The institution of government is a divine one; God established human governance after the Great Flood as recorded in Genesis 9: "And from every person, from every man as his brother I will require the life of a person. Whoever sheds human blood, by man his blood shall be shed, For in the image of God He made mankind."
This command from on high calls for capital punishment for those who murder a human being. The reason is not first and foremost because it's a deterrent, although that's involved. The reason for capital punishment is, "for in the image of God, He made mankind." That is, when a person murders a human being, he has killed a creation that is special to God. Murder is not like killing an animal or destroying a plant.
Therefore, since this highest penalty of them all is a law, then a multitude of lesser punishments can be made regarding theft, destruction of private property, assault, disturbing the peace, et al. and with them, the institution of human government is born.
Throughout history, we have seen the institution of government take various forms: monarchy, democracy, republicanism, socialism, fascism, and communism. But there is something about these forms that man in his fallen hubris rarely recognizes. (There have been a precious few that have recognized the principle: John Adams did, along with our Founding Fathers.) But, in the main, generally speaking, only the man with the Bible has realized a fundamental principle about all human governments, whether they be republics, democracies, monarchies, or communist, it makes no difference what form they take.
The most brilliant of theorists, those who teach courses in government in our most prestigious institutions of higher learning such as Harvard, Yale, and Texas Tech and those who write ponderous tomes about governmental theory are blind to a most basic principle about all forms of government. Why? Because it would hurt their pride to admit it and it would demonstrate that they are helpless to do anything about it.
This fundamental principle can't be overcome by voting, even by the most intelligent of voters. It can't be eliminated by the most powerful, moral, or conservative or liberal of presidents, prime minsters, senators, Supreme Court Justices, or congressional representatives.
Neither a Cicero, nor the most conservative President in U. S. history, John Tyler, could negate the principle. They are as helpless as you and I. The principle is an inexorable juggernaut, one writ large in the pages of the Old Testament for all to see, particularly in the book of I Kings.
It is this: no government will work when the people abandon God.
No comments:
Post a Comment