A Biblical View of Government

by Samuel E. Ward July 1, 1012   Part One:   The True Power Behind all Governments  (This series will continue in the Fall) Introduction A. The Origin of the Pledge to the American Flag The original pledge by Francis Bellamy:   "I pledge of allegiance to the Flag and the Republic for which it stands, one nation indivisible, with liberty and justice for all."  In his first dfraft Bellamy had "with equality and fraternity for all."  He decided against it knowing that the members on the National Public School Celebration of Columbus Day -1892 would probably reject it because they did not believe in equality for women or African-Americans. The phrase "under God" was first used by Louis Bowman at a meeting of the Illinois Society of the Sons of the American Revolution celebrating Abraham Lincoln's birthday on February 12, 1948. His reason for inserting it was that it had appeared in all the contemporary reporter's transcripts of the Gettysburg Address by Lincoln, though not in all manuscripts of it published afterwards.  It is believed that Lincoln himself departed from his written address and added "under God" in his speech when he delivered the speech. On February 8, 1954, President Dwight D. Eisenhower supported the bill to have included the phrase "under God" in the Pledge because without it, it could represent any pledge by any other nation. Adding "under God" made it complete. It made it truly characterize and define the American way of life. B. The Origin of the Pledge to the Christian Flag When the featured speaker at a Sunday School Rally at Coney Island Chapel in New York failed to appear, Sunday School Superintendent Charles Overton was forced to improvise on the spur of the moment.  Across the pulpit lay an American Flag and he began an impromptu description of what the colors, stripes, and stars symbolized. In an instant, the thought came to him that perhaps Christians needed their own flag. Adlibbing, he described what could possibly be the symbols and colors of a Christian flag and from that description a flag was born that has been in use for over 100 years. Some time after 1922, a pledge to the Christian flag written by Lynn Harold Hough, a Methodist minister and seminary professor, began to be used in Vacation Bible Schools.  Several versions have appeared since with minor variations. C. The Origin of the Pledge to the Bible It is interesting to note  that the pledge to the Bible has a uniquely Southern Baptist origin. In 1924 a young pastor named Homer Grice was called from his church in Washington, Georgia to lead Southern Baptists in the Vacation Bible school movement, which was spreading across the nation among many denominations. Dr. Grice served as director of the newly-created VBS Department of the Baptist Sunday School Board. "After the coming of Dr. Homer L. Grice to the Sunday School Board to take up Vacation Bible School work, another salute was added [to the pledges to the U.S. and the Christian flags]. Dr. Grice took two verses of Scripture (Psalm 119:105 and 11) and linked them together, creating the pledge to the Bible, which was introduced in 1925 in Vacation Bible Schools."[1] http://www.scbaptist.org/vbs/article117794.htm The True Power behind All Governments I. God Rules over All Rulers (Rom 13:1 NIV)  Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. A. Psalm 75:7 Is Asaph's Testimony to God's Omnipotence – There is no power greater than God's power. (Psa 75:7 NIV)  But it is God who judges: He brings one down, he exalts another. B. Daniel 4:34-35 Is Nebuchadnezzar's Acknowledgement that the God of the Bible Is Sovereign over Heaven and Earth. (Dan 4:34-35 NIV)  At the end of that time, I, Nebuchadnezzar, raised my eyes toward heaven, and my sanity was restored. Then I praised the Most High; I honored and glorified him who lives forever. His dominion is an eternal dominion; his kingdom endures from generation to generation.  {35} All the peoples of the earth are regarded as nothing. He does as he pleases with the powers of heaven and the peoples of the earth. No one can hold back his hand or say to him: "What have you done?" II. God Ordains All Rulers (Prov 8:15-16 NIV)  By me kings reign and rulers make laws that are just; {16} by me princes govern, and all nobles who rule on earth. See also Rom 13:1. A. Our Votes Count Possibly in the Sense that They Reflect What Kind of Government We Deserve and Then Receive. B. Jesus Recognized the Authority of Government. 1. Caesar - Matt. 22:17, 21 2. Pilate - John 19:11 3. He submitted to the trials, though illegally processed, by Herod, the High Priest, and the Sandhedrin. III. God Views Rulers as Servants Held Accountable to Him A. Rulers Are God's Servants. (Rom 13:4-6 NIV)  For he is God's servant to do you good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword for nothing. He is God's servant, an agent of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer.  {5} Therefore, it is necessary to submit to the authorities, not only because of possible punishment but also because of conscience. {6} This is also why you pay taxes, for the authorities are God's servants, who give their full time to governing. B. Rulers Are Held Accountable to God on Judgment Day. (Psa 2:2-6 NIV)  The kings of the earth take their stand and the rulers gather together against the LORD and against his Anointed One. {3} "Let us break their chains," they say, "and throw off their fetters." {4} The One enthroned in heaven laughs; the Lord scoffs at them. {5} Then he rebukes them in his anger and terrifies them in his wrath, saying, {6} "I have installed my King on Zion, my holy hill." . . . {10} Therefore, you kings, be wise; be warned, you rulers of the earth. (Psa 110:1-6 NIV)  Of David. A psalm. The LORD says to my Lord: "Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet." {2} The LORD will extend your mighty scepter from Zion; you will rule in the midst of your enemies. {3} Your troops will be willing on your day of battle. Arrayed in holy majesty, from the womb of the dawn you will receive the dew of your youth. {4} The LORD has sworn and will not change his mind: "You are a priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek."{5} The Lord is at your right hand; he will crush kings on the day of his wrath. {6} He will judge the nations, heaping up the dead and crushing the rulers of the whole earth. IV. God Allows Some to Rule Though They May Be Morally and Spiritually Deficient (1 Ki 15:1-4 NIV)  In the eighteenth year of the reign of Jeroboam son of Nebat, Abijah became king of Judah, {2} and he reigned in Jerusalem three years. His mother's name was Maacah daughter of Abishalom. {3} He committed all the sins his father had done before him; his heart was not fully devoted to the LORD his God, as the heart of David his forefather had been. {4} Nevertheless, for David's sake the LORD his God gave him a lamp in Jerusalem by raising up a son to succeed him and by making Jerusalem strong. V. God Does Not Endorse a Particular Form of Government Any government in which God does not have absolute rule is imperfect and can become spiritually and morally corrupt. A. No Particular Form of Government Is Advocated (theocracy, autocracy, democracy) B. However, God Is a God of Order. (Deu 16:18-20 NIV)  Appoint judges and officials for each of your tribes in every town the LORD your God is giving you, and they shall judge the people fairly. {19} Do not pervert justice or show partiality. Do not accept a bribe, for a bribe blinds the eyes of the wise and twists the words of the righteous. {20} Follow justice and justice alone, so that you may live and possess the land the LORD your God is giving you. C. Any Form of Government Is Better than No Government, Anarchy, or Chaos. Twice in the book of Judges, which is a history of Israel at a time when they were characteristically disobedient to all rule, even God's, a statement appears to describe their national attitude. (Judg 17:6 NIV)  In those days Israel had no king; everyone did as he saw fit. (Judg 21:25 NIV)  In those days Israel had no king; everyone did as he saw fit. This attitude became the reason for Israel's oppression by other nations and the great tragedies they experienced throughout this period. What Is a Christian's Duty to Government? To give due respect and honor to those who govern (Rom 13:7 NIV)  Give everyone what you owe him: . . . if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor. To be obedient to those who govern (Titus 3:1 NIV)  Remind the people to be subject to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready to do whatever is good. To pay taxes for the administration of government responsibilities (Luke 20:22, 25b NIV)  "Is it right for us to pay taxes to Caesar or not?" . . . {25b} He said to them, "Give to Caesar what is Caesar's, and to God what is God's." (Rom 13:6-7 NIV)  This is also why you pay taxes, for the authorities are God's servants, who give their full time to governing. {7} Give everyone what you owe him: If you owe taxes, pay taxes; if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor. To pray for those who govern (1 Tim 2:1-2 NIV)  I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone-- {2} for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. [1] Sibley C. Burnett, Better Vacation Bible Schools (Nashville: Convention Press, 1957), p. 93.