The Proper Role of Judges
By Buddy Hanson The Covenant News ~ August 29, 2009
Ask someone to define "government" and they will probably give you the definition of civil government. However, our triune God works His eternally perfect plan for the earth through four self-governing spheres: Individual, Family, Church and State.* Each sphere has specific commanded duties from God and should not attempt to usurp the duties of any of the other spheres. This week we look at the sphere of the State, or Civil Rulers, and in particular judges.
King Jehoshaphat makes it clear that since the judges were God's ministers, they were to "image Him" by ruling according to His laws, knowing that when they have to make an unpopular ruling the Lord is with them to offer comfort and assurance. (vss.6-7) It can be seen from the following verses that King Jehoshaphat was instituting the biblical model of self-government by requiring each city to judge its own cases, and having a "Supreme Court" in Jerusalem that could be appealed to by individuals who weren't happy with the local ruling. (v.8)
"And he appointed judges in the land in all the fortified cities of Judah, city by city. And he said to the judges, "Consider what you are doing, for you do not judge for man, but for the Lord who is with you when you render judgment. Now then let the fear of the Lord be upon you: be very careful what you do, for the Lord our God will have no part in unrighteousness, or partiality, or the taking of a bribe." 2 Chronicles 19.5-7
That the realms of church and state have distinct responsibilities is clearly brought out in Scripture. The first example of the state overreaching its jurisdiction into church matters happened approximately 1,000 years before the birth of Christ. The Israelites had appointed Saul as their first earthly king (ending God's theocracy over them). (2 Chronicles 17: 7-9) During their war with the Philistines, Saul's army was greatly outnumbered and Samuel had promised to come and perform a worship service. Samuel's trip, however, was delayed and when Saul began to see several of his ranks desert, he decided to perform the worship service himself. Samuel arrived as soon as the service concluded and said to Saul:
"You have acted foolishly, you have not kept the commandment of the LORD your God, which He commanded you, for the LORD would have established your kingdom over Israel forever. But now your kingdom shall not endure. The LORD has sought out a man after His own heart..." 1 Samuel 13.13-14
Judah's King Uzziah also overstepped the bounds of civil authority. He became king at the age of sixteen and "did right in the sight of the Lord" and Jerusalem was greatly blessed because of it. At the pinnacle of his career, however, he became proud and acted unfaithfully toward the Lord by entering the temple and burning incense on the altar. When the priest, Azariah, and 80 other priests entered the temple and found King Uzziah, he said, "It is not for you to burn incense to the Lord, but for the priests, the sons of Aaron who are consecrated to burn incense. Get out of the sanctuary, for you have been unfaithful, and will have no honor from the Lord God." Uzziah, however, became enraged and God struck him with leprosy. (2 Chronicles 26.3-5, 9-10, 16-21)
King David makes it clear that Christ is the head of the State:
"Now therefore, O Kings, show discernment; take warning, O judges of the earth. Worship the Lord with reverence, and rejoice with trembling, so homage to the Son, lest He become angry, and you perish in the way, for His wrath may soon be kindled." Psalm 2.10-12
Some would have us believe that the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution calls for a "separation of God and state," to the extent that every mention and aspect of God be removed from the civil government's sphere. The truth, however, is that the First Amendment simply states, "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof..." All this means is that there will be no state church, which is what the founders were escaping in the form of the Church of England. So, instead of disestablishing the church, the purpose of the First Amendment is to protect it and to protect citizens from a "national" church being established.
Once the State leaves its biblical moorings, its objective is no longer peace and order; it is primarily fiscal.
Next week's topic is "Religion is the Opiate of the People."
* Theologians combine the duties of the individual into the family sphere, but I know a few individuals who don't have a family infrastructure, so I break out those duties into a fourth sphere.
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.