Stephen McDowell

[This article is taken from the book, Ruling Over the Earth, A Biblical View of Civil Government]

Paul’s writing in Romans 13 is perhaps the best-known passage of Scripture regarding civil government. He presents a clear overview of the doctrine of government in the first seven verses, showing that we are to be subject to lawful authority in attitude and action.

¹ 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. ² Therefore whoever resists authority has opposed the ordinance of God; and they who have opposed will receive condemnation upon themselves. ³ For rulers are not a cause of fear for good behavior, but for evil. Do you want to have no fear of authority? Do what is good and you will have praise from the same; ⁴ for it is a minister of God to you for good. But if you do what is evil, be afraid; for it does not bear the sword for nothing; for it is a minister of God, an avenger who brings wrath on the one who practices evil. ⁵ Therefore it is necessary to be in subjection, not only because of wrath, but also for conscience’ sake. ⁶ For because of this you also pay taxes, for rulers are servants of God, devoting themselves to this very thing. ⁷ Render to all what is due them: tax to whom tax is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honor to whom honor. (Romans 13:1-7, NASB)

Some of the principles taught in this passage of Scripture include:

1. Civil government is a divine institution ordained by God. All authority is from God.

We examined the origin of civil government in the book of Genesis above. God established government after the fall of mankind to deal with the sinful actions of men. Civil government is a part of God’s kingdom and government, and is itself subject to God. “Every person is to be in subjection to the governing authorities,” which includes those who govern. They are not above the law. Everyone, including governing officials, are subject to the Highest Authority, God.

Civil government’s authority is delegated to it by God, just as is the authority of parents and church leaders. God is the source of all lawful authority. Commenting on Romans 13:1, theologian Charles Hodge wrote,

All authority is of God. No man has any rightful power over other men, which is not derived from God. All human power is delegated and ministerial. This is true of parents, of magistrates, and of church officers. This, however, is not all the passage means. It not only asserts that all government …is…derived from God, but that every magistrate is of God; that is, his authority is jure divino [divine right].[i]

Every official, no matter how he assumes his office and what type of government he operates within, has been delegated authority from God to fulfill the godly mission of government to be “an avenger who brings wrath on the one who practices evil” and to be a minister “to you for good.” All civil leaders are to be ministers of God’s justice, although all do not do so. All have the same duty, yet all do not fulfill that duty. If civil government fulfills its duty, we have an obligation to obey and support it.

Authorities are established (ordained, appointed) by God; that is, they rule only as He allows it. But this does not mean that He arbitrarily appoints all rulers for all nations because the Bible also teaches that those who rule reflect the type of government that the people deserve. God allows the sowing and reaping process to take place in the type of leaders we have. Israel chose their rulers of tens, fifties, hundreds, and thousands (Deut. 1:13; Ex. 18:21-22). They consented to whom would be king (2 Sam. 2:4; 5:1-3; 1 Chron. 11:3). Therefore, when Paul speaks of appointment, this does not usually mean direct selection by God.

All authority and power is from God. By Him kings reign (Prov. 8:15). The usurpation or abuse of power by rulers is not of God, but the power itself is. Even the most corrupt rulers’ power is from God (John 19:11). Magistrates bear the image of God’s authority. Even bad governments perform some good function of providing a degree of order or peace (consider for example, some Middle Eastern nations under current monarchs, or former rulers like Saddam Hussein). Magistrates are God’s servants. They will give account to Him one day on how they governed.

2. God established civil government for the good of man. It is to be a minister (servant) of God for good.

Paul teaches that civil government was instituted by God for the good of mankind. Government is not intrinsically evil. It was not created to be our enemy but for our good. However, to function in this manner, it must perform its biblical purpose. All of God’s creation is good, but God’s good creation can be used for evil when not used according to His specifications in His Word (abuse of plants via drugs or drunkenness is one of innumerable examples). God ordained government for the good of mankind, but man can and has used it for evil. As expressed previously, this is because man is fallen and sinful and his heart is desperately wicked. When placed in positions of power, his tendency is to abuse that power, as witnessed throughout history.

In the context of his teaching on government Paul tells us that we are to overcome evil in the heart of man by the truth of the Gospel (Romans 12). He then writes we are to overcome evil in society by godly civil government (Romans 13:1-4).

Civil government represents God, not the people. It is His servant. It must execute God’s justice, not what it considers to be good for the people. It must look to the only One who is good, God, to be able to administer good (that which is just and right). Rulers are to be servants of God, but they are also to be servants of men rather than lording it over them. (Jesus taught this in Luke 25; see Chapter 5.)

For rulers to best fulfill their biblical mandate as ministers of God for good, we need good people governing. Hence, we must work to get good people in government.

In an election sermon preached in 1776 before the government leaders of Massachusetts, Rev. Samuel West said:

Magistrates are ministers of God…. [W]henever they pursue measures directly destructive of the public good they cease being God’s ministers, they forfeit their right to obedience from the subject, they become pests of society, and the community is under the strongest obligation of duty, both to God and to its own members, to resist and oppose them, which will be so far from resisting the ordinance of God that it will be strictly obeying his commands.[ii]

3. Everyone is to be in subjection to governing authorities. We are to resist those who rebel against God’s higher law.

We are “to be in subjection to the governing authorities” (v. 1, 5). We are not necessarily to obey every mandate of government. When Paul writes that resistance to authority equals resistance to God, he is not presenting an unqualified statement of unlimited submission to all civil authorities because we see in the book of Acts that the apostles resisted governing authorities (Acts 4:18-20; 5:17-29; 16:35-40). The Hebrew midwives, Daniel, and many other Old Testament saints disobeyed the commands of Pharaohs and kings (see for example, Ex. 1:15 – 2:3; Dan. 3, 6). The Bible teaches we must obey God rather than man (Acts 5:29). So we are at times to resist the higher authority and obey the Highest authority (God). We are to render to civil rulers what is due them (v. 7), not more than what is due them. Colonial minister Jonathan Mayhew addressed this well in his sermon, “A Discourse Concerning Unlimited Submission and Non-Resistance to the Higher Powers,” preached in Boston in 1750.[iii]

There is no unlimited submission to civil authorities. After all, Jesus is Lord, not Caesar. Throughout history “Caesars” – that is, civil leaders – have often claimed to be the ultimate authority, denying in word and action the true Lord of all heaven and earth.

Charles Hodge explains Paul’s object in these passages is that,

Magistrates are to be obeyed. The extent of this obedience is to be determined from the nature of the case. They are to be obeyed as magistrates, in the exercise of their lawful authority. When Paul commands wives to obey their husbands, they are required to obey them as husbands, not as masters, nor as kings; children are to obey their parents as parents, not as sovereigns; and so in every case.[iv]

Therefore, to obey the state if it attempts to perform functions of the church or family is to disobey God and render to Caesar the things that are God’s. (For more on this important civil teaching of Jesus Christ see Chapter 5 of Ruling Over the Earth.)

The context of “subjection to governing authorities” in verses 1-5 is rulers who do good and not evil. If rulers do evil, we must act appropriately by obeying God and seeking to change evil government (following the biblical steps of how to resist the tyrant, which will be discussed in Chapter 5). Rulers are to minister good and execute God’s justice against evil. If they do, then we are to obey them, but we are not to support them if they administer evil. How we withhold support from evil rulers is discussed in Ruling Over the Earth.

All power is ordained by God, and civil leaders have a duty to administer God’s justice. We are to obey them as civil rulers fulfilling this purpose. We do not obey them as God, unconditionally.

4. Civil government has been given authority to use force (the sword) to deal with evil doers.

Civil government is God’s instrument “who brings wrath on the one who practices evil.” It has been given authority to use force – “it does not bear the sword for nothing” – to execute God’s vengeance upon evil doers, upon those who break God’s civil laws. As individuals, we are not to execute vengeance upon evil doers, or take revenge (Rom. 12:17, 19). We are to love our enemies (Matt. 5:44) and overcome evil with good (Rom. 12:21). Government is God’s instrument to execute His justice in the earth. Evil action of men is to be overcome by good government.

God gives civil government the authority to use force. It is not given to individuals or the family or church; although, each of these entities have illegitimately used force in various societies throughout history to execute what they considered to be justice. The Bible provides guidelines for the proportion and type of force, as well as for the criminal penalties for various crimes.[v]

Rulers are to restrain and punish evil men, not good men. If they punish good men they are operating outside their domain, and hence, outside this Scriptural command. As such we are under no obligation to obey. When we “do what is good,” we should not be in fear of government. Government should praise us. If government condemns us and inflicts fear upon us when we do what is good, it is operating illegitimately. When vile men rule, government is a terror (Ps. 12:1, 8). Rulers are to be a terror to evil-doers. However, they are often a terror to good-doers. If so, we have a responsibility to take all appropriate actions to change this.

While vile government can provide some protection to people – for example, while some of the leaders of Rome suppressed various God-given rights of people in the empire, they did provide some degree of peace, order, and justice – only godly government will provide the security and blessings that God intends for mankind.

Rulers are to bear the sword of war and the sword of justice. Due to the sinful nature of man, he will not always restrain himself from evil by his own inward convictions or conscience (although Paul says that even sinful man is governed to some degree by his conscience, see Romans 1 and 2). Therefore, the fear of punishment will provide a restraint to sinful people. God’s laws and their penalties help restrain evil-doers (1 Tim. 1:9); therefore, the laws of a nation should be based upon God’s law to be most effective at restraining evil. God’s penalties best deter fallen men from evil actions.[vi]

When rulers punish evil men they act as God’s servants, because God wants peace and order (1 Tim. 2), which are best instituted when rulers uphold His laws and penalties. They are God’s ministers bringing judgment on the action of men. They are not to punish men for wrong intentions and thoughts. Only God judges thoughts and intents.

5. Biblical civil government will not violate Christian conscience.

Romans 13:5 says, “Therefore it is necessary to be in subjection, not only because of wrath, but also for conscience’ sake.” Our conscience tells us what is right to do; that is, it tells us to obey God. Therefore, if government is commanding action contrary to God, our conscience will not tell us to obey evil government, but rather God’s law. Subjection requires our submission to government; that is, we place ourselves under someone else. But when government requires something of us that is contrary to God’s word, we must obey God rather than man (Acts 5:29). Even here, we are submissive, in the sense that we will realize that there will be consequences for disobeying leaders. When do we disobey government? When it forbids what God commands (like prayer, Daniel 6) or commands what God forbids (like idolatry, Daniel 3).

To be in subjection “for conscience’ sake” does not mean that we are to subject our conscience to the will of government leaders or to any man. Only God can make laws binding our conscience. We are to render to God what belongs to God, and our conscience belongs to God, not man. However, pagan man will attempt to govern the conscience. Today, secularists are enacting laws punishing those who oppose homosexuality, attempting to force many businessmen to violate their conscience. They pass hate laws thinking they can discern the motives of the heart.

God wants our subjection to be voluntary and sincere (Eccl. 10:20; 1 Pet. 2:17), but if the ruler’s laws violate God’s law then this cannot be. Secular governments will enact laws that violate some aspect of God’s law. We must resist such tyrannical rulers (see Chapter 5 for how to do this), while at the same time seek to establish godly government. As we take steps to resist and evaluate the probability of success we exhibit “a patient subjection to the penalty without resistance.”[vii] The first century church had little hope of changing unlawful authority and so having this attitude and action showed the rightness of the Christian faith. If we resist unbiblical civil laws, the wrath of civil government will come upon us. We must be prepared to suffer the consequences. But if we subject ourselves to unbiblical laws for fear of punishment, then God will deal with us for disobedience.

We are to be subject to our government and its laws not just out of fear of punishment but for conscience sake. But this requires that the laws that we obey are not in violation of God’s laws, for our conscience will condemn us if we act wrongly. Hence, we need godly rulers and godly laws to be able to truly fulfill this requirement.

6. Citizens have a duty to render to civil government that which is due it.

We are to give to government what it is due. Jesus said we are to render to Caesar (the state) what is due him (Matt. 22:15-21; see Chapter 5). This includes paying taxes, which supports the government as it fulfills its biblical purpose. This purpose will be covered more thoroughly later, but in general, government is to punish evil-doers and protect law-abiding citizens’ life, liberty, and property. In other words, it is to do “good” – to administer God’s justice in its sphere of responsibility. If civil leaders do “bad,” then we are under obligation to take the appropriate steps to change corrupt government. We will discuss later what is due to government. While we are to submit to government, this is not an unlimited submission.

 

Order the book Ruling Over the Earth, A Biblical View of Civil Government

 

[i] Charles Hodge, Commentary on the Epistle to the Romans, Revised edition. New York: Armstrong, 1893, p. 639. In Rousas John Rushdoony, Politics of Guilt and Pity, Vallecito, Cal.: Ross House Books, 1995, p. 336.]

[ii] Samuel West, A Sermon Preached before the Honorable Council, and the Honorable House of Representatives of the Colony of Massachusetts-Bay in New-England, May 29^th, 1776, Boston: Printed by John Gill, 1776, in John Wingate Thornton, The Pulpit of the American Revolution, Boston: Gould and Lincoln, 1860, pp. 283-284.

[iii] Jonathan Mayhew “A Discourse Concerning Unlimited Submission and Non-Resistance to the Higher Powers,” Boston: Printed by D. Fowle and D. Gookin, 1750, In Thornton, pp. 39-104.

[iv] Hodge, p. 641, in Rushdoony, p. 337.

[v] For more on this see Stephen McDowell, Crime and Punishment: A Biblical Perspective, Charlottesville: Providence Foundation, 2011.

[vi] See McDowell, Crime and Punishment.

[vii] Matthew Henry’s Commentary on the Whole Bible, Hendrickson Publishers, 2002, Rom.13:1-7, pp. 2229-2231.

Stephen McDowell

The Founders saw man from a Christian perspective; that is, man is sinful and in a fallen state. As such, they were careful to construct a form of government that would not entrust man with too much power, knowing that sinful man will tend to abuse power. John Adams wrote:

To expect self-denial from men, when they have a majority in their favor, and consequently power to gratify themselves, is to disbelieve all history and universal experience; it is to disbelieve Revelation and the Word of God, which informs us, the heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked…. There is no man so blind as not to see, that to talk of founding a government upon a supposition that nations and great bodies of men, left to themselves, will practice a course of self-denial, is either to babble like a new-born infant, or to deceive like an unprincipled impostor.[i]

James Madison said, in Federalist No. 51, “What is government itself but the greatest of all reflections on human nature? If men were angels, no government would be necessary. In framing a government which is to be administered by men over men, the great difficulty lies in this: you must first enable the government to control the governed; and in the next place oblige it to control itself.”[ii] The Founders’ view of human nature profoundly affected their view of government. The Constitution they formed limited the power of our rulers in various ways: binding them down with a constitution; holding them accountable with frequent elections; dividing the legislative, executive, and judicial powers; and setting up checks and balances within these separate governing bodies.

Christian Ideas in the Constitution

The Constitution contains many biblical ideas, some of which follow:

1. The Reign of Law — “This Constitution…shall be the supreme law of the land.” (Art. VI, Sec. 2)

America’s civil government is a government of laws, not of rulers. Throughout most of history people have been governed by laws imposed by their rulers. In America, for the first time ever, the people formed their own Constitution and consented to it. They established a government of people’s law, not of ruler’s law. The law they established was based on Biblical truth, which is essential for protecting the individual’s right to life, liberty, and property. Citizens must not only be protected from harmful acts of other citizens but also from abuses by their own government. Since the law is supreme and not the rulers, the people will be protected from ruler’s tyranny, as everyone — ruler and subject — is subject to the law.

2. Trial by Jury of Peers under Law — “The right of trial by jury shall be preserved.” (Amendment 7)

In a nation under law, any violation of the law requires a judge. Wrongdoers must be punished and required to make restitution to deter crime, yet, there must be an orderly process of justice where the guilty and innocent are distinguished. The Bible requires judges “to be honest, to refuse bribes, and not to show favoritism (Ex. 23:1-8). A person was presumed innocent unless at least two witnesses testified against him (Deut. 17:6), and the penalty for perjury was severe (Deut. 19:16-21).”[iii]

The United States Constitution provides numerous protections for persons accused of crimes. Many of these rights are contained in Amendments 4, 5, 6, and 7 of the Constitution. These rights are derived from the idea that since man is created in the image of God, his life has great value and should be guarded with care.

3. Creator Endowed Rights, not Government Granted — “To…secure the blessings of liberty.” (Preamble)

Since man is created in the image of God, man has an inherent value and dignity. God has endowed certain rights to His valuable creation that He expects all peoples and governments to recognize. The commands of Scripture reveal God has given man the right to life, liberty, and property:

• “You shall not murder.” (Exodus 20:13) – right to life
• “He who kidnaps a man…shall surely be put to death.” (Exodus 21:16) – right to liberty
• “You shall not steal” (Exodus 20:15) – right to property

According to the Declaration of Independence, men’s rights are “endowed by their Creator…. That to secure, these rights, Governments are instituted among men.”

1. Christian Self-government – “We, the people” (Preamble)

For a nation to be free from the tyranny of centralized government, each individual citizen must be self-governing. The Bible and history reveal that if men do not govern themselves under God, then others will rule over them, and those rulers will eventually become tyrants. William Penn said, “Men must be governed by God or they will be ruled by tyrants.”

Robert C. Winthrop, speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives from 1847-1849, recognized the necessity of individual self-government for the functioning of the American Republic. He said:

All societies of men must be governed in some way or other. The less they may have of stringent State Government, the more they must have of individual self-government. The less they rely on public law or physical force, the more they must rely on private moral restraint. Men, in a word, must necessarily be controlled either by a power within them, or by a power without them; either by the Word of God, or by the strong arm of man; either by the Bible or the bayonet.[iv]

As Americans have become less self-governed, our civil government has grown larger and larger and become more centralized. The more centralized a civil government becomes, the more loss of individual liberty will occur.

5. Religious Freedom – “Congress shall make no law…prohibiting the free exercise [of religion]” (Amendment 1)

The First Amendment guarantees the right of citizens to freely worship God without fear of the national government interfering or forcing people to adhere to a certain religious belief. While this keeps the state out of the church, it in no way removes God from government. It is impossible to remove God from government; every civil government operates on some religion. America was founded on the Christian religion but in recent years has been shifting to a man-centered, humanistic religion.

6. Private Property Rights – “nor be deprived of…property, without due process of law” (Amendment 5)

Private property rights are a basic necessity for any society that desires to be free and prosperous. The founders of America acknowledged this truth and the Constitution protects property rights of individuals. Noah Webster wrote:

Let the people have property and they will have power – a power that will forever be exerted to prevent a restriction of the press, and abolition of trial by jury, or the abridgement of any other privilege.[v]

The private property rights found in Amendment 5 and other places in the Constitution flowed out of the understanding by our Founders of the internal aspect of private property rights. James Madison, the chief architect of the Constitution, wrote:

Property… In the former sense, a man’s land, or merchandise, or money, is called his property. In the latter sense, a man has a property in his opinions and the free communication of them. He has a property of peculiar value in his religious opinions, and in the profession and practice dictated by them…. He has an equal property in the free use of his faculties, and free choice of the objects on which to employ them. In a word, as a man is said to have a right to his property, he may be equally said to have a property in his rights.[vi]

The Founders believed that God created everything, including us, and given us the right to possess property, both internal (opinions, ideas, talents, etc.) and external (land, merchandise, money, etc.). The Declaration of Independence acknowledges this right is endowed by God; the Constitution secures this God-given right.

7. Union or Covenant — “in order to form a more perfect Union” (Preamble)

The United States of America is an example of a Christian union. The original external union among the states was the result of an internal unity of ideas and principles in the hearts of the people. This voluntary working together or covenanting together is the basis of Christian union. America’s motto, E Pluribus Unum (“from many, one”), expresses this unity with union.

While the United States reveals a Christian union, the former Soviet Union was an example of a non-biblical union. External force and fear was used to hold all the people groups together. It was an involuntary union and, hence, did not last. In America, unity brings union; in the USSR, the union attempted to force unity.

Stronger internal bonds will produce a stronger union and action. If the original colonies had never formed a union, they would have never individually made the positive impact upon the world that corporately the United States has been able to make. In fact, they might not ever have survived.

8. Defense — “the right of the people to keep and bear arms, shall not be infringed.” (Amendment 2)

The American people established the Constitution to “provide for the common defense.” Congress was given specific powers to accomplish this function of civil government. The Second Amendment to the Constitution recognizes “a well-regulated militia” is “necessary to the security of a free state,” and therefore secures “the right of the people to keep and bear arms.” This right of defense comes from the Biblical idea of man. Since we are God’s property and He requires us to be good stewards, we have a responsibility to preserve our lives. It follows that we have a right to defend our persons and families against those who may try to harm us. We establish police forces to help defend our life, liberty, and property from evildoers within our nation. State and national armies are established to defend citizens from aggressive nations.

Our Founders understood that a nation can only have liberty and peace through strength. Consider some of their remarks:

• “[I]f we desire to secure peace…it must be known that we are at all times ready for war.”[vii] – George Washington
• “To be prepared for war is one of the most effectual means of preserving peace.”[viii] – George Washington
• “It is absurd, the pretending to be lovers of liberty while they grudge paying for the defense of it.”[ix] – Benjamin Franklin
• “There is much truth in the Italian saying, “Make yourselves sheep, and the wolves will eat you.”[x] – Benjamin Franklin

Christian Framework of the Constitution

In addition to the Constitution containing many ideas that are Christian, its form or framework also reflects Biblical ideas. A few of these are:

1. Representation — “Representatives shall be…chosen…by the people” (Art. 1, Sec. 2)

The United States Constitution secures for each state a republican form of government (Art. 4, Sec 4). One characteristic of a republic is that the people choose representatives to stand in their place in the seat of government.

The principle of self-government reveals to us the right of each individual to participate in government. The people, under God, are the source of power for governments. Therefore, a Biblical civil government will be democratic in nature. A true democracy, however, has a number of shortcomings. In a democracy, just over 50% of the people rule. If they desire to abuse the individual rights of the minority they can. Hence, a democracy tends to majority tyranny.

A democracy also requires direct participation by citizens in all government matters, which is impractical. Individuals choosing their representatives allows participation in government in every situation.

Representative government had its origin in the Hebrew nation. Moses told the people to “choose wise and discerning and experienced men [‘able men who fear God, men of truth, those who hate dishonest gain’] and I will appoint them as … heads over you, leaders of thousands, and of hundreds, of fifties and of tens, and officers for your tribes.” (Deuteronomy 1:13-17; Exodus 18:21-27)

Noah Webster revealed the importance of being involved in choosing your representatives:

When you become entitled to exercise the right of voting for public officers, let it be impressed on your mind that God commands you to choose for rulers, “just men who will rule in the fear of God.” The preservation of a republican government depends on the faithful discharge of this duty; if the citizens neglect their duty and place unprincipled men in office, the government will soon be corrupted; laws will be made, not for the public good, so much as for selfish or local purposes; corrupt or incompetent men will be appointed to execute the laws; the public revenues will be squandered on unworthy men; and the rights of the citizens will be violated or disregarded. If a republican government fails to secure public prosperity and happiness, it must be because the citizens neglect the divine commands, and elect bad men to make and administer the laws.[xi]

2. Separation of Powers – “All legislative powers herein granted shall be vested in a Congress” (Art. 1, Sec. 1); “The Executive power shall be vested in a President” (Art. 2, Sec. 1); “The judicial power of the United States, shall be vested in one Supreme Court” (Art. 3, Sec. 1).

America’s national government is divided into three branches with an intricate system of checks and balances. This division is based upon the Biblical idea that mankind is sinful and in a fallen state. While man is capable of some civic virtue, he also is self-centered and must be limited and checked in the power he exercises. If rulers are given too much power, they will abuse it for their gain and their subjects’ harm. James Madison affirmed in Federalist No. 51 (see his quote above) the need to balance power between the governed and the governing.

Every government has three basic functions: 1. Legislative – making laws; 2. Executive – enforcing laws’ 3. Judicial – interpreting laws. The Bible speaks of these three governmental functions in the Godhead (Isaiah 33:22). God, being perfect, can administer all three; with man it should be otherwise.

In his book Spirit of Laws (1748), Montesquieu said that these three functions of government must be separated to prevent tyranny. The founders of America studied his writings and agreed with his assessment. Madison wrote: “The accumulation of all powers, legislative, executive, and judiciary, in the same hands, whether of one, a few, or many…may justly be pronounced the very definition of tyranny.”[xii] This is why the Founders separated the powers of government into three branches and set up checks and balances between the branches.

3. Dual Form or Federalism — “every State in this Union” (Art. 4, Sec. 4)

The tenth amendment to the Constitution states the idea of federalism: “The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people.” The basic idea was to get government as close to the people as possible. The more remote it is from the people, the more dangerous it becomes. Jefferson said:

The way to have good and safe government is not to trust it all to one, but to divide it among the many;…it is by dividing and subdividing these republics, from the great national one down…that all will be done for the best.[xiii]

James Madison explained: “The powers delegated by the…Constitution to the federal government are few and defined. Those which are to remain in the State governments are numerous and indefinite.”[xiv]

In the federal republic established by the Constitution, most powers rested with the state and local governments. The Constitution establishes only 18 powers in the national government in Article 1, Section 8, and declares these powers off-limits to the states in Section 10. All other powers rest with the states and people. The national government can only make laws dealing with such items as the regulation of interstate and foreign commerce, coining money, the postal services, copyrights, citizenship laws, and the armed forces. The state governments can only make laws dealing with such things as public education, voting procedures, marriage and divorce, corporations and traffic. Neither can interfere in the area of the other without being unconstitutional.

In recent years the national government has ballooned in growth, disrupting the balance of powers between the national and state and local governments. Greater centralization of power has come as individuals have failed to govern themselves on a local level.

The Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constitution were clearly founded upon Christian ideas of man and government. Our Founders were the first men to “hold these truths” and establish a nation upon them. Without Christianity, there never would have been a Constitution. As Noah Webster, the father of the dictionary and a key Federalist in the passage of the Constitution, said:

The religion which has introduced civil liberty, is the religion of Christ and his apostles, which enjoins humility, piety, and benevolence; which acknowledges in every person a brother, or a sister, and a citizen with equal rights. This is genuine Christianity, and to this we owe our free constitutions of government.[xv]

[i] John Adams, The Works of John Adams, Charles Francis Adams, editor (Boston: Little, Brown & Co., 1856), Vol. 6, A Defense of the Constitutions of Government of the United States of America, “Chapter First. Marchamont Nedham. The Right Constitution of a Commonwealth Examined.”

[ii] James Madison, Federalist 51, The Federalist, a Collection of Essays, Written in Favor of the Constitution of the United States, a Agreed Upon by the Federal Convention, September 17, 1787, by Alexander Hamilton, John Jay, and James Madison, Jr., edited by Michael Loyd Chadwick, Washington, DC: Global Affairs Publishing Co., 1987, p. 281.

[iii] John Eidsmoe, Christianity and the Constitution, Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Book House, 1987, p. 374.

[iv] Robert C. Winthrop, “Address to Massachusetts Bible Society Meeting, May 28, 1849,” Addresses and Speeches on Various Occasions, Boston: Little, Brown & Co., 1852, p. 172.

[v] Rosalie J. Slater, “Noah Webster, Founding Father of American Scholarship and Education,” preface article in reprint of An American Dictionary of the English Language (1828) by Noah Webster, San Francisco: Foundation for American Christian Education, 1980, p. 14.

[vi] Verna Hall, The Christian History of the Constitution of the United States, Christian Self-government, San Francisco: Foundation for American Christian Education, 1980, p. 248A.

[vii] Our Ageless Constitution, W. David Stedman, editor, Asheboro, NC: Stedman Associates, 1987, p. 39.

[viii] Ibid.

[ix] Ibid.

[x] Ibid.

[xi] Noah Webster, History of the United States, New Haven: Durrie & Peck, 1833, pp. 307-308.

[xii] The Federalist by Hamilton, Jay, & Madison, Washington, D.C.: Global Affairs Publ., 1987, no. 47.3, p. 260-261.

[xiii] Our Ageless Constitution, p. 32.

[xiv] The Federalist, no. 45, p. 252.

[xv] Noah Webster, History of the United States, New Haven: Durrie & Peck, 1833, pp. 273-274.

What can we learn from this pandemic?

 By Stephen McDowell

The world has been hit by an event unprecedented in our life time. An unseen microscopic enemy has altered normal activities throughout the nations. As a believer in the Providence of God and the progressive historical advancement of the Kingdom of God, I have been asking myself, why is this happening? What is God’s purpose in this pestilential event?

While it is often difficult to discern God’s purposes, especially in the midst of the occurrence of a catastrophic event, there are numerous things we can see and learn from the coronavirus pandemic. Here are a few of them:

1. We are not in control.

In the age of science and man’s wisdom, where men think they are the masters of their own fate, we have come to see that we are not in control. Where science has become the infallible religion and scientists the priests of that religion, they have been humbled by a microscopic unseen enemy that has rapidly and stealthily advanced around the world.

Nevertheless, they have launched out in their own wisdom to save themselves. Secular scientists, leaning heavily upon models they created, have greatly miscalculated the potential destruction of the coronavirus. Civil officials, acting upon the limited wisdom of man, have shut down huge segments of the economy and of every-day life, which has and will bring great loss to many. The actions of the police state reveal the danger of man as the ultimate governor.

We are not in control, but God is. He is either authoring or allowing this COVID-19 event for His purposes. He will use this for the advancement of His kingdom, regardless of what man or Satan does. God is the governor of His creation and of history. Ultimately, His will, will be done.

Thanks to the advancement of biblical truth in the earth over the centuries, mankind has discovered many liberating principles of God. This includes many medical principles (see below and the appendix). Because of this, man will find a way to combat this virus and bring it under control, if not eradicate it completely. (In addition, God created man with an immune system that fights against such things.) But events like this coronavirus are a reminder to man that he is not in control.

2. Satan is seeking to use this to inflict a heavy blow against mankind.

From the time he was cast out of heaven to earth, Satan has sought to destroy man – God’s highest creation – as a means of attacking God and His plan for man and the earth. He wants to keep man from reclaiming the earth for God and re-establishing all things in the way they ought to be.

Satan is attacking in many ways. He is bringing death – tens of thousands have already died and hundreds of thousands may ultimately die. He is bringing fear, which paralyzes many and causes them to do many selfish and irrational things, from hoarding toilet paper on a personal level to enacting punitive decrees against necessary actions of citizens on the civil level. Much of the media is fueling the flames by exaggerated, fear-based reporting.

Satan also hopes to bring financial ruin to many. Work is Kingdom activity. It is how we provide for ourselves and our family, and is the primary way we extend the kingdom of God in the earth. Through our work we provide needed goods and services for mankind. If Satan can keep us from working, He can slow the advancement of the kingdom.

When we consider how to deal with the coronavirus event, we should reason from numerous biblical principles. Some relevant medical principles are quarantine, cleanliness, and sanitation (see Appendix). It is good that modern scientists are seeking to apply these principles in combating the virus. However, they have failed to understand that the bible teaches that contagious persons (not the healthy) should be quarantined.[1] The draconian measures instituted by many nations have forced many that are healthy to remove themselves from being able to obey many of God’s commands for how we are to live.

Another important principle of life we must consider when discerning how to deal with situations like the coronavirus is that of work. As I said, work is a central aspect of our life on the earth. It is how we provide for ourselves and our families, it is how we elevate and ameliorate man, and it is the primary means of fulfilling God’s commission to take dominion over the earth. We show our God-likeness through biblical work.

Satan can certainly bring destruction through disease, but he can wreak much more havoc by keeping mankind from fulfilling this original and central mission. We must get back to work. Many more lives will be lost, and much more destruction done, by failure to do this than by any disease germ or virus.[2]

Satan will also seek to diminish our God-given liberty, most especially through growing man-centered government. Statism is the belief that man is the ultimate authority in the earth, and this authority is most destructive in the civil sphere. Historically, the greatest destruction and bondage has come to man through statist governments. The current action of many civil leaders will only lead to greater government power and citizens’ dependence upon the state. The 2.2 trillion dollar emergency provision enacted in America, while possibly assisting some people in the near future, will end up harming the nation at large and will result in bigger, more centralized government and, in turn, less liberty and economic prosperity for most Americans.[3]

As I said above, we will win the fight against this virus in the near future, but it will take a long time to undo the long-term unintended consequences of the present statist actions, which will likely result in more deaths and hardships by disrupting (and destroying) economies throughout the world. Especially concerning, it will grow government and take away our liberty.

3. God is at work advancing His kingdom and purposes for mankind.

Since the time of Christ there has been no end to the increase of His kingdom (His government, His Law-Word) (Luke 1:33). His truth has advanced in all spheres of life, including the medical field. Thanks to Christians, like Dr. Joseph Lister,^[4] man has put into practice biblical medical principles of cleanliness, sanitation, and quarantine, which God revealed to man in the Scriptures thousands of years ago. (See the appendix for a summary of these principles.)

The response of most of the 150-plus nations that have been directly affected by the coronavirus reveals that the world, in general, has come to embrace biblical medical principles. They have done so because they have learned in the past century and a half that they work. God said 3500 years ago that applying principles of cleanliness, sanitation, and quarantine would work. For most of history, man ignored these and suffered greatly through many diseases, pestilences, and afflictions. These have devastated mankind many times, none as bad as the bubonic plague in the mid-14^th century which killed one-third to one-half of Europe (tens of millions of people).^[5]

It was not until the middle of the 19^th century that Joseph Lister discovered why God presented these principles thousands of years before. He discovered that germs cause sickness and infection, and then found a way to kill these germs, and consequently, led the way for saving millions upon millions of lives.^[6]

Mankind has learned to apply some of God’s principles, but he continues to violate others. In fact, it was a violation of God’s law that apparently caused this virus to come into being in the first place (people in China ignored biblical cleanliness laws in their marketplaces, and they ate unclean animals^[7]). Moreover, the failure of the statist Chinese government to quarantine infected citizens and to notify the world of this pestilence allowed for the spread of COVID-19 all over the world.

God is at work in many ways through this current world crisis. The Bible reveals that God uses pestilence, plagues, disease, and sickness to execute His judgments and advance His kingdom (see for example Num. 14:12, 37). Many Christians have and will posit ideas of what God is specifically doing with the coronavirus. Certainly, repentance for national sins and crying out to God for His aid and mercy is an appropriate response, and this is occurring.^[8]

Pestilence, plagues, disease, and sickness also occur due to the fallen condition of the world because original sin has affected all things. Searching out God’s wisdom and using our technological knowledge is necessary to care for the infected and combat the virus in general. This is happening as well.

In addition to bringing His judgment, God is also extending His mercy. Many people are getting saved because of the crisis, like the Italian doctor who witnessed an older Christian man coming daily to the hospital to read the Bible to afflicted and dying patients, and who himself ultimately contracted the virus and died. His selfless service caused this doctor to turn to the living God.^[9] Polls have indicated that many non-Christians are thinking about God due to the virus. Pestilences can turn out as an opportunity to spread the Gospel (“it will lead to an opportunity for your testimony,” see Luke 21:10-13).

God is also working among many families, restoring relationships and an awareness of the parents’ responsibilities for health, education, and welfare. He is removing entertainment distractions, helping to show us what activities are essential in life. He is also showing His people how to trust in Him. Christians have a great opportunity to demonstrate the life and power we have in Christ. In particular, we can display, in the words of Puritan Jeremiah Burroughs “the rare jewel of Christian contentment.” God promises that we can be content in any situation. The Apostle Paul learned to be content with plenty or with lack (Phil. 4:11). We can trust in Him to provide our every need, and we can have peace in the midst of any hardship.

Pestilence, famine, and calamity are often used by God to bring His judgment, but they are also an opportunity for the Gospel. They fit into God’s providential plan to advance His purposes (see 1 Kings 17:1, Hag. 1:5-11, Amos 4:6, Rev. 8, Rom. 8:28). He controls the forces in the natural world in response to our obedience or disobedience. When we obey Him, He blesses the earth. When we are rebellious, He curses it (Dt. 28, Lev. 26; 2 Chron. 7:13-14).

So what can we do in response to this coronavirus calamity?

We are to use the coronavirus pandemic to give and show love, first to the brethren and then to all men (Gal. 6:7-10; Acts 11:27-30; 2 Cor. 8:1-7). Many Christians and Christian organizations are doing so.

We can pray with authority. God through Christ has given us authority over sickness and disease. We can repent of our sins, personal and corporate, and exercise the authority Jesus gave the church. President Trump’s call for prayer was a good step,^[10] as was Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro’s call for a National Day of Prayer and Fasting.[11]

Ask for godly wisdom for researchers and health care providers to rightly apply His biblical medical principles for this pestilence. Especially pray for wisdom for our civil leaders to act decisively, yet with great restraint for the least long-term negative effect on the economy. Ask for wisdom for them to most quickly get everyone back to work.

We must get to work. Any solution to this and future similar problems must seek to adhere to all of God’s principles for living. Yes, we are to combat germs and viruses with all the wisdom and technology we possess; and yes, we are to apply quarantine principles to those who have communicable diseases. But we also must understand that the people themselves are primarily responsible for their safety. We can give folks accurate information, and guidelines for healthy living, but they are the ones who should have the liberty to apply these in their lives, families, and businesses. An all-knowing government who exercises all power, even for what officials think is for the people’s best interest, is not how God created man to live.

Do not respond in fear or get caught up in the fear-stoked media coverage. See this in light of all the historic pestilences and diseases — the coronavirus pandemic is certainly much less dangerous than many other outbreaks.^[12] And as we get new data each day, we are learning that this is not the doomsday pestilence that many models have presented and many voices have echoed.

In everything we should respond in the confident faith we have in Christ, knowing His work and truth have overcome the negative effects of sin in the world, and have triumphed over Satan and his attempts to kill, steal, and destroy mankind.

___

Appendix

When we consider how to deal with the coronavirus event, we should reason from biblical principles. Among other truths, this includes medical principles and principles of work, as briefly summarized below.

Three General Biblical Medical Principles

1. Cleanliness — cleansing after contact with those who have died (Num. 19:11-22; see also Num. 9:10; and scriptures given below). Aspects of these laws included:

• A person was unclean for 7 days if he touched a dead body, in a field or in a tent.
• The unclean person was to wash in running water twice during the week (Num. 19:7, 12).
• If someone died in a tent, whoever was in the tent or anyone entering the tent was unclean for 7 days, and every open vessel with no cover was unclean (Num. 19:15). (Dr. Joseph Lister did experiments showing that germs travel on dust in the air. God, of course, knew this, which is reflected in the Mosaic laws given to man thousands of years earlier.)
• Clothes were to be washed, as well as things made of wood, leather, etc. (Num. 31:19-20). If a person touched a dead animal he was also unclean (Lev. 5:2-3; 1:8).
• Thus, separation from death was required of God’s people. This was symbolic as well as for practical health reasons. Failure to adhere to God’s cleanliness principles is why 10% of pregnant women who went to hospitals to be examined in Europe in the middle 1800s died. Doctors went from doing autopsies to examining the women without washing.

2. Sanitation — cover excrement to prohibit spread of germs (Deut. 23:9-14).

Failure to adhere to this precept led to the Black Death spreading throughout Europe and killing tens of millions in 1348 and the few years following.

3. Quarantine — (Deut. 24:8; Lev. 13-15 [leprosy in the Bible included a variety of infectious diseases])

• The laws of quarantine are an application of the sixth commandment, “you shall not murder,” with its positive corollary to preserve and further life. Some aspects of these laws included:
• Isolation of the infected person occurs as the disease was evaluated to see if it was contagious (Lev. 13:4, 5, 21, 26, 31, 33).
• If the disease was seen to not be contagious, he was to wash his clothes and be clean (Lev. 13:6, 34).
• If it was contagious, then the person was to live in isolation outside the camp (Lev. 46). If he was ever healed of the disease, he was to be examined and after confirmation of his wellness reintegrated into society.

Work Is a Holy Calling

We were created by God in His image, and an important way we express that image is in our work. God created us to work. The Bible teaches much about work, including these general ideas:

1. Work is part of our calling and is a primary way we will extend God’s kingdom on the earth (Gen. 1:26-28; Ps. 8:6; Luke 19:11-27).
2. God loves to work and so should we (John 5:17; Gen. 1).
3. “Six days you shall work” (Ex. 20:9). Work is included in His commandments given to mankind for our benefit.
4. Work is mentioned over 800 times in the Bible (e.g. Col. 3:23-24; 1 Thess. 2:9; 4:11-12).
5. God reveals Himself through His work (Rom. 1:20). Likewise, our work reveals who we are.

 

For more on the importance of work see: Stephen McDowell, Transforming Nations through Biblical Work: https://providencefoundation.com/product/transforming-nations-through-biblical-work/

 

 

[1] In limited geographic areas where people live in close proximity and are hard hit by the virus, or in facilities where senior citizens live (who are most susceptible to harm from the virus), there may need to be a general quarantine for a limited time as people are evaluated for being infected. But to quarantine an entire nation when most areas are experiencing little impact is going way beyond a reasoned and biblical response.

[2] I have been contacted by friends in Africa who are desperate for their basic needs, which they have not been able to obtain since the government closed most things down. The very poor in many nations are especially being harmed by slamming the breaks on much of the economic activity throughout the world. Poverty has been diminished in many nations in the last few decades as biblical economic principles have been embraced. Stopping, even for a short time, these principles from operating will result in death and harm to many, especially the poor.

[3] Huge segments of the economy should not have been shut down in the first place, but it was done so what can government do to help those impacted? A better approach than creating money by fiat (and increasing the role of government and adding more debt to future generations) would be to provide tax cuts (income, property, sales, etc.) and reduce regulations. Government spending should also be greatly reduced to help offset loss of revenue (which means eliminating all unnecessary government jobs—and there are many of these). Government and the private sector could work together to put a pause on many loans, as well as assist those most impacted. In addition, unemployment compensation could possibly be extending temporarily to self-employed persons. These are a few ideas (and they are many other things they could be done) where the goal would not be to increase the power of civil government during this crisis. Once power shifts to government, it is very difficult to return it to individuals, families, and the private sector.

[4] See Stephen McDowell, Transforming Medicine and Business with Biblical Principles, Examples of Joseph Lister and John Wanamaker, Charlottesville: Providence Foundation, 2010.

https://providencefoundation.com/product/transforming-medicine-business-with-biblical-principles/

 

[5] Noah Webster writes of this plague: “This plague was so deadly that at least half or two thirds of the human race perished in about 8 years. It was most fatal in cities, but in no place died less than a third of the inhabitants. In many cities perished nine out of ten of the people, and many places were wholly depopulated. In London 50,000 dead bodies were buried in one grave yard… In the east perished twenty millions in one year.—In Spain the disease raged three years and carried off two thirds of the people.” (A Brief History of Epidemic and Pestilential Diseases, in 2 Vol., Hartford: Hudson & Goodwin, 1799, p. 137.)

[6] You can read his story here:

https://providencefoundation.com/transforming-medicine-and-business/

 

[7] Some people think the virus may have originated in a Chinese governmental biological lab in Wuhan, whose activity itself appears to have violated biblical principles.

[8] For an article presenting some of our national sins see:  https://afa.net/the-stand/faith/2020/03/coronavirus-is-the-finger-of-god/

 

[9] See, https://godtv.com/atheist-doctor-italy-found-god-covid-19/?fbclid=IwAR1ZOv2-sAimMKCf5rCbf33M2yamMGZuGi_NcnxwLK9adjRiWkUZmtlUKK0

[10] See his proclamation here:

https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/proclamation-national-day-prayer-americans-affected-coronavirus-pandemic-national-response-efforts/

 

[11] https://godtv.com/president-brazil-calls-national-day-prayer-fasting-pandemic/?fbclid=IwAR3HZI_bAbUa0EoWNlKujAxqUznZE1n0fIkl4oZNUppibsAoyOWMkNnLNh0

 

[12] See Noah Webster, A Brief History of Epidemic and Pestilential Diseases, in 2 Vol., Hartford: Hudson & Goodwin, 1799. You can read the book online here:

https://books.google.com/books?id=uen8dansteEC&printsec=frontcover&source=gbs_ge_summary_r&cad=0#v=onepage&q&f=false