Civil Government: Chapter 6 – A Minister of God, or of Satan? (Excerpt)

March 29, 2013 by

Civil Government - coverIn the book of Revelation, the Lord warned the church in Smyrna of the persecution that was coming. He said, “The devil is about to cast some of you into prison, so that you will be tested, and you will have tribulation for ten days” (Revelation 2:10). This persecution was being carried out by the civil authorities (the Roman government). Were these authorities acting as the minister of God here when they persecuted Christians? On the contrary, they were doing the work of the devil. Their service to Satan is so plainly indicated here that their work of throwing Christians into prison is attributed to the devil himself.

When a government rejects its God-given role and begins to do harm to the ones who should be enjoying its protection, that government ceases to be a minister of God and becomes a minister of Satan.

You can read more about how civil authorities may act either as God’s ministers or as Satan’s ministers in Civil Government: What the Bible Says About Its Origin, History, Nature, and Role. Follow the link to learn more about the book and purchase your copy today!

Filed Under: Excerpts Tagged With: , ,

Civil Government: Chapter 5 – What God Ordained with Respect to Civil Government (Excerpt)

March 22, 2013 by

Civil Government - coverSo, what function does God have in mind for today’s civil authorities? The New Testament answers this question. It sets forth the divinely approved model of civil government. The purpose of government — as stated by the apostles (Romans 13:3, 4; 1 Peter 2:14) — is to punish evildoers and approve those who do what is right. It is a government that is “not a cause of fear for good behavior, but for evil.” It praises those who “do what is good” (Romans 13:3). Peter wrote, “Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord’s sake: whether it be to the king as supreme; or unto governors, as unto them that are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers, and for the praise of them that do well” (1 Peter 2:13-14, KJV).

God tells us to pray for civil authorities that we may lead “a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty” (1 Timothy 2:2, KJV). The word translated “quiet” is a word that emphasizes tranquility arising from the absence of outward disturbance. The word translated “peaceable” emphasizes a tranquility arising from within. While this is primarily a prayer passage, we learn from it an important function of civil rulers: they are to provide peaceful and secure conditions in which citizens are free to live lives according to divinely revealed principles of conduct and behavior.

The God-ordained model of government is one that:

  • Provides for the safety and security of its citizens (1 Timothy 2:2).
  • Provides an atmosphere in which its citizens may live peacefully, mind their own affairs, and work with their own hands, doing what is right for themselves, their families and their neighbors (1 Thessalonians 4:11; 1 Timothy 5:8; Romans 13:1-10).
  • Punishes those whose actions are harmful and detrimental to the divinely ordained function of society.

Any government that fails or refuses to follow this model cannot be classified as a God-ordained government.

You can read more about what God ordained with respect to civil government in Civil Government: What the Bible Says About Its Origin, History, Nature, and Role. Follow the link to learn more about the book and purchase your copy today!

Filed Under: Excerpts Tagged With: ,

Civil Government: Chapter 3 – Origins of Civil Government: A Rejection of God’s Rule Over Man (Excerpt)

March 8, 2013 by

Civil Government - coverIf God did not institute civil government from its beginning, how did it originate? The Scriptures show us that civil government had its origin after the flood with Nimrod.

“Now Cush became the father of Nimrod; he became a mighty one on the earth. He was a mighty hunter before the Lord; therefore it is said, ‘Like Nimrod a mighty hunter before the Lord.’ The beginning of his kingdom was Babel and Erech and Accad and Calneh, in the land of Shinar” (Genesis 10:8-10).

Nimrod’s actions in establishing a kingdom were in rebellion against God. Many people do not (or will not) see this. They read these short verses about Nimrod as simply a benign record of history, rather than the first great organized rebellion against God since the flood.

The phrase that is easily overlooked is “before the Lord.” Nimrod was “a mighty hunter before the Lord.” He held such a place of prominence among the people that others would use him as a point of comparison — “Therefore it is said, ‘Like Nimrod a mighty hunter before the Lord.’”

This phrase is often used to mean in the presence of the Lord (Genesis 19:27; Exodus 34:34) or in worship to the Lord (Exodus 29:11; Deuteronomy 26:10). Because of this, brethren assume that the phrase is used positively here. Yet the word translated before (panim) has many different uses. In blessing Joseph’s sons, Jacob placed “Ephraim before Manasseh” (Genesis 48:20), meaning he placed Ephraim as chief among Joseph’s sons over his older brother Manasseh. It is used to describe kings who “faced each other” in battle (2 Kings 14:11). The translators of the New American Standard Bible have also translated this same word as against (Hosea 5:5; Ezekiel 6:9).

The Bible is not describing anything that Nimrod was doing in the presence of the Lord and certainly not in worship to the Lord. Rather, it is describing what Nimrod was doing to place himself before the Lord in the eyes of the people, making him their chief rather than God. Nimrod was opposed to God and wanted the people to forget the Lord and instead look to him as the ultimate authority and the provider of their happiness.

You can read more about the origins of human government in Civil Government: What the Bible Says About Its Origin, History, Nature, and Role. Follow the link to learn more about the book and purchase your copy today!

Filed Under: Excerpts Tagged With: , ,

Time and Chance: Notes on Ecclesiastes 9:11 (Excerpt)

February 7, 2013 by

Vanity of Vanities (cover)Ecclesiastes 9:11

I again saw under the sun that the race is not to the swift and the battle is not to the warriors, and neither is bread to the wise nor wealth to the discerning nor favor to men of ability; for time and chance overtake them all.

This verse emphasizes the uncertainty of life. While we may work, prepare, learn, and gain experience – as mentioned in the previous verse – we cannot predict what will happen. At times, the faster runner is beaten, and the stronger warrior is defeated. Wisdom and talent do not guarantee favor or success. So while we ought to do the best we can (9:10), we must not become arrogant and ignore the uncertain nature of life. But it is important to notice why Solomon says unexpected things happen. It is not necessarily because God has some direct involvement in producing certain results (though that did happen at various times throughout the Bible). Rather, time and chance produce uncertain outcomes. Some want to attribute every event and circumstance in life to God, but the wise man clearly tells us that various outcomes in life are the result of coincidence and happenstance.

You can read more comments on the book of Ecclesiastes in Vanity of Vanties: Notes on Ecclesiastes. Follow the link to learn more about the book and purchase your copy today!

Filed Under: Excerpts Tagged With: , ,

Because of the Oath Before God: Notes on Ecclesiastes 8:2 (Excerpt)

February 5, 2013 by

Vanity of Vanities (cover)Ecclesiastes 8:2

I say, “Keep the command of the king because of the oath before God.

Solomon now begins a discussion about obedience to civil authorities. When studying this passage, it is important that we understand the context. When the Scriptures speak of our responsibility to obey authorities and the benefit we receive from authorities, it must be assumed that said authorities are satisfying their divinely-ordained role. Otherwise we may be forced to disobey the authorities (cf. Acts 5:29); and we may suffer harm as a consequence of their wickedness (Proverbs 29:2). This idea of our conditional obedience to civil authorities is suggested in this verse. We are to “keep the command of the king” for a specific reason. Just because he is king and claims authority over the nation? No, “because of the oath before God.” We must consider God and His will first. Human law does not supersede divine law.

You can read more comments on the book of Ecclesiastes in Vanity of Vanties: Notes on Ecclesiastes. Follow the link to learn more about the book and purchase your copy today!

Filed Under: Excerpts Tagged With: ,
« Previous Page
Next Page »