The Proper Role of Civil Government
By Buddy Hanson The Covenant News ~ August 18, 2009
In the Old Testament there was a separation of priest and king, and between the temple and the palace. Contrary to the prevalent misconception among many of our brothers and sisters, Israel had a harmony of church and state under God, not a union of the two.
Both the civil and ecclesiastical realms operated according to God's laws. How could it be expected to be otherwise? If God is not in control of the events outside of our homes and churches, how can it be imagined that He is in charge of events inside them? Indeed, if Jesus is not Lord of all, He is not Lord at all!
The church is to set forth the Word of our Lord and Savior so that society will have a clear direction and trustworthy guidance, while the state bases its civil code upon our King (Jesus).* Church members should be taught to take care of the education and welfare of each other instead of letting the state usurp this responsibility. This clear separation of powers and responsibilities is evident in Old Testament Israel where there was a separation of priest and king, and between the temple and the palace.
Moses was Israel's civil ruler, and Aaron was her priest, as God kept the civil and ecclesiastical offices separate from Israel's very beginning. This truth is seen in the prophet Zechariah's statement: "These are the two anointed ones, who stand beside the Lord of the whole earth." (Zechariah 4.14) The "two anointed ones" refer to the kings and priests, as the following list illustrates:
KING
PRIEST
Moses
Aaron
Joshua
Eleazar
David
Abiathar
Solomon
Zadok
Hezekiah
Azariah
Zerubbabel
Joshua
The Old Testament has no shortage of object lessons and if we pay attention to them we won't face repeating the mistakes of the Jews and suffering similar punishments. In the center of Israel, culturally speaking, was the dwelling place of God's glory cloud. God was in the midst of this cloud, and it resided first in the Tabernacle (Exodus 40.34), and later in the Temple (1 Kings 8.1). Inside the Temple was the holy of holies, where once a year the high priest entered to offer a blood sacrifice for the nation. Inside the holy of holies was the Ark of the Covenant, which contained the two tablets of God's covenant law. All of this imagery and ceremony pointed to the importance of having God's law at the center of society. This is how God manifested Himself to man in those days. Today, He manifests Himself through the Bible and the sacraments of baptism and the Lord's Supper.
The revealed law of God is the cornerstone of a culture and should be at the forefront of every legislator's and judge's decision-making.
Listen carefully to Isaiah's divinely inspired counsel to his wayward neighbors:
Woe to them that decree unrighteous decrees, and that write grievousness which they have prescribed: To turn aside the needy from judgment, and to take away the right from the poor of my people, that widows may be their prey, and that they may rob the fatherless! Isaiah 10.1-2
Clearly, the Bible must be our "political textbook." We must replace the state's sovereignty with God's sovereignty. In doing this we must exhibit a charitable manner. Peter counsels: "For it is the will of God that with well doing you may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men." (1 Peter 2.15) The issue for 21st century American Christians is not which political party a candidate belongs to, but rather what is the source of the legislator's ultimate authority when it comes to supporting or opposing legislation!
* May we not forget that the battle cry of the American Revolution
was, "No king, but King Jesus!"
Next week's topic is, "The Proper Role of Judges."
Buddy Hanson is President of the Christian Policy Network and Director
of the Christian Worldview Resources Center and has written several
books on the necessity of applying one's faith to everyday situations,
circumstances and decision-making.