Randy Green's Blog - Posts Tagged "democracy"
Thoughts on the November Elections – Part 1
And I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse, and He who sat on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and wages war…And on His robe and on His thigh He has a name written, “King of kings and Lord of lords.” [Revelation 19:11, 16]
The United States presidential elections occur every four years. In fact one such election is looming on the horizon at this moment. I am speaking of the 2012 presidential election, dear friends, though the time frame doesn’t much matter. One is the same as the other.
During these elections we also select certain of our Senators and Representatives. Did you ever stop to consider what this is all about? I know for myself, I am weary of going out of my way to pull some levers, to signify which folks I want in Washington D.C. running our country. Does it really matter if Frick wins instead Frack? Will anything change if Tweedledum is elected instead of Tweedledee?
Sometimes it is advantageous to step back from a situation and view it in a different light. For instance, rather than brewing and stewing over the lack of real choices between candidates—certainly the reality in American elections of late, party identifiers not withstanding—perhaps we should ponder the alternative forms of government a bit. Let’s consider a few of them, shall we?
What if we had no elections? Maybe we could simply have no government at all. That goes by the name “anarchy”, I believe. How would your life be then? Try this. Take the flat of your hand and tap slightly hard against the side of your skull several times. Hopefully you can jar loose some of those hibernating memories of elementary school times of yesteryear.
Did it work? Can you envision all of society functioning like the school playground? I mean the playground when no teachers or other authority figures maintained order. Ouch! Those memories hurt! The school bullies had their way. The rest of us paved their way, literally. We were the blacktop paving their roads.
So if we had no government, if the good ol’ USA was the home of anarchy, the bigger fish would seize power and force themselves on everyone else as the government. There is no such critter as “anarchy”, not in reality. It cannot work. Man must be governed. The only real question is by whom.
Okay. So anarchy is out. What about other forms of government instead of “democracy”. Well, there are several various examples of government forms over the millennia. One form goes by the label “republic”. In this type of government the qualified folks determine who rules. The qualifications for “qualified” can vary, but usually it means having an education and owning some property.
We will pause with that thought and continue this discussion in our next study. For now enjoy some time alone with Jesus.
To further research this issue, I direct you to my book Exodus: Volume 2 of Heavenly Citizens in Earthly Shoes. To purchase my books please go to:
http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B005PJ761C
https://sites.google.com/site/heavenl...
The United States presidential elections occur every four years. In fact one such election is looming on the horizon at this moment. I am speaking of the 2012 presidential election, dear friends, though the time frame doesn’t much matter. One is the same as the other.
During these elections we also select certain of our Senators and Representatives. Did you ever stop to consider what this is all about? I know for myself, I am weary of going out of my way to pull some levers, to signify which folks I want in Washington D.C. running our country. Does it really matter if Frick wins instead Frack? Will anything change if Tweedledum is elected instead of Tweedledee?
Sometimes it is advantageous to step back from a situation and view it in a different light. For instance, rather than brewing and stewing over the lack of real choices between candidates—certainly the reality in American elections of late, party identifiers not withstanding—perhaps we should ponder the alternative forms of government a bit. Let’s consider a few of them, shall we?
What if we had no elections? Maybe we could simply have no government at all. That goes by the name “anarchy”, I believe. How would your life be then? Try this. Take the flat of your hand and tap slightly hard against the side of your skull several times. Hopefully you can jar loose some of those hibernating memories of elementary school times of yesteryear.
Did it work? Can you envision all of society functioning like the school playground? I mean the playground when no teachers or other authority figures maintained order. Ouch! Those memories hurt! The school bullies had their way. The rest of us paved their way, literally. We were the blacktop paving their roads.
So if we had no government, if the good ol’ USA was the home of anarchy, the bigger fish would seize power and force themselves on everyone else as the government. There is no such critter as “anarchy”, not in reality. It cannot work. Man must be governed. The only real question is by whom.
Okay. So anarchy is out. What about other forms of government instead of “democracy”. Well, there are several various examples of government forms over the millennia. One form goes by the label “republic”. In this type of government the qualified folks determine who rules. The qualifications for “qualified” can vary, but usually it means having an education and owning some property.
We will pause with that thought and continue this discussion in our next study. For now enjoy some time alone with Jesus.
To further research this issue, I direct you to my book Exodus: Volume 2 of Heavenly Citizens in Earthly Shoes. To purchase my books please go to:
http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B005PJ761C
https://sites.google.com/site/heavenl...
Thoughts on the November Elections – Part 2
And I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse, and He who sat on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and wages war…And on His robe and on His thigh He has a name written, “King of kings and Lord of lords.” [Revelation 19:11, 16]
We saw that anarchy can never cut it, when it comes to the functioning of society. So we began considering other alternatives to our present form of government. We considered a republic.
The USA began as a republic. Technically it still is. The electoral college makes the final determination of who wins the presidential elections, not the popular vote. In actual practice, though, the popular vote has correctly picked the actual winners.
The benefit of a republic over a democracy is that demagogues cannot stir up evil in the people and win control. Can anyone say “Hitler”? Another evil would be the legal oppression of minorities because the majority rules.
A still different form of government bears the epithet “monarchy”. This was the dominant form of government for most of history. In some cases the monarch was absolute, in others not so much so (e.g., a constitutional monarchy). A king is the governmental leader under monarchies. He makes the laws, determines the taxes, and sometimes oppresses everyone but at other times is benevolent to everyone.
So come November, before we wring our hands in despair over the lack of meaningful choices between the various candidates, and before we throw in the towel and boycott the elections, maybe we should decide what form of government we would prefer to see replace our current format. Remember, anarchy is out so government of one form or another is in.
Now that we’ve plodded through that thick and unpleasant bog, permit me to reveal how I got on the subject of government in the first place. In Romans 13:1-2 the Apostle Paul teaches,
Every person is to be in subjection to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those which exist are established by God. Therefore whoever resists authority has opposed the ordinance of God; and they who have opposed will receive condemnation upon themselves.
Notice that all authority—this includes but is not limited to government—but all authority comes from God. Paul’s words are often misconstrued. Folks tend to think he means that every individual governmental person was personally chosen by God for his role.
Not so! Paul didn’t say any specific individual was governing according to the Word of God. He didn’t refer to individuals at all. Notice the phrase “whoever resists authority has opposed the ordinance of God”. God commands authority because God is not a God of disorder and confusion. He is a God of order (cf., 1 Corinthians 14:33).
Oops! Out of time again. We’ll press the Pause Button and hie off to the prayer closet to visit with Jesus now. See you tomorrow.
To further research this issue, I direct you to my book Exodus: Volume 2 of Heavenly Citizens in Earthly Shoes. To purchase my books please go to:
http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B005PJ761C
https://sites.google.com/site/heavenl...
We saw that anarchy can never cut it, when it comes to the functioning of society. So we began considering other alternatives to our present form of government. We considered a republic.
The USA began as a republic. Technically it still is. The electoral college makes the final determination of who wins the presidential elections, not the popular vote. In actual practice, though, the popular vote has correctly picked the actual winners.
The benefit of a republic over a democracy is that demagogues cannot stir up evil in the people and win control. Can anyone say “Hitler”? Another evil would be the legal oppression of minorities because the majority rules.
A still different form of government bears the epithet “monarchy”. This was the dominant form of government for most of history. In some cases the monarch was absolute, in others not so much so (e.g., a constitutional monarchy). A king is the governmental leader under monarchies. He makes the laws, determines the taxes, and sometimes oppresses everyone but at other times is benevolent to everyone.
So come November, before we wring our hands in despair over the lack of meaningful choices between the various candidates, and before we throw in the towel and boycott the elections, maybe we should decide what form of government we would prefer to see replace our current format. Remember, anarchy is out so government of one form or another is in.
Now that we’ve plodded through that thick and unpleasant bog, permit me to reveal how I got on the subject of government in the first place. In Romans 13:1-2 the Apostle Paul teaches,
Every person is to be in subjection to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those which exist are established by God. Therefore whoever resists authority has opposed the ordinance of God; and they who have opposed will receive condemnation upon themselves.
Notice that all authority—this includes but is not limited to government—but all authority comes from God. Paul’s words are often misconstrued. Folks tend to think he means that every individual governmental person was personally chosen by God for his role.
Not so! Paul didn’t say any specific individual was governing according to the Word of God. He didn’t refer to individuals at all. Notice the phrase “whoever resists authority has opposed the ordinance of God”. God commands authority because God is not a God of disorder and confusion. He is a God of order (cf., 1 Corinthians 14:33).
Oops! Out of time again. We’ll press the Pause Button and hie off to the prayer closet to visit with Jesus now. See you tomorrow.
To further research this issue, I direct you to my book Exodus: Volume 2 of Heavenly Citizens in Earthly Shoes. To purchase my books please go to:
http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B005PJ761C
https://sites.google.com/site/heavenl...
Thoughts on the November Elections – Part 3
And I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse, and He who sat on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and wages war…And on His robe and on His thigh He has a name written, “King of kings and Lord of lords.” [Revelation 19:11, 16]
I rue the November elections because there seems to be no real choices in the candidates. I always have to vote for the “lesser evil” so-called. Why can’t I have someone with whom I really can get on board? So we considered alternatives: anarchy, republic, monarchy.
The bottom line is that God established authority to keep order, as we learned from Romans 13. But God also established His Word to teach us what is right and what is wrong. When government rule is contrary to God’s Word, then the leaders are not ruling in accordance with the purpose for which God established government. If we must choose between God and government, we must always choose God. If we can still obey God, we must obey all authority which is over us.
Here’s the thing, dear friends. In the good ol’ USA today the prevailing mindset is “I-me-mine” and “looking out for Numero Uno”. Anyone which puts a damper on what we want, well, we declare war on him and see how many folks we can persuade to side with us. The prophet Micah observed the same thing among his people back in the day:
If a liar and deceiver comes and says, ‘I will prophesy for you plenty of wine and beer,’ he would be just the prophet for this people! [Micah 2:11]
I don’t mean to be harsh, really I don’t, but that is an apt depiction of my beloved country today. Even the evangelical churches are governed by affluent middle class morality, rather than by the Bible. We Christians are too busy enjoying “the good life”, that we haven’t any time left over for daily time alone with Jesus.
In the Bible verses quoted at the start of this study, the Lord Jesus is revealed to be THE KING and THE LORD. He rules as an absolute monarch. He won’t come to you or me and prophesy plenty of wine and beer. He doesn’t gives you or me our way, in order to curry our favor and stay elected. Those who behave that way are known as opportunists. Jesus is no opportunist!
We today cannot get a handle on this truth because we live in a permissive entitlement society. I have my rights, you see. I’ve forgotten what the word responsibilities means. If I don’t get what I think I deserve in anything whatsoever, then someone is doing me wrong!
This mentality has a direct bearing on government and the November elections, dear friends. Really it does. But we’re out of time again, so we’ll have to postpone learning what it is until our next study. So go worship the Lord a while and come back for the next study.
To further research this issue, I direct you to my book Exodus: Volume 2 of Heavenly Citizens in Earthly Shoes. To purchase my books please go to:
http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B005PJ761C
https://sites.google.com/site/heavenl...
Categories: Church Age
I rue the November elections because there seems to be no real choices in the candidates. I always have to vote for the “lesser evil” so-called. Why can’t I have someone with whom I really can get on board? So we considered alternatives: anarchy, republic, monarchy.
The bottom line is that God established authority to keep order, as we learned from Romans 13. But God also established His Word to teach us what is right and what is wrong. When government rule is contrary to God’s Word, then the leaders are not ruling in accordance with the purpose for which God established government. If we must choose between God and government, we must always choose God. If we can still obey God, we must obey all authority which is over us.
Here’s the thing, dear friends. In the good ol’ USA today the prevailing mindset is “I-me-mine” and “looking out for Numero Uno”. Anyone which puts a damper on what we want, well, we declare war on him and see how many folks we can persuade to side with us. The prophet Micah observed the same thing among his people back in the day:
If a liar and deceiver comes and says, ‘I will prophesy for you plenty of wine and beer,’ he would be just the prophet for this people! [Micah 2:11]
I don’t mean to be harsh, really I don’t, but that is an apt depiction of my beloved country today. Even the evangelical churches are governed by affluent middle class morality, rather than by the Bible. We Christians are too busy enjoying “the good life”, that we haven’t any time left over for daily time alone with Jesus.
In the Bible verses quoted at the start of this study, the Lord Jesus is revealed to be THE KING and THE LORD. He rules as an absolute monarch. He won’t come to you or me and prophesy plenty of wine and beer. He doesn’t gives you or me our way, in order to curry our favor and stay elected. Those who behave that way are known as opportunists. Jesus is no opportunist!
We today cannot get a handle on this truth because we live in a permissive entitlement society. I have my rights, you see. I’ve forgotten what the word responsibilities means. If I don’t get what I think I deserve in anything whatsoever, then someone is doing me wrong!
This mentality has a direct bearing on government and the November elections, dear friends. Really it does. But we’re out of time again, so we’ll have to postpone learning what it is until our next study. So go worship the Lord a while and come back for the next study.
To further research this issue, I direct you to my book Exodus: Volume 2 of Heavenly Citizens in Earthly Shoes. To purchase my books please go to:
http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B005PJ761C
https://sites.google.com/site/heavenl...
Categories: Church Age
Thoughts on the November Elections – Part 4
And I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse, and He who sat on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and wages war…And on His robe and on His thigh He has a name written, “King of kings and Lord of lords.” [Revelation 19:11, 16]
Politics is overrun with opportunism. Elected officials are mostly opportunists because that’s the only way to get elected! The electorate, you see, vote for whoever gives out the most toys. This boils down to voting for the person who promises me the most, the candidate I believe will benefit me more than the others.
But where is the principle in that approach? Ah, that puts the finger on the real issue right there, doesn’t it. Am I truly a principled person? Do I do what is right because it is right, or do machinate and wangle to seize what I think I deserve? What kind of person am I?
Do I examine the candidates and determine who I’ll cast my vote for based on their positions? Do I choose positions based on my own personal agenda, or do I choose based on the Lord’s agenda? Does the Word of God rule me come election time, or do I vote to receive personal favors?
Jesus Christ is King of kings and Lord of lords, not the President of the United States. I cannot vote Him out of office if He doesn’t give me my way. There are only two choices I can make in relating to Jesus:
1. submit to Him as my King
2. rebel against His Kingship
Voting doesn’t enter the picture. It’s either His way or the highway. Either He rules my life—I mean really rules all of it 24/7—or else I rule it, in which case I am rebelling against His Kingship. If Jesus rules my life 24/7, my voting will be determined by Him.
In today’s permissive and entitlement society, this concept is not often grasped. There is a lot of church going on but not much new life. We still behave as if we get to vote on who we want to rule, and we vote for whoever gives us the most toys.
If I truly submit to Jesus as my King, I don’t want the most toys. I don’t want what I think is fun and games and easy living. I want what the Lord wants. He makes His will lucid in His Word, the Bible. I do want His will in my life, so I look forward every day to spending time alone with Jesus and the Bible.
Oh, I far too often do my own will. I much too frequently disobey His Word. But I don’t think it is okay! I turn to Him and confess my sins, asking Him to forgive me (cf., 1 John 1:9). Then with hands clean and heart pure because of His grace, I press forward toward the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.
No, I wouldn’t want our government to be a monarchy over what it is at present. But I would love for it to be the absolute monarchy of the Lord Jesus Christ. It will be during the Millennium. Until then I guess I have to play the Tweedledum and Tweedledee game a while longer.
Soon He will call me home and I won’t have to play it anymore. What a glorious future awaits the child of God!
To further research this issue, I direct you to my book Exodus: Volume 2 of Heavenly Citizens in Earthly Shoes. To purchase my books please go to:
http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B005PJ761C
https://sites.google.com/site/heavenl...
Politics is overrun with opportunism. Elected officials are mostly opportunists because that’s the only way to get elected! The electorate, you see, vote for whoever gives out the most toys. This boils down to voting for the person who promises me the most, the candidate I believe will benefit me more than the others.
But where is the principle in that approach? Ah, that puts the finger on the real issue right there, doesn’t it. Am I truly a principled person? Do I do what is right because it is right, or do machinate and wangle to seize what I think I deserve? What kind of person am I?
Do I examine the candidates and determine who I’ll cast my vote for based on their positions? Do I choose positions based on my own personal agenda, or do I choose based on the Lord’s agenda? Does the Word of God rule me come election time, or do I vote to receive personal favors?
Jesus Christ is King of kings and Lord of lords, not the President of the United States. I cannot vote Him out of office if He doesn’t give me my way. There are only two choices I can make in relating to Jesus:
1. submit to Him as my King
2. rebel against His Kingship
Voting doesn’t enter the picture. It’s either His way or the highway. Either He rules my life—I mean really rules all of it 24/7—or else I rule it, in which case I am rebelling against His Kingship. If Jesus rules my life 24/7, my voting will be determined by Him.
In today’s permissive and entitlement society, this concept is not often grasped. There is a lot of church going on but not much new life. We still behave as if we get to vote on who we want to rule, and we vote for whoever gives us the most toys.
If I truly submit to Jesus as my King, I don’t want the most toys. I don’t want what I think is fun and games and easy living. I want what the Lord wants. He makes His will lucid in His Word, the Bible. I do want His will in my life, so I look forward every day to spending time alone with Jesus and the Bible.
Oh, I far too often do my own will. I much too frequently disobey His Word. But I don’t think it is okay! I turn to Him and confess my sins, asking Him to forgive me (cf., 1 John 1:9). Then with hands clean and heart pure because of His grace, I press forward toward the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.
No, I wouldn’t want our government to be a monarchy over what it is at present. But I would love for it to be the absolute monarchy of the Lord Jesus Christ. It will be during the Millennium. Until then I guess I have to play the Tweedledum and Tweedledee game a while longer.
Soon He will call me home and I won’t have to play it anymore. What a glorious future awaits the child of God!
To further research this issue, I direct you to my book Exodus: Volume 2 of Heavenly Citizens in Earthly Shoes. To purchase my books please go to:
http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B005PJ761C
https://sites.google.com/site/heavenl...
Thoughts on the November Elections – Part 1
And I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse, and He who sat on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and wages war…And on His robe and on His thigh He has a name written, “King of kings and Lord of lords.” [Revelation 19:11, 16]
The United States presidential elections occur every four years. In fact one such election is looming on the horizon at this moment. I am speaking of the 2012 presidential election, dear friends, though the time frame doesn’t much matter. One is the same as the other.
During these elections we also select certain of our Senators and Representatives. Did you ever stop to consider what this is all about? I know for myself, I am weary of going out of my way to pull some levers, to signify which folks I want to send to Washington D.C. to run our country. Does it really matter if Frick wins instead Frack? Will anything change if Tweedledum is elected instead of Tweedledee?
Sometimes it is advantageous to step back from a situation and view it in a different light. For instance, rather than brewing and stewing over the lack of real choices between candidates—certainly the reality in American elections of late, party identifiers notwithstanding—perhaps we should ponder the alternative forms of government a bit. Let’s consider a few of them, shall we?
What if we had no elections? Maybe we could simply have no government at all. That goes by the name “anarchy”, I believe. How would your life be then? Try this. Take the flat of your hand and tap slightly hard against the side of your skull several times. Hopefully you can jar loose some of those hibernating memories of elementary school times of yesteryear.
Did it work? Can you envision all of society functioning like the school playground? I mean the playground when no teachers or other authority figures maintained order. Ouch! Those memories hurt! The school bullies had their way. The rest of us paved their way, literally. We were the blacktop beneath their feet.
So if we had no government, if the good ol’ USA was the home of anarchy, the bigger fish would seize power and force themselves on everyone else as the government. There is no such critter as “anarchy”, not in reality. It cannot work. Man must be governed. The only real question is by whom.
Okay. So anarchy is out. What about other forms of government instead of “democracy”. Well, there are several various examples of governmental forms over the millennia. One form goes by the label “republic”. In this type of government the qualified folks determine who rules. The qualifications for “qualified” can vary, but usually it means having an education and owning some property.
We will pause with that thought and continue this discussion in our next study. For now enjoy some time alone with Jesus.
To further research this issue, I direct you to my book Exodus: Volume 2 of Heavenly Citizens in Earthly Shoes. To purchase my books please go to:
http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B005PJ761C
https://sites.google.com/site/heavenl...
The United States presidential elections occur every four years. In fact one such election is looming on the horizon at this moment. I am speaking of the 2012 presidential election, dear friends, though the time frame doesn’t much matter. One is the same as the other.
During these elections we also select certain of our Senators and Representatives. Did you ever stop to consider what this is all about? I know for myself, I am weary of going out of my way to pull some levers, to signify which folks I want to send to Washington D.C. to run our country. Does it really matter if Frick wins instead Frack? Will anything change if Tweedledum is elected instead of Tweedledee?
Sometimes it is advantageous to step back from a situation and view it in a different light. For instance, rather than brewing and stewing over the lack of real choices between candidates—certainly the reality in American elections of late, party identifiers notwithstanding—perhaps we should ponder the alternative forms of government a bit. Let’s consider a few of them, shall we?
What if we had no elections? Maybe we could simply have no government at all. That goes by the name “anarchy”, I believe. How would your life be then? Try this. Take the flat of your hand and tap slightly hard against the side of your skull several times. Hopefully you can jar loose some of those hibernating memories of elementary school times of yesteryear.
Did it work? Can you envision all of society functioning like the school playground? I mean the playground when no teachers or other authority figures maintained order. Ouch! Those memories hurt! The school bullies had their way. The rest of us paved their way, literally. We were the blacktop beneath their feet.
So if we had no government, if the good ol’ USA was the home of anarchy, the bigger fish would seize power and force themselves on everyone else as the government. There is no such critter as “anarchy”, not in reality. It cannot work. Man must be governed. The only real question is by whom.
Okay. So anarchy is out. What about other forms of government instead of “democracy”. Well, there are several various examples of governmental forms over the millennia. One form goes by the label “republic”. In this type of government the qualified folks determine who rules. The qualifications for “qualified” can vary, but usually it means having an education and owning some property.
We will pause with that thought and continue this discussion in our next study. For now enjoy some time alone with Jesus.
To further research this issue, I direct you to my book Exodus: Volume 2 of Heavenly Citizens in Earthly Shoes. To purchase my books please go to:
http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B005PJ761C
https://sites.google.com/site/heavenl...
Thoughts on the November Elections – Part 2
And I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse, and He who sat on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and wages war…And on His robe and on His thigh He has a name written, “King of kings and Lord of lords.” [Revelation 19:11, 16]
We saw that anarchy can never cut it, when it comes to the functioning of society. So we began considering other alternatives to our present form of government. We considered a republic.
The USA began as a republic. Technically it still is. The electoral college makes the final determination of who wins the presidential elections, not the popular vote. In actual practice, though, the popular vote has correctly picked the actual winners.
The benefit of a republic over a democracy is that demagogues cannot stir up evil in the people and win control. Can anyone say “Hitler”? Another evil would be the legal oppression of minorities because the majority rules.
A still different form of government bears the epithet “monarchy”. This was the dominant form of government for most of history. In some cases the monarch was absolute, in others not so much e.g., a constitutional monarchy). A king is the governmental leader under monarchies. He makes the laws, determines the taxes, and sometimes oppresses everyone but at other times is benevolent to everyone.
So come November, before we wring our hands in despair over the lack of meaningful choices between the various candidates, and before we throw in the towel and boycott the elections, maybe we should decide what form of government we would prefer to see replace our current format. Remember, anarchy is out so government of one form or another is in.
Now that we’ve plodded through that thick and unpleasant bog, permit me to reveal how I got on the subject of government in the first place. In Romans 13:1-2 the Apostle Paul teaches,
Every person is to be in subjection to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those which exist are established by God. Therefore whoever resists authority has opposed the ordinance of God; and they who have opposed will receive condemnation upon themselves.
Notice that all authority—this includes but is not limited to government—but all authority comes from God. Paul’s words are often misconstrued. Folks tend to think he means that every individual governmental person was personally chosen by God for his role.
Not so! Paul didn’t say any specific individual was governing according to the Word of God. He didn’t refer to individuals at all. Notice the phrase “whoever resists authority has opposed the ordinance of God”. God commands authority because God is not a God of disorder and confusion. He is a God of order (cf., 1 Corinthians 14:33).
Oops! Out of time again. We’ll press the Pause Button and hie off to the prayer closet to visit with Jesus now. See you tomorrow.
To further research this issue, I direct you to my book Exodus: Volume 2 of Heavenly Citizens in Earthly Shoes. To purchase my books please go to:
http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B005PJ761C
https://sites.google.com/site/heavenl...
We saw that anarchy can never cut it, when it comes to the functioning of society. So we began considering other alternatives to our present form of government. We considered a republic.
The USA began as a republic. Technically it still is. The electoral college makes the final determination of who wins the presidential elections, not the popular vote. In actual practice, though, the popular vote has correctly picked the actual winners.
The benefit of a republic over a democracy is that demagogues cannot stir up evil in the people and win control. Can anyone say “Hitler”? Another evil would be the legal oppression of minorities because the majority rules.
A still different form of government bears the epithet “monarchy”. This was the dominant form of government for most of history. In some cases the monarch was absolute, in others not so much e.g., a constitutional monarchy). A king is the governmental leader under monarchies. He makes the laws, determines the taxes, and sometimes oppresses everyone but at other times is benevolent to everyone.
So come November, before we wring our hands in despair over the lack of meaningful choices between the various candidates, and before we throw in the towel and boycott the elections, maybe we should decide what form of government we would prefer to see replace our current format. Remember, anarchy is out so government of one form or another is in.
Now that we’ve plodded through that thick and unpleasant bog, permit me to reveal how I got on the subject of government in the first place. In Romans 13:1-2 the Apostle Paul teaches,
Every person is to be in subjection to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those which exist are established by God. Therefore whoever resists authority has opposed the ordinance of God; and they who have opposed will receive condemnation upon themselves.
Notice that all authority—this includes but is not limited to government—but all authority comes from God. Paul’s words are often misconstrued. Folks tend to think he means that every individual governmental person was personally chosen by God for his role.
Not so! Paul didn’t say any specific individual was governing according to the Word of God. He didn’t refer to individuals at all. Notice the phrase “whoever resists authority has opposed the ordinance of God”. God commands authority because God is not a God of disorder and confusion. He is a God of order (cf., 1 Corinthians 14:33).
Oops! Out of time again. We’ll press the Pause Button and hie off to the prayer closet to visit with Jesus now. See you tomorrow.
To further research this issue, I direct you to my book Exodus: Volume 2 of Heavenly Citizens in Earthly Shoes. To purchase my books please go to:
http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B005PJ761C
https://sites.google.com/site/heavenl...
Thoughts on the November Elections – Part 3
And I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse, and He who sat on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and wages war…And on His robe and on His thigh He has a name written, “King of kings and Lord of lords.” [Revelation 19:11, 16]
I rue the November elections because there seems to be no real choices in the candidates. I always have to vote for the “lesser evil” so-called. Why can’t I have someone with whom I really can get on board? So we considered alternatives: anarchy, republic, monarchy.
The bottom line is that God established authority to keep order, as we learned from Romans 13. But God also established His Word to teach us what is right and what is wrong. When government rule is contrary to God’s Word, then the leaders are not ruling in accordance with the purpose for which God established government. If we must choose between God and government, we must always choose God. If we can still obey God, we must obey all authority which is over us.
Here’s the thing, dear friends. In the good ol’ USA today the prevailing mindset is “I-me-mine” and “looking out for Numero Uno”. Anyone which puts a damper on what we want, well, we declare war on him and see how many folks we can persuade to side with us. The prophet Micah observed the same thing among his people back in the day:
If a liar and deceiver comes and says, ‘I will prophesy for you plenty of wine and beer,’ he would be just the prophet for this people! [Micah 2:11]
I don’t mean to be harsh, really I don’t, but that is an apt depiction of my beloved country today. Even the evangelical churches are governed by affluent middle class morality, rather than by the Bible. We Christians are too busy enjoying “the good life”, that we haven’t any time left over for real life, i.e., daily time alone with Jesus.
In the Bible verses quoted at the start of this study, the Lord Jesus is revealed to be THE KING and THE LORD. He rules as an absolute monarch. He won’t come to you or me and prophesy plenty of wine and beer. He doesn’t give you or me our way, in order to curry our favor and stay elected. Those who behave that way are known as opportunists. Jesus is no opportunist!
We today cannot get a handle on this truth because we live in a permissive entitlement society. I have my rights, you see. I’ve forgotten what the word responsibilities means. If I don’t get what I think I deserve in anything whatsoever, then someone is doing me wrong!
This mentality has a direct bearing on government and the November elections, dear friends. Really it does. But we’re out of time again, so we’ll have to postpone learning what it is until our next study. Let's go worship the Lord a while and come back for the next study.
To further research this issue, I direct you to my book Exodus: Volume 2 of Heavenly Citizens in Earthly Shoes. To purchase my books please go to:
http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B005PJ761C
https://sites.google.com/site/heavenl...
Categories: Church Age
I rue the November elections because there seems to be no real choices in the candidates. I always have to vote for the “lesser evil” so-called. Why can’t I have someone with whom I really can get on board? So we considered alternatives: anarchy, republic, monarchy.
The bottom line is that God established authority to keep order, as we learned from Romans 13. But God also established His Word to teach us what is right and what is wrong. When government rule is contrary to God’s Word, then the leaders are not ruling in accordance with the purpose for which God established government. If we must choose between God and government, we must always choose God. If we can still obey God, we must obey all authority which is over us.
Here’s the thing, dear friends. In the good ol’ USA today the prevailing mindset is “I-me-mine” and “looking out for Numero Uno”. Anyone which puts a damper on what we want, well, we declare war on him and see how many folks we can persuade to side with us. The prophet Micah observed the same thing among his people back in the day:
If a liar and deceiver comes and says, ‘I will prophesy for you plenty of wine and beer,’ he would be just the prophet for this people! [Micah 2:11]
I don’t mean to be harsh, really I don’t, but that is an apt depiction of my beloved country today. Even the evangelical churches are governed by affluent middle class morality, rather than by the Bible. We Christians are too busy enjoying “the good life”, that we haven’t any time left over for real life, i.e., daily time alone with Jesus.
In the Bible verses quoted at the start of this study, the Lord Jesus is revealed to be THE KING and THE LORD. He rules as an absolute monarch. He won’t come to you or me and prophesy plenty of wine and beer. He doesn’t give you or me our way, in order to curry our favor and stay elected. Those who behave that way are known as opportunists. Jesus is no opportunist!
We today cannot get a handle on this truth because we live in a permissive entitlement society. I have my rights, you see. I’ve forgotten what the word responsibilities means. If I don’t get what I think I deserve in anything whatsoever, then someone is doing me wrong!
This mentality has a direct bearing on government and the November elections, dear friends. Really it does. But we’re out of time again, so we’ll have to postpone learning what it is until our next study. Let's go worship the Lord a while and come back for the next study.
To further research this issue, I direct you to my book Exodus: Volume 2 of Heavenly Citizens in Earthly Shoes. To purchase my books please go to:
http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B005PJ761C
https://sites.google.com/site/heavenl...
Categories: Church Age
Thoughts on the November Elections – Part 4
And I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse, and He who sat on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and wages war…And on His robe and on His thigh He has a name written, “King of kings and Lord of lords.” [Revelation 19:11, 16]
Politics is overrun with opportunism. Elected officials are mostly opportunists because that’s the only way to get elected! The electorate, you see, vote for whoever gives out the most toys. This boils down to voting for the person who promises me the most, the candidate I believe will benefit me more than the others.
But where is principle in that approach? Ah, that puts the finger on the real issue right there, doesn’t it. Am I truly a principled person? Do I do what is right because it is right, or do machinate and wangle to seize what I think I deserve? What kind of person am I?
Do I examine the candidates and determine who I’ll cast my vote for based on their positions? Do I choose positions based on my own personal agenda, or do I choose based on the Lord’s agenda? Does the Word of God rule me come election time, or do I vote to receive personal favors?
Jesus Christ is King of kings and Lord of lords, not the President of the United States. I cannot vote Him out of office if He doesn’t give me my way. There are only two choices I can make in relating to Jesus:
1. submit to Him as my King
2. rebel against His Kingship
Voting doesn’t enter the picture. It’s either His way or the highway. Either He rules my life—I mean really rules all of it 24/7—or else I rule it, in which case I am rebelling against His Kingship. If Jesus rules my life 24/7, my voting will be determined by Him.
In today’s permissive and entitlement society, this concept is not often grasped. There is a lot of church going on but not much new life. We still behave as if we get to vote on who we want to rule, and we vote for whoever gives us the most toys.
If I truly submit to Jesus as my King, I don’t want the most toys. I don’t want what I think is fun and games and easy living. I want what the Lord wants. He makes His will lucid in His Word, the Bible. I do want His will in my life, so I look forward every day to spending time alone with Jesus and the Bible.
Oh, I far too often do my own will. I much too frequently disobey His Word. But I don’t think it is okay! I turn to Him and confess my sins, asking Him to forgive me (cf., 1 John 1:9). Then with hands clean and heart pure because of His grace, I press forward toward the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.
No, I wouldn’t want our government to be a monarchy over what it is at present. But I would love for it to be the absolute monarchy of the Lord Jesus Christ. It will be during the Millennium. Until then I guess I have to play the Tweedledum and Tweedledee game a while longer.
Soon He will call me home and I won’t have to play it anymore. What a glorious future awaits the child of God!
To further research this issue, I direct you to my book Exodus: Volume 2 of Heavenly Citizens in Earthly Shoes. To purchase my books please go to:
http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B005PJ761C
https://sites.google.com/site/heavenl...
Politics is overrun with opportunism. Elected officials are mostly opportunists because that’s the only way to get elected! The electorate, you see, vote for whoever gives out the most toys. This boils down to voting for the person who promises me the most, the candidate I believe will benefit me more than the others.
But where is principle in that approach? Ah, that puts the finger on the real issue right there, doesn’t it. Am I truly a principled person? Do I do what is right because it is right, or do machinate and wangle to seize what I think I deserve? What kind of person am I?
Do I examine the candidates and determine who I’ll cast my vote for based on their positions? Do I choose positions based on my own personal agenda, or do I choose based on the Lord’s agenda? Does the Word of God rule me come election time, or do I vote to receive personal favors?
Jesus Christ is King of kings and Lord of lords, not the President of the United States. I cannot vote Him out of office if He doesn’t give me my way. There are only two choices I can make in relating to Jesus:
1. submit to Him as my King
2. rebel against His Kingship
Voting doesn’t enter the picture. It’s either His way or the highway. Either He rules my life—I mean really rules all of it 24/7—or else I rule it, in which case I am rebelling against His Kingship. If Jesus rules my life 24/7, my voting will be determined by Him.
In today’s permissive and entitlement society, this concept is not often grasped. There is a lot of church going on but not much new life. We still behave as if we get to vote on who we want to rule, and we vote for whoever gives us the most toys.
If I truly submit to Jesus as my King, I don’t want the most toys. I don’t want what I think is fun and games and easy living. I want what the Lord wants. He makes His will lucid in His Word, the Bible. I do want His will in my life, so I look forward every day to spending time alone with Jesus and the Bible.
Oh, I far too often do my own will. I much too frequently disobey His Word. But I don’t think it is okay! I turn to Him and confess my sins, asking Him to forgive me (cf., 1 John 1:9). Then with hands clean and heart pure because of His grace, I press forward toward the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.
No, I wouldn’t want our government to be a monarchy over what it is at present. But I would love for it to be the absolute monarchy of the Lord Jesus Christ. It will be during the Millennium. Until then I guess I have to play the Tweedledum and Tweedledee game a while longer.
Soon He will call me home and I won’t have to play it anymore. What a glorious future awaits the child of God!
To further research this issue, I direct you to my book Exodus: Volume 2 of Heavenly Citizens in Earthly Shoes. To purchase my books please go to:
http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B005PJ761C
https://sites.google.com/site/heavenl...
Thoughts on the November Elections – Part 1
And I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse, and He who sat on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and wages war…And on His robe and on His thigh He has a name written, “King of kings and Lord of lords.” [Revelation 19:11, 16]
The United States presidential elections occur every four years. In fact one such election is looming on the horizon at this moment. I am speaking of the 2012 presidential election, dear friends, though the time frame doesn’t much matter. One is the same as the other.
During these elections we also select certain of our Senators and Representatives. Did you ever stop to consider what this is all about? I know for myself, I am weary of going out of my way to pull some levers, to signify which folks I want to send to Washington D.C. to run our country. Does it really matter if Frick wins instead Frack? Will anything change if Tweedledum is elected instead of Tweedledee?
Sometimes it is advantageous to step back from a situation and view it in a different light. For instance, rather than brewing and stewing over the lack of real choices between candidates—certainly the reality in American elections of late, party identifiers notwithstanding—perhaps we should ponder the alternative forms of government a bit. Let’s consider a few of them, shall we?
What if we had no elections? Maybe we could simply have no government at all. That goes by the name “anarchy”, I believe. How would your life be then? Try this. Take the flat of your hand and tap slightly hard against the side of your skull several times. Hopefully you can jar loose some of those hibernating memories of elementary school times of yesteryear.
Did it work? Can you envision all of society functioning like the school playground? I mean the playground when no teachers or other authority figures maintained order. Ouch! Those memories hurt! The school bullies had their way. The rest of us paved their way, literally. We were the blacktop beneath their feet.
So if we had no government, if the good ol’ USA was the home of anarchy, the bigger fish would seize power and force themselves on everyone else as the government. There is no such critter as “anarchy”, not in reality. It cannot work. Man must be governed. The only real question is by whom.
Okay. So anarchy is out. What about other forms of government instead of “democracy”. Well, there are several various examples of governmental forms over the millennia. One form goes by the label “republic”. In this type of government the qualified folks determine who rules. The qualifications for “qualified” can vary, but usually it means having an education and owning some property.
We will pause with that thought and continue this discussion in our next study. For now enjoy some time alone with Jesus.
To further research this issue, I direct you to my book Exodus: Volume 2 of Heavenly Citizens in Earthly Shoes. To purchase my books please go to:
http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B005PJ761C
https://sites.google.com/site/heavenl...
The United States presidential elections occur every four years. In fact one such election is looming on the horizon at this moment. I am speaking of the 2012 presidential election, dear friends, though the time frame doesn’t much matter. One is the same as the other.
During these elections we also select certain of our Senators and Representatives. Did you ever stop to consider what this is all about? I know for myself, I am weary of going out of my way to pull some levers, to signify which folks I want to send to Washington D.C. to run our country. Does it really matter if Frick wins instead Frack? Will anything change if Tweedledum is elected instead of Tweedledee?
Sometimes it is advantageous to step back from a situation and view it in a different light. For instance, rather than brewing and stewing over the lack of real choices between candidates—certainly the reality in American elections of late, party identifiers notwithstanding—perhaps we should ponder the alternative forms of government a bit. Let’s consider a few of them, shall we?
What if we had no elections? Maybe we could simply have no government at all. That goes by the name “anarchy”, I believe. How would your life be then? Try this. Take the flat of your hand and tap slightly hard against the side of your skull several times. Hopefully you can jar loose some of those hibernating memories of elementary school times of yesteryear.
Did it work? Can you envision all of society functioning like the school playground? I mean the playground when no teachers or other authority figures maintained order. Ouch! Those memories hurt! The school bullies had their way. The rest of us paved their way, literally. We were the blacktop beneath their feet.
So if we had no government, if the good ol’ USA was the home of anarchy, the bigger fish would seize power and force themselves on everyone else as the government. There is no such critter as “anarchy”, not in reality. It cannot work. Man must be governed. The only real question is by whom.
Okay. So anarchy is out. What about other forms of government instead of “democracy”. Well, there are several various examples of governmental forms over the millennia. One form goes by the label “republic”. In this type of government the qualified folks determine who rules. The qualifications for “qualified” can vary, but usually it means having an education and owning some property.
We will pause with that thought and continue this discussion in our next study. For now enjoy some time alone with Jesus.
To further research this issue, I direct you to my book Exodus: Volume 2 of Heavenly Citizens in Earthly Shoes. To purchase my books please go to:
http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B005PJ761C
https://sites.google.com/site/heavenl...
Thoughts on the November Elections – Part 2
And I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse, and He who sat on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and wages war…And on His robe and on His thigh He has a name written, “King of kings and Lord of lords.” [Revelation 19:11, 16]
We saw that anarchy can never cut it, when it comes to the functioning of society. So we began considering other alternatives to our present form of government. We considered a republic.
The USA began as a republic. Technically it still is. The electoral college makes the final determination of who wins the presidential elections, not the popular vote. In actual practice, though, the popular vote has correctly picked the actual winners.
The benefit of a republic over a democracy is that demagogues cannot stir up evil in the people and win control. Can anyone say “Hitler”? Another evil would be the legal oppression of minorities because the majority rules.
A still different form of government bears the epithet “monarchy”. This was the dominant form of government for most of history. In some cases the monarch was absolute, in others not so much e.g., a constitutional monarchy). A king is the governmental leader under monarchies. He makes the laws, determines the taxes, and sometimes oppresses everyone but at other times is benevolent to everyone.
So come November, before we wring our hands in despair over the lack of meaningful choices between the various candidates, and before we throw in the towel and boycott the elections, maybe we should decide what form of government we would prefer to see replace our current format. Remember, anarchy is out so government of one form or another is in.
Now that we’ve plodded through that thick and unpleasant bog, permit me to reveal how I got on the subject of government in the first place. In Romans 13:1-2 the Apostle Paul teaches,
Every person is to be in subjection to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those which exist are established by God. Therefore whoever resists authority has opposed the ordinance of God; and they who have opposed will receive condemnation upon themselves.
Notice that all authority—this includes but is not limited to government—but all authority comes from God. Paul’s words are often misconstrued. Folks tend to think he means that every individual governmental person was personally chosen by God for his role.
Not so! Paul didn’t say any specific individual was governing according to the Word of God. He didn’t refer to individuals at all. Notice the phrase “whoever resists authority has opposed the ordinance of God”. God commands authority because God is not a God of disorder and confusion. He is a God of order (cf., 1 Corinthians 14:33).
Oops! Out of time again. We’ll press the Pause Button and hie off to the prayer closet to visit with Jesus now. See you tomorrow.
To further research this issue, I direct you to my book Exodus: Volume 2 of Heavenly Citizens in Earthly Shoes. To purchase my books please go to:
http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B005PJ761C
https://sites.google.com/site/heavenl...
We saw that anarchy can never cut it, when it comes to the functioning of society. So we began considering other alternatives to our present form of government. We considered a republic.
The USA began as a republic. Technically it still is. The electoral college makes the final determination of who wins the presidential elections, not the popular vote. In actual practice, though, the popular vote has correctly picked the actual winners.
The benefit of a republic over a democracy is that demagogues cannot stir up evil in the people and win control. Can anyone say “Hitler”? Another evil would be the legal oppression of minorities because the majority rules.
A still different form of government bears the epithet “monarchy”. This was the dominant form of government for most of history. In some cases the monarch was absolute, in others not so much e.g., a constitutional monarchy). A king is the governmental leader under monarchies. He makes the laws, determines the taxes, and sometimes oppresses everyone but at other times is benevolent to everyone.
So come November, before we wring our hands in despair over the lack of meaningful choices between the various candidates, and before we throw in the towel and boycott the elections, maybe we should decide what form of government we would prefer to see replace our current format. Remember, anarchy is out so government of one form or another is in.
Now that we’ve plodded through that thick and unpleasant bog, permit me to reveal how I got on the subject of government in the first place. In Romans 13:1-2 the Apostle Paul teaches,
Every person is to be in subjection to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those which exist are established by God. Therefore whoever resists authority has opposed the ordinance of God; and they who have opposed will receive condemnation upon themselves.
Notice that all authority—this includes but is not limited to government—but all authority comes from God. Paul’s words are often misconstrued. Folks tend to think he means that every individual governmental person was personally chosen by God for his role.
Not so! Paul didn’t say any specific individual was governing according to the Word of God. He didn’t refer to individuals at all. Notice the phrase “whoever resists authority has opposed the ordinance of God”. God commands authority because God is not a God of disorder and confusion. He is a God of order (cf., 1 Corinthians 14:33).
Oops! Out of time again. We’ll press the Pause Button and hie off to the prayer closet to visit with Jesus now. See you tomorrow.
To further research this issue, I direct you to my book Exodus: Volume 2 of Heavenly Citizens in Earthly Shoes. To purchase my books please go to:
http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B005PJ761C
https://sites.google.com/site/heavenl...
