"What is government? When this question is asked, most people
respond by equating government solely with a centralized state.
Even our language reflects the confusion: "Government? It's
in Washington," or "The government will take care of
its citizens through its many programs." Both of these statements
reflect a misunderstanding of the true nature of government.
They portray the idea that the only governing institution is
a political one. Historically, however, the term "government"
was always qualified in some way, unlike our present-day definitions.
Our educational system reflects the same confusion. A generation
ago high school classes dealing with state government were given
the title "Civics." The emphasis was on the function
of government in civil matters. This is no longer the case. Such
classes are now given the broad title of "Government,"
implying that the many governments are absorbed into one all-encompassing
government. Before World War I, textbooks dealing with national
government were qualified with the title "Civil." An
example of this can be seen in a textbook used in 1903: Elements
of Civil Government. According to its author, "The family
is a form of government, established for the good of children
themselves, and the first government that each of us must obey"
(p. 18). The book continues by defining five areas of civil government:
"the township or civil district, the village or the city,
the county, the State, and the United States" (p. 18). The
term "government," as the older educational definition
indicates, is broader than the state. Textbook writers were aware
that there were personal, family, church, school, and civil governments,
each having a legitimate realm of authority. The state was seen
as only one government among many.
To deny the validity of the many governments and the responsibilities
that each has under God, would be to deny the authority that
belongs to each of them in the realm of their activity. If we
as individuals neglect our personal governing duties, then we
can expect the state to assume the role of all other legitimate
governments and claim to be the sole government, while labeling
all others as counterfeits. Therefore, to see the state as the
only governing institution "is destructive of liberty and
of life" (R.J. Rushdoony, Politics of Guilt and Pity, p.
332).
The concept of the multiplicity of governments was as old as
our country, because the principles were extracted from biblical
principles. Noah Webster's definition of government in his American
Dictionary of the English Language (1828) reflects the biblical
concept of the diversity of governmental authority. Webster defined
government in this way: "Direction; regulation. 'These precepts
will serve for the government of our conduct.' Control; restraint.
'Men are apt to neglect the government of their temper and passions.'"
While Noah Webster, in 1828, defined government in terms of personal
self-control, most modern definitions largely limit government
to the realm of institutions, especially civil or statist governments.
This is made evident by the fact that the definition for civil
government is placed first in modern dictionaries. Nowhere are
self and family governments even listed. For example, Webster's
New World Dictionary (1972), defines government in this way:
"The exercise of authority over a state, district, organization,
institution, etc."
Noah Webster, in the older definition, even goes on to include
family government as part of the complete definition before he
deals with the government of an individual state or nation. He
defines family government as: "The exercise of authority
by a parent or householder. 'Children are often ruined by a neglect
of government in parents.'" According to the Bible, it is
the duty of parents to govern in the home: "And fathers,
do not provoke your children to anger; but bring them up in the
discipline and instruction of the Lord" (Ephesians 6:4).
It is not the duty of a civil government to interfere with the
affairs of the family. Too often, however, parents neglect their
God-given duty to raise their children in the "nurture and
admonition of the Lord." When this happens, we can expect
the state to take an increasingly dominant role in family affairs.
Such a role is to the detriment of the family. The state on many
occasions has even claimed ownership of children.
If generations continue to be indoctrinated with the modern definition,
as they have been, they will neglect their own personal, family,
church, and local governing duties. They will believe that these
duties are outside their area of authority and responsibility.
Each generation will become more dependent on the "benevolent"
state for care and security. We are beginning to see such a trend.
"Today, most Americans have lost their faith in Christ as
Savior, and they expect civil government to be their savior.
They have no desire for the responsibilities of self-government,
and so they say to politicians, 'Do thou rule over us.' Instead
of Jesus Christ as their good shepherd, they elect politicians
to be their shepherds on a program of socialistic security for
all" (RJ. Rushdoony, Law and Liberty, p. 61).
Government, then, in our American Christian heritage which was
formulated from biblical principles, begins with the individual
and extends outward to include all institutions. Presently, however,
most Americans are unaware of the varied nature of government.
The civil government has assumed responsibility to be the government.
It is sad to say that many Americans are thankful that Washington
has relieved them from what they believe is the heavy burden
of governing themselves, their families, churches, and schools.
If the people of the United States do not once again establish
self, family, church, local, state, and national governments
to their proper places of power and authority, our nation is
doomed.
The central focus of all realms of government is the regenerating
work of Jesus Christ. Institutions and civil governments are
made up of people who are governed by the condition of their
heart. If the heart is in rebellion against God, we can expect
undisciplined and ungovernable people. If the heart has been
made new in Christ, we can expect a people who will govern their
lives according to the governing principles of Scripture. A.A.
Hodge speaks of the essence of the new heart, regeneration, as
consisting of "the implantation of a new governing principle
of life-from the fact that it is a 'new birth' [ John 3:3], a
'new creation' [2 Corinthians 5:17], wrought by the mighty power
of God in execution of his eternal purpose of salvation, and
that it is as necessary for the most moral and amiable as for
the morally abandoned" (A Commentary on the Confession of
Faith, p.238)."
God and Government; A Biblical and Historical Study
Gary DeMar
Wolgemuth & Hyatt, Publishers, Inc. 1749 Mallory Lane, Suite
110, Brentwood, Tennessee 37027. Volume 1; pages 3-6.
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