The Whole Church Ruling the Whole Forest

For the past few weeks, we have discussed the big picture, the “forest,” of man’s rule over the earth. This is the reason for which we were created (Genesis 1:26). The “trees” in that forest are our unique, individual ruling assignments in our families, our churches, the civil government, and any other association or organization of which we are a part.

We have looked at the biblical description of our rule in the family and the church on several occasions, and today I want to examine how the rule over civil government extends to all of us as well, not just to “political junkies.” Remember, “ruling in the Kingdom” means whoever, whatever or wherever any of us have authority or influence, we bring that entity under the jurisdiction of the Law of God. 

I have a proclivity to always want to keep this big-picture front and center. I have learned over the years that this helps me remember why I am doing all the mundane, necessary, and often difficult, daily activities in which I can very easily get lost. 

This foundational “forest”  is composed of four theological questions, to which we all have our own answers. However, it is experiencing (not simply intellectually understanding) the BIBLICAL answers to these questions that greatly increases the chances that our rule on the earth will be effective. That, by the way, also earns us a Doctorate in Theology for Dummies from the Andrews Theological Seminary!

Here are these questions, with what I believe to be the biblical, summary, one-phrase answer to each in parentheses:

1. What is God like? (absolutely sovereign)
2. What am I like? (completely sinful)
3. How does God relate to me? (totally by grace, through faith alone)
4. Why am I here? (to rule over the earth)

The church’s primary job is to equip us to apply these theological foundation-stones to all three of the weapons God has given us (family, church, and civil government) to use in our ruling assignments. 

For example, our chances of ruling in our families as loving, firm fathers, and sensitive, insightful, caring mothers, greatly increases with our experiential understanding of these theological questions.

Similarly, I believe these truths will naturally cause the church to become more biblical in its functioning. It will become a more participatory church, encouraging and providing a place for us all to exercise fully the gifts God has given us. As we participate, we will naturally learn to “walk in the light together” (1 John 1:6-10); to “confess (our) sins to one another and to pray for one another, so that (we) may be healed” (James 5:16).

The vast majority of believers agree that we have a calling to function in our families and in the church. However, our third ruling institution, the civil government, is considered by a large percentage of evangelical Christians to be (as the title of a recent blog posting proclaimed), a “step-child” in the Kingdom of God.

Sermons about the importance of civil government, along with family and church as an essential ruling weapon, are not preached. Parishioners are not encouraged and instructed in how they all can biblically rule in civil government. The topic is either never mentioned, or negatively, such as: “The Kingdom of God is within you. Politics doesn’t save people, it only divides. It is a dirty business. Stay out of it!” 

Breaking these old habits is a slow process. Many of us, including myself, grew up in a church that never mentioned civil government at all. My Christian, evangelistic organization, through which I met the Lord, and with whom I worked for seven years after college, didn’t either. 

My political awakening did not occur until some fifteen years later when I stumbled onto a “new” theology (really an ancient one!) where we, as Christians, are to be Conquering Rulers rather than Raptured Escapists! 

Two books have been invaluable in my journey. The first is The Light and the Glory, by Peter Marshall. It relates beautifully how the United States was founded, and how the struggles, difficulties, and major, seemingly insurmountable problems, the founders faced and overcame. What an eye-opener this book was! It’s amazing that most Christians are totally unaware, as I was, about our genuinely Christian history.

The second book I have mentioned before: Roots of the American Republic. by E.C. Wines. In this book, Wines clearly lays out 17 principles that were followed in the Hebrew Republic in the Bible. He shows that our nation’s founders, consciously or unconsciously, included all these 17 principles in the United States Constitution. The Hebrew Republic existed about 400 years, from the giving of the law to Moses to the beginning of the reign of King Saul in Israel.

These principles reflect many of the laws and customs that we take for granted, such as personal liberty, private ownership of property, magistrates chosen by and accountable to the people, etc. 

However, the Jews eventually became dissatisfied with the republic God had given them, and demanded to have a king, like all the surrounding nations. God originally said “No. I  am your king,” and, through His prophet Samuel, related to them the terrible consequences a king would bring them. 

1 Samuel 8-10 is the story of Israel’s intransigence in wanting a human king. God did not change His mind, but here gives us an example of “God granted them their request, but sent leanness into their lives,“ (Psalm 106:15). This was His “decretive will” (what actually happened). It was the next step in His perfect plan for Israel.  

This book by Wines is an assurance that our Constitution, though not perfect, is based solidly on the Bible. It is a vast storehouse of information with which the church can equip its members with God’s original “revealed will” (His perfect Law) for civil government.

In conclusion, I have been silent about how I will vote this year. As we approach election day, it is time for me to break that silence. Next week I will post THE BIG REVEAL—how I will vote in 2024!