|
Biblical
Principles for Government
Why
does Britain have a House of Lords and a House of Commons?
Why does the USA separate their government into three branches
- Executive, Legislative and Judicial? Why does Switzerland
have a citizens army? These and many other questions are
answered by seeing the ten principles of freedom modeled
in the Bible.
Many
people labour under the illusion that the Bible has nothing
to say concerning social structures, constitutional models
or political affairs. However, while approximately 29% of
the Bible deals with our personal lives, 71% deals with
social, political and national issues.
God
established, as an example, in the government of Israel,
ten key principles of freedom:
| 1. |
A
written constitution (covenant) based on the revealed
Word of God (Exodus 20; Deut 5-8; John 19:11). A Biblical
constitution will clearly define and restrict the
power of government. It should act as a chain to keep
rulers from abusing power. It must be written so that
it is specific, clear and permanent.
“The
Law of the Lord is perfect, reviving the soul. The
statutes of the Lord are trustworthy, making wise
the simple. The precepts of the Lord are right,
giving joy to the heart. The commands of the Lord
are radiant, giving light to the eyes. The fear
of the Lord is pure, enduring forever . . .”
Psalm 19:7-10
|
| 2. |
A
separation of powers and functions into three branches
of civil government: executive (the King), legislative
(the Council and Sanhedrin) and judicial (the elders
or judges in each community). These three functions
of government are based on how the Lord revealed His
government (Isaiah 9:6, 7).
“For
the Lord is our Judge, the Lord is our Lawgiver,
the Lord is our King.” . . . Isaiah 33:22
|
| 3.
|
An
independent judiciary and the right to a fair trial.
(Exodus 23:1-3).
“He
appointed judges in the land .
. . He told them. 'Consider carefully what you do,
because you are not judging for man but for the
Lord, Who is with you whenever you give a verdict.
Now let the fear of the Lord be upon you. Judge
carefully, for with the Lord our God there is no
injustice, or partiality or bribery.'”
2 Chronicles 19:5-7
In
Deuteronomy 19:15-19 the principles for a fair trial
are set out: (i) one is innocent until proven guilty,
(ii) the right to due process of law, (iii) witnesses
must personally confront the accused, (iv) a matter
must be established by two or three witnesses, and
(v) judges must be impartial.
|
|
4.
|
A
national legislature (law- making body) where one
house was composed of representative judges or officials
elected by the people (Deut 1:13-17).
“But
select capable men from all the people men who fear
God, trustworthy men who hate dishonest gain and
appoint them as officials . . .” Exodus
18:21
|
| 5. |
A
second house in the legislature was composed of two
hereditary elders from each of the 11 tribes (or geographic
areas) of Israel, in addition to 24 priests from the
tribe of Levi, and 2 lawyers (scribes) from each of
the 12 tribes. This unelected (but appointed) body totalled
70 men and became known as the Sanhedrin (Ex. 24:1;
Num. 11:16-17). |
|
6.
|
An
executive officer (Judge or King) elected with the
guidance of God and the consent of the elders (Deuteronomy
17:16).
“When
all the elders of Israel had come to King David
at Hebron, he made a compact with them . . . before
the Lord, and they anointed David king over Israel,
as the Lord had promised through Samuel.”
1 Chronicles 11:3
|
|
7.
|
A
decentralised state with most responsibilities and powers
resting on the local government, the family and the
individual (Exodus 24:1; Deuteronomy 1:13-17, Acts 17:26).
Centralisation of power in a unitary state has always
been a pagan tendency as seen in Nineveh and Babel (Genesis
10:11 and 11:1ff). As power corrupts, it is wise to
limit and divide the powers of civil government in a
system of checks and balances. |
| 8.
|
A
citizens army (militia) made up of trained citizens
who have the right and duty to bear arms for the defence
of their home and family, community and nation (Numbers
1:2-3; Judges 3:2; Exodus 22:2; Deut. 20:1-4). One
of the best safeguards against tyranny is an armed
citizenry.
“Don't
be afraid of them. Remember the Lord Who is great
and awesome, and fight for your brothers, your sons
and your daughters, your wives and your homes.”
Nehemiah 4:14
Local
militia units elected their own commanders (Deut.
20:9), and each soldier supplied his own basic weapons
(Num. 32:20; 1 Sam. 25:13). This was based upon the
right of each law-abiding citizen to own and use weapons
for defence. Any attempt to prohibit the right of
an individual to bear arms was unBiblical and was
a pagan attempt to centralise (usurp) excessive power
(Judges 5:8;1 Sam. 13:19-22).
|
|
9.
|
A
free market economy based on the private ownership
of property (Exodus 20:15,17; Deut 19:14) and individual
free enterprise (Eccl 5:19; Prov. 10:2-4; 12:24: 13:4,11;
1 Thess 3:10). Any taxation of 10% or higher was defined
as oppression (1 Samuel 8:10-18), and any taxation
of property, or of inheritance, was strictly forbidden!
(1 Kings 21:3). Institutions and individuals involved
in the full time service of the Lord were not allowed
to be taxed (Ezra 7:23,24). Any unequal or progressive
system of taxation was expressly forbidden (Ex. 30:14-15;
Leviticus 19:15). Biblical economics also forbids
unjust weights (unbacked currency) and measures (inflation)
(Leviticus 19:35-36; Prov. 11:1; 20:10; Amos 8:5-7;
Micah 6:11,12).
“
. . . proclaim liberty throughout the land to all
its inhabitants . . .” Lev.
25:10
|
|
10.
|
An
education programme controlled by the parents, aided
by the church, but independent of the state (Deuteronomy
6:7; Hosea 4:6; Matthew 28:19; Ephesians 6:4; Colossians
2:8). One cannot entrust any state with the moulding
of the minds of the future voters. The control of education
should be in the hands of parents and the content of
education must be moral, character developing and Bible
based. |
“He
knows not how to rule a kingdom, that cannot manage a Province;
nor can he wield a Province, that cannot order a City; nor
he order a City, that knows not how to regulate a Village,
nor he a Village, that cannot guide a Family, nor can that
man govern well a Family that knows not how to govern himself,
neither can any govern himself unless his reason be lord,
and his will and appetite her vassals; nor can reason rule
unless herself be ruled by God and wholly be obedient to
Him.”
Hugo
Grotius (17th Century Dutch Theologian)
Dr
Peter Hammond is the author of "South Africa - Renaissance
or Reformation?"
To
subscribe to UCANEWS or to obtain books on social &
political issues from a Christian perspective, contact UCA
at:
PO Box 23632, Claremont, 7735
or email: uca@global.co.za
|
