLD POLITICS ......................................................................................................... 179 CONSIDERING PUBLIC OFFICE .............................................................................................. 180 LITTLE THINGS CAN MAKE A BIG DIFFERENCE .................................................................... 181 3000 PAGE CHALLENGE ....................................................................................................... 182

CONCLUSION ........................................................................................................... 185 WHAT WILL YOU DO? ............................................................................................................. 186 HOPE VS. DISCOURAGEMENT ............................................................................................... 187 STRATEGY FOR CHANGE ....................................................................................................... 189 THE POWER OF DUPLICATION ............................................................................................... 195 A REQUEST FOR SUPPORT .................................................................................................... 196 SUBMIT YOUR FEEDBACK ..................................................................................................... 197

FURTHER STUDY & CREDIT .................................................................................... 201 RECOMMENDED READING ................................................................................................... 202 HIGH SCHOOL CREDIT ........................................................................................................... 203 TITLES IPS SELLS ................................................................................................................... 205

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STUDY GUIDE READING LOG

Week # Date Page Numbers, Sections or Article Names Completed

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Section 1

INTRODUCTION

Before beginning a new educational pursuit, it is important to provide some

basic information, an overview, and some words of warning. This section

covers these three aspects in detail and establishes the foundation needed to

journey through this course.

Biblical Principles of Government Section 1 www.PrincipleStudies.org Introduction

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ABOUT THIS COURSE

Section 1.1 Taught by Michael R. Winther, President of the Institute for Principle Studies (IPS), Biblical Principles of Government is a 10-week course (20 hours of instruction) designed for adults and teenage students. It is usually taught as a weekly class that meets for two hours each week. Biblical Principles of Government is difficult to describe because it deals with a broad variety of topics relating to family, church, and civil government. It includes teaching on history, evolution, economics, charity, education, and basic civics. Most of the concepts covered in the course have not been taught in American schools since before the Civil War. Students frequently comment, “Wow, I never knew that before!” This is a fun course, but also one that will challenge students and make them think. IPS encourages families to take the course together because it generates lots of great family discussion. Although primarily designed for adults, the material is understandable to most children age 12 or over (perhaps younger in some cases). As one previous family noted, “It was the best use of 10 weeks that our family ever spent together.” Because of the broad scope of the course material, there are benefits to the body of Christ that often surprise people. Here are a few examples: Evangelism Although the primary purpose of the course is to disciple the saints, we find that the subject does draw some unbelievers. Several students have given their lives to Christ because of some of the apologetic material presented. Strengthening families Although the Institute for Principle Studies is not explicitly a family support ministry, IPS does promote some very specific family activities as part of the strategy to compete in the culture wars. Many participants become motivated to read both their Bibles and important Christian works together as a family. Additionally, our teaching on authority and power presents biblical standards that apply to both government and family life. This provides considerable philosophical support to our efforts to help students fulfill the fifth commandment. Because many parents take the course with their teenage students, we find that these concepts are plugged into the family from both directions: parent and child. Strengthening the church The Biblical Principles of Government course includes information on church history and the importance of building our churches to meet the needs of our communities. …And the obvious Of course, students will learn about good government, competing economic systems, and much more.


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ABOUT THIS STUDY GUIDE

Section 1.2

This study guide is intended for use as a supplement to the Biblical Principles of Government course. It is not well suited for use without the lectures and discussions that take place during a Biblical Principles of Government course, whether live or on the recorded DVD series. Many of the concepts covered in this study guide will not be completely developed in the reader's mind without the complete curriculum. Additional copies can be purchased in-person or online at www.PrincipleStudies.org/Shop. Each section of this study guide is comprised of individual topical articles which are designed to supplement and reinforce important concepts of the course. These articles vary in length, but none of them should take more than 15-20 minutes to read. To stimulate thought and to help you apply concepts, some articles contain study questions and hypothetical examples. These thought-provoking "helps" are only beneficial if you take the time to give them serious thought. These helps also make excellent group discussion activities. At the end of each section, blank pages are included for note-taking. This study guide is light on facts and figures and heavy on concepts. For this reason, it is not recommended that you read this study guide in marathon sittings as one might read a novel. Instead, consider reading just one article each day. This approach will give you time to consider, analyze, and apply the concepts that are presented.


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ABOUT YOUR PRESENTER

Section 1.3 Michael R. Winther is the President and Founder of the Institute for Principle Studies (IPS), an educational non-profit organization dedicated to teaching the principles, philosophy, and purpose of government from a Christian perspective. Mr. Winther sits on the Board of Scholars at the Mackinac Center for Public Policy and holds a degree in Political Science from the University of Idaho. After graduating from the University of Idaho, Mike worked as a professional campaign consultant in Washington and California. Later, Mr. Winther served for 19 years as the Executive Director for the Society for the Handicapped, a non-profit organization assisting the disabled. As a lifelong student of history and government, Mike feels a burden to teach the important principles of government and economics—principles that were known by many of our founding fathers, but unfortunately were forgotten a generation later. Mr. Winther has written numerous articles and essays and frequently participates on radio broadcasts. He is also the co-developer of the Biblical Principles of Government curriculum. Mike leads tours of historical places and events on the East Coast where he teaches about the real foundations of America. As a frequent speaker at conferences and conventions, he teaches government, economics, and history to audiences throughout the country. Mike also has an extensive background in forensics (debate). He has participated in speech and debate activities as both coach and competitor. He is also a frequent speaker at debate camps and workshops and regularly presents at conferences for many speech and debate leagues across the country. Mike and his wife, Mary, have coached a homeschool debate club for over 20 years; competing in leagues such as the Home School Legal Defense Association, the National Christian Forensics and Communications Association, and Stoa USA Christian Homeschool Speech and Debate League. Mike and Mary are the authors of the textbook titled, “Rhetoric Through Policy Debate.”


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ABOUT IPS

Section 1.4 Founded in 2005, the Institute for Principle Studies (IPS) is a Christian discipleship and para-church ministry headquartered in Modesto, California. The mission of IPS is to reform society and culture through various educational efforts focused on rediscovering, developing, and teaching biblical principles of government and economics. We refer to “rediscovery” because most of the principles that we research and teach were known by many of our nation’s founders, but have not been taught in American classrooms, public or private, for over 150 years. Through research and study of the principles and philosophies of government, economics and history, the Institute for Principle Studies evaluates and teaches, through a variety of media, about the ethics, morality and consequences of good and bad government. Over the years, the Institute for Principle Studies has created several programs and activities to reach across the nation and train citizens, including the next generation of our country’s leaders. Classes, conferences, and seminars are our primary outreach, but we also continue to minister through other programs, such as:

Adult & Parent Education Student & Teacher Training Church & Pastoral Outreach Publishing & Multimedia Curated Book & Digital Offerings

Our current projects could realistically reach millions of people with our message, but we cannot advance in this work without the support of new and continuing donors. As noted in the next article, the Institute for Principle Studies is one of the few organizations that is attacking the real cause of human suffering—and even a 1% improvement in government saves millions of people from unnecessary suffering over the ensuing decades. The task ahead of us is monumental. Our goal is nothing short of reversing 175 years of societal decay. In fact, we are asking God to use IPS not only to reverse this American slide, but also to lay a deeper and broader foundation of biblical principle than we ever had before. Changing hearts and transforming minds with the truth is absolutely necessary if we are to have any hope of stemming the tide of socialism that is flooding our nation and threatening our freedom and liberty. The Institute for Principle Studies is a non-partisan, tax-exempt, research and educational non-profit organization officially recognized under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. IPS neither receives nor accepts government funding in any form. Instead, IPS partners financially with a diverse range of private foundations, businesses, churches and individuals. For further information and online resources, visit www.PrincipleStudies.org.

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THE IMPORTANCE OF THIS STUDY

Section 1.6 To most believers, government, economics and history are not the first things we think of each morning. We know that government is important because government policy determines how we deal with abortion, marriage and scientific research, but that is about as far as it goes. Most of us have even heard the admonition (especially around holidays), “Don’t talk about religion or politics.” Although the desire to preserve harmony and avoid contention may be commendable, the underlying premise is dangerous. What two topics could be more important? The discussion of religion impacts our eternal destiny and the discussion of politics determines to a large extent our temporal wellbeing. Unfortunately, many Christians don’t discuss politics, government, economics or history in any sort of relevant or powerful way because they lack the training necessary to contribute clearly to the discussion. Yet a proper understanding could significantly reduce most of the problems that we face in our modern society. Since before the American Civil War, there has been an effort to expunge Christian thought and biblical principle from the teaching of government, civics, economics and history. Most of us don’t know these concepts because our parents, pastors, and teachers never learned them. This has produced a void in constructing a biblical view of government within the Christian community. However, this does not mean that biblical principles of government are non-existent; they have simply been lost. This study reintroduces those principles and truths. Moreover, biblical principles of government and economics are not just academic concerns. These principles have a substantial impact on our families and our world. Hundreds of millions of people will suffer and millions will die this year because wrong ideas about government and economics are being taught and believed. For example, we know that the issues of original sin and human depravity are the root causes of human suffering. But every era of time and every corner of the planet has been cursed by the problems of original sin and human depravity. Why, then, do some periods of time and some nations suffer so much more than others? The answer to this mystery is found in one word: government. Actually, three governments: Family government, Church government, and Civil government. The well-being of every society in every era of time is a product of how well each of these governments is functioning in that time and place. When these three God-ordained governments execute their proper duties and refrain from over-stepping their proper authority, a society will prosper. Conversely, when these government institutions act beyond their proper authority, society crumbles.


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Because civil government has the most far-reaching power and because it has the power of the sword, it has the greatest potential for good or for evil…which is why government is clearly the most significant purveyor of human suffering throughout time. Therefore, if we are to reduce human suffering and meet the spiritual and physical needs of our world, discipleship on the biblically-defined role of government is of paramount importance.


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OVERVIEW & WORDS OF WARNING

Section 1.7 Some Christians (and especially some Christian leaders) have legitimate concerns about Christians becoming too politically active. They worry about divisiveness in the church—particularly on issues that are not spiritually critical. They worry about believers losing sight of their priorities and being more political than spiritual. There is also bone fide worry about Christians being negatively affected by the corruptness of the world--and politics has more than its share of the world's corruptness. These are valid concerns. For these reasons, it is critical that Christians learn three key things prior to becoming involved in public policy. First, the believer must make his or her walk with the Lord first priority in their life. Scripture reading, prayer time, and worship time must be the first priority. Second, we must learn how to apply biblical principles to government. Third, we must learn to distinguish between critical and non-critical political issues. By effectively bringing and applying biblical concepts and principles to politics, we keep the Christian focusing on, and returning to, the word of God. This focus will help to protect the Christian from the corrupting influence of the world—especially of the political world. By learning some time-tested political basics, we can develop a framework or foundation upon which to build our political beliefs. A person's ideological worldview can be characterized as a tall sky-scraper. The foundation represents the origin of man: either created or evolved. The lower floors represent the person's basic views of right and wrong and the upper floors represent the opinions on specific issues. Like the skyscraper, the upper floors are only as stable as the lower floors upon which they rest. Ultimately the entire structure is only as sound as its foundation. As each student in this course builds their own political sky-scraper, the most important concepts will form the lower levels of the structure and the less important concepts will form the top. Sincere Christians will certainly disagree with one another on some issues, but it has been our experience that the vast majority of this disagreement occurs on the upper levels of our high-rise. Our focus in this course will primarily be on the foundation and the lower floors of the structure. We would like to stress our view that the most important issue for any individual is, “What is your relationship with Jesus Christ?” We need to make absolutely sure that no belief or activity gets in the way of this relationship. We believe that as we draw nearer to Jesus, our desire to reach-out and serve others increases. As we will see later in the course, politics and public policy is an important area of service to others. But the relationship with Christ must come first! Christians should exercise tolerance on many political issues—especially for each other. What do we achieve if we win a debate but alienate our brother?


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Last, but not least, the believer needs to be sure that adequate time and attention is being given to the family. Many good hearted Christians set out on the important task of preserving their community, their schools and their government, but lose their kids along the way. The secret to the effective Christian walk lies in "balance". We may never fully achieve it, but we must never lose sight of its importance. In an effort to wrap-up these opening comments, let us add a few personal opinions. First, for every Christian who "goes off the deep end" and becomes politically active at the expense of God or family, there are multitudes of believers that are just as imbalanced in the opposite direction. Second, we believe that the balance we should seek is individual—not corporate. By this we mean that every believer should be heavily involved in all three areas: God, Family, and Country.

…Where is your imbalance?


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COURSE MODULES & OUTLINE

Section 1.8 10 Weeks, 12 Modules

I. Foundations a. Evolution vs. creation

i. How do we defend our faith? ii. Why does it matter?

b. Importance of origins i. Origin of man ii. Origin/source of authority iii. Origin/source of rights

c. Authority vs. power d. Types of governments

i. 3 God-ordained institutions

II. Forms of Governments a. Monarchy, oligarchy, democracy, republic b. The nature of man – Plato vs. Paul c. How the protestant reformation also reformed civil government

III. Economics #1

a. Desert island scenario i. Introduces:

1. Capital 2. Money 3. Supply 4. Demand

ii. Economic systems compared 1. Socialism 2. Capitalism 3. What is the biblical analysis of each? 4. Property & property rights

a. Marx vs. Scripture

IV. Economics #2 a. Inflation b. Recessions, depressions c. Currency supply d. The invisible hand

i. Why even atheist economists are forced to recognize God


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V. Charity

a. Biblical standards i. Who receives ii. Who gives iii. How we should give

b. Charity: the key to evangelism c. Competition between church and state for charity d. Historical perspectives on charity

VI. The Constitution

a. Biblical principles used by the founders

VII. Decision-Making Processes a. The world’s process b. The biblical process c. Principle vs. practicality

VIII. Education

a. Biblical reasons to educate b. Biblical ways to educate

i. Who learns ii. Who teaches iii. When we should teach

c. History of education in America

IX. History a. Different views of history

i. Atheist views: 1. Random 2. Pendulum 3. Perfectibility of man

ii. Judeo-Christian views 1. Always providential

a. Theist/deist vs. Christian 2. Optimistic vs. pessimistic

X. Strategies of our Adversaries

a. Our spiritual adversary and his strategies b. Our human adversaries and their strategies

XI. International Issues

a. Just War Theory and St. Augustine b. International trade c. Treaties and the Constitution

XII. A Plan for Renewal and Revival in America and the World


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DVD TIMES & READING ASSIGNMENTS

Section 1.9

Before you begin the DVD series, please read sections 1 & 2.

Week 1 Time = 53 minutes total Reading = Section 3

Week 2

Time = First Half 51 minutes + Second Half 40 minutes = Total 1 hour 31 minutes Reading = Section 4

Week 3


Week 4

Time = First Half 52 minutes + Second Half 36 minutes = Total 1 hour 28 minutes Reading = Section 6.1 - 6.3

Week 5

Time = First Half 60 minutes + Second Half 24 minutes = Total 1 hour 24 minutes Reading = Section 6.4 - 6.7

Week 6


Week 7


Week 8


Week 9


Week 10

Time = First Half 70 minutes + Second Half 35 minutes = Total 1 hour 45 minutes Reading = Sections 11 & 12

Total Run Time = 14 hours 59 minutes


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Notes __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________


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Notes Use this blank space for charts, tables, diagrams, etc.

Biblical Principles of Government Section 2 www.PrincipleStudies.org Christian Involvement

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Section 2

CHRISTIAN INVOLVEMENT

Answering whether or not Christians should be involved in the fields of

economics, government, and politics is an important question. Many believe

Christians should completely abstain, which would make this course useless.

However, there is ample merit to the contrary view. This section explores why

government is an important field of Christian study and involvement.


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GOVERNMENT AND THE GOD‐ORDAINED INSTITUTIONS

Section 2.1

When Americans use the term “government”, we are usually referring to civil government or what may be generically called the "state". Civil government in America is comprised of multiple levels including federal, state, county, and city government. Civil government (or the "state") is a political institution that makes and enforces the laws of a society. There are, however, other kinds of government besides civil government. There is individual government where we are to govern ourselves and then there are institutional governments in which others govern us. These institutional governments are collective in nature rather than individual since they involve a collection of individuals. These institutions are usually identified as: family government, church government and civil government. These are the three institutions, or governments, that are often identified as "God-ordained." Although Scripture does not specifically say that family, church and civil government are God-ordained institutions, there are solid biblical based reasons to come to this conclusion. First, each of these institutions is actually discussed in Scripture. Many other societal institutions found in both the modern and ancient world are not mentioned in the Bible. These other institutions, like universities, service clubs, trade associations, or fraternal orders, may serve beneficial purposes, but they fail to receive biblical attention and are probably more appropriately described as "man-ordained". Second, family, church, and state are given specific institutional responsibilities. If God gives them responsibilities, then it is more than reasonable to assume that He views them as important, even essential, to society. Third, they are charged with the task of producing good fruit. Fourth, they are given authority to rule or govern over people in certain specific ways. Fifth, requirements are placed on their leaders. Sixth, requirements are placed on those that are governed by them. Seventh, and last, there are important principles that apply equally to each of these institutions and we can learn much about the proper operation of one institution from the study of the others. There is a synergistic benefit that results when we make a biblical study of all of these institutions. We deprive ourselves of a clear understanding of these important God-ordained institutions if we neglect the study of any single one.


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POLITICS IS NOT A FOUR LETTER WORD

Section 2.2 Much of this course deals with politics. So it is important that we deal with the tendency of many Christians to view politics as inherently evil. Admittedly, there is plenty of evil in politics, but the political world is no more or no less evil than education, business, or entertainment. Each of these fields has tremendous power and influence. This influence may be used to promote good or it may be used to promote evil. If we look specifically at the God-ordained institutions of family, church and state, we must recognize that each of these institutions was intended by God to produce good fruit. Certainly our Creator did not ordain these institutions for an evil purpose. Yet each of these institutions has, on occasion, been the instruments of evil. Where, therefore does the evil come from? The answer is simple: evil is sin and sin is disobedience to God. Evil is promulgated by the sinful nature of mankind attempting to derive pleasure, wealth or power on our own without God. As if the sinful tendencies of mankind weren't bad enough, we are also faced with the corrupting influence of Satan. Satan is not a creator but a corruptor. His objective is to take everything that is good and corrupt it. Politics certainly bears the evidence of his corrupting influence—so does our media, our schools, and many other institutions. The good news, however, is that each of the institutions mentioned here can be used to positively impact our society if Christians will stop being spectators and become participants in these institutions.


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MAKING THE CASE FOR CHRISTIAN UNDERSTANDING

Section 2.3 The study of government is actually the study of the relationship between the governed and their governors. (I use the word governor here not in the sense of a political office, but as a generic term for one who governs; whether they govern a family, a church, or a civil state.) This concept of relationship is important because both parties in any relationship have responsibilities. Each party must know their own duties and obligations as well as those of the other party. Just because we have no aspirations to pursue political office, we are no less obligated to understand the biblical responsibilities of political leaders. What business owner would enter into a contract without knowing the contractual responsibilities of both parties? In like manner, we need to know the responsibilities of each party in each of the God-ordained governments. Parents need to study the scriptural responsibilities of both parents and children. Wives and husbands should each read the whole of Scripture on marital roles. Church members should be well studied on the qualifications and duties of deacons and elders even if they never fill those roles. Scripture instructs all parties on all responsibilities. If we are to study the entirety of God's word, then we are to study the responsibilities of the governors as well as those of the governed. To most modern Christians this concept seems obvious when applied to family or church government, but for some reason, we don't recognize our responsibility to make this study of civil government. This knowledge of the responsibilities and principles of civil government is absolutely essential in every system of civil government, even for believers living in a dictatorship who have no vote and no input into their civil government's decisions. If God's word teaches it, we need to know it! If understanding these principles of civil government is important to the non-voting citizen of a dictatorship, then how much more important are these principles to those of us who have input into our government? We don't know what we don't know There is a profound expression that goes something like this: "The more I learn, the more I realize how much I don't know." I can assert with considerable confidence that this statement is true of every field of study and every academic discipline. As one who teaches and writes about government, I must confess that I am inadequately studied on the subject. Each year I learn more and recognize more of my ignorance. Aside from my own quest for understanding, my largest frustration comes when I encounter Christians who believe that they have a biblical view of government and economics and see no need for further study. For most Christians, the problem goes beyond having the answers; it is more fundamental than that. The problem is that most believers don't even know the questions. Here are a few questions to challenge you:


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Are there any limits to appropriate government power? If so what are they? How do you decide if a proposed government action is appropriate? What are the biblical principles on centralization or decentralization of power? What are the social responsibilities of each of the God-ordained governments?

Which of these responsibilities can be shared by more than one institution? Which responsibilities cannot be shared?

From a biblical perspective, what are our rights and where do they come from? What are the biblical requirements for holding political office? Is it ever justifiable to rebel against government authority? If so, when and how? What economic system is consistent with God's law? Is socialism acceptable?

Where does Scripture address this? Does a government based on biblical principle impose religious belief on

unbelievers? Most Christians will struggle to answer these questions—and for good reason. These questions have been expunged from our dialogue in the modern church. This was not always the case; many reformation teachers and colonial pastors taught on these questions from their pulpits. It was from this Bible-based teaching that our nation's great thinkers during the founding era were incubated and trained. Unfortunately, this training has been unavailable on our continent for most of two centuries. For each of these questions, it is not enough to know the answer. We must go beyond answers to being able to justify our answers from Scripture (for the believer) and from history and logic (for the unbeliever). Far too many well-meaning Christians seek and obtain public office without appropriate preparation on these and other important questions. Perhaps more importantly, far too many well-meaning Christians go to the ballot box without appropriate preparation on these questions. This course will answer some, but not all of these questions. Hopefully, this course will persuade the student to continue their study of these important questions beyond the duration of this course. Only then can we hope to rebuild the foundations of our society.


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MAKING THE CASE FOR CHRISTIAN INVOLVEMENT

Section 2.4 Should Christians be involved in political matters? Some believers have doubts as to whether they should be involved in public policy matters. Here are 5 reasons why you should seriously consider knowledge of civil government and involvement in "politics". You are already involved—whether you know it or not Nowhere in Scripture are God's people directed to contribute to evil. In fact, God's judgment frequently fell on His people when they found themselves contributing to (or tolerating) evil. But every day American Christians are funding abortions, promoting sexual promiscuity, using schools to destroy children's belief in God, encouraging slothfulness, destroying families and promoting crime. All of this and much more are being promoted with the tax dollars of every American—including Christians. Can a tax-paying believer deny that they are actually contributing to these evils? By our inaction, are we guilty of being an accessory to these offenses before God—not only because of our inaction, but because our resources are being used to perpetrate these offenses? So the primary question is not SHOULD Christians be involved—without question we are already knee deep in political issues. Instead, we should ask:

“Now that my money and those who represent me are actively using my name and my money to promote an agenda, am I satisfied with the work that is being done on my

behalf?” Our marching orders should be clear from Scripture Our role as followers of Jesus Christ should not be a passive or casual role. Throughout the Scriptures believers are told to reach out to the world, not to ignore it. The great commission in Matthew 28, verses 19-20 states, "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." NASB It is impossible to overstate the magnitude of this command—it is a huge and aggressive task. This commission is broad in size (all of the nations), its scope ("all that I commanded you"), and its boldness. The role of God's people in reaching the hearts and minds of the unbeliever is often described with images of war and battle. In Matthew 16:18, Jesus says the gates of hell are


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no match for His church. "And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build My church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it." (KJV) Isn't it interesting that He talks about the "gates" of hell, not its chariots or other mobile weapons. Soldiers and chariots are used to launch an attack, but gates are a defensive tool of those who are under attack. If there is a battle, who must be on the attack? The answer clearly must be Christ's church. After all, when was the last time you saw an army attacked by a gate? The Great DEcommission We spoke above about the Great Commission, but many Christians may be living out the Great Decommission. What happens if, by inaction, we consent (acquiesce) to the promotion of teachings and observances that contradict Christ's words? There is no neutral in the Christian life. Jesus said, "He who is not with Me is against Me; and he who does not gather with Me scatters." (Matthew 12:30) Christians should make better leaders & decision makers As citizens, there are a number of ways to become involved in public policy—we can hold an elected or appointed office, we can write letters or circulate petitions, we can educate and persuade our friends or family and last, but not least, we can vote. In each of these areas Christians have an important advantage: a strong moral compass. Admittedly, our nation has been served by a number of great public officials who would not classify themselves as Christians. Our nation has also suffered under some bad officials who were (or who claimed to be) Christians. But if honesty, integrity, and sincere compassion are of any value and if we can generalize just a bit, there are very few groups of people better suited for political leadership than Christians who are truly committed to honoring Jesus and adhering to God's laws. Even non-believers, who are honest, will have to admit that they would welcome leaders who exhibit those qualities promoted in Scripture. It is certain that Christians don't have a monopoly on honesty and integrity, but at least they know the source of these values and where to find them. The gospel is not easily spread when people are oppressed Occasionally, you may hear someone advance the argument that oppression may be good for the church. They will point to the strength and dedication of believers in oppressive nations like Communist China. While it is true that a free and prosperous society tends to have significant numbers of lukewarm believers, it is highly unlikely that China can boast more truly committed Christians than America, Canada, or any other "free" nation.


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In fact, much of the "success" of those harassed and impoverished believers in slave nations can be attributed to the resources that come from Christians in free nations. What if there were no free nations? What if the whole world were in the same boat as China? Who would print and smuggle the Bibles? How would Christian radio continue? How would people hear the gospel? Preserving and expanding political and economic freedom ought to go hand-in-hand with our efforts to spread the gospel. The lives of your children and grandchildren are at stake The average American has absolutely no understanding of the horror that results when a country loses its moral perspective. The atrocities of past centuries are no more real than a movie to us. The inhumanity that plagues our current world beyond our shores is largely underreported in our media and conveniently avoided by Americans who choose to ignore uncomfortable and brutal realities. Is there any difference between the second century mother who was forced to watch the dismembering of her Christian daughter by lions in the Coliseum and the twentieth century Chinese mother who is bound and forcibly put through an assembly line abortion procedure while she screams hysterically for the life of her child? Horrors such as these are commonplace in history as well as in our current time. The common thread in these tragic examples of human suffering is a government that has turned its back on God's laws and usurped the God-given rights of individuals. The most important thread running through virtually all government abuses of power are citizens that either don't understand the principles covered in this course or citizens who are unwilling to expend any effort to promote these principles. In an attempt to spare our readers from nausea and sleepless nights, we will avoid describing the gory and widespread abuses of government-sponsored terror that occur thousands of times every day in our present world, but we must convey to our readers that the issues covered in this course are not just matters of philosophy or theory. These are issues that will directly impact you, your children, and your grandchildren. Hanging in the balance is the difference between: having food or going hungry, freedom or slavery, comfort or torture, worshiping God or worshiping kings. Put yourself in the place of either of the mothers in the two examples above. If you don't feel a compelling motivation to save your children, your grandchildren or your neighbor's children from horrors such as these, then our civilization is already lost. Food For Thought: What would be the state of Christian evangelism if all believers treated evangelism as they do citizenship? What would be the state of public affairs if all believers treated citizenship as they do evangelism?


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Notes Use this blank space for charts, tables, diagrams, etc.

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