*BIBLICAL CONCEPTION OF THE STATE*
https://archive.org/details/fundamentalsofch0000jame/page/n2/mode/1up
The Church seems to still know (though grossly tainted with lust and pride) that God has commanded each Soul as individuals that our PERSONAL RELATIONSHIP must kindly ensure to show God’s love and kindness to one another in their interaction as second-party fellows.
But the Church seems to no longer know (or has abandoned the ancient path knowledge) that God has ordained the State as nations that GOVERNMENT RULERSHIP must equitably ensure to enforce God’s justice among the people as an equitable third-party institution mediating among its citizens. This apathy was not so until recent times after the emergence of the United Nations following the Second World War.
This modern ignorance about God’s concept of the State and negligence of Church’s responsibilities in State matters were not found in the Church of the past. The victory against godless governance at the WW II and the successful emergence of universal suffrage democracy and institution of international community treaties seems to have deceived the Church to wrongfully lapse into slumber and stupor on understanding of and engagement in State issues.
The Universal Church had understood herself to be God’s international institution for the conscientization and reconciliation of the nations and the State authorities, that is why the Church played that role for 1500 years all through the Roman Empire and European Civilization. For this reason, it is not proper for the modern Church to go to sleep and stay out of political matters of the nations simply because we have succeeded in establishing the United Nations and other international moderating bodies.
According to David, God’s ordinance for kings as State authorities is to establish equity in the nation. Equity means ruling the nation or judging the people by God’s law of righteousness and justice.
Psa 99:4
(4) The king’s strength also loves JUSTICE; you do establish EQUITY, you execute JUSTICE and RIGHTEOUSNESS in Jacob.
David and Solomon and all the Prophets understood and expounded the eternal truth that God’s basis for blessing a nation with peace and prosperity is the righteousness and justice of both the princes and the people. In absence of righteousness and justice the nation or State would fall into reproach as the inevitable consequence. This divine ordinance is true for any Nation or State whether it be a monarchy ruled by king and princes or a democracy led by president and politicians. The rise and fall of all nations all through the ages of human history has proved this eternal truth that good and survival of governments and nations depend on their justice and righteousness while reproach and collapse depend on their injustice and unrighteousness.
In the KJV Bible, the Hebrew word translated RIGHTEOUSNESS is “tsedaqah,” the word translated JUSTICE is “tsedaqah;” while EQUITY or JUDGMENT is the statesmanly administration of “tsedaqah” among the people.
In a MONARCHY, sovereignty belongs to the king who appoints and delegates his princes and nobles as his representatives to the people who are his subjects without any voice for law or votes that count.
In an ARISTOCRACY, which is not under a king, gangs of “ruling class” (both noble and ignoble) usurp State sovereignty over the people (as cabals or juntas, caucuses or parties) to manipulate the people (through clever sentiments of tribe and trade, creed and colour) or subjugate the people (through violence and force) into servitude that has neither voice for law nor votes that count.
On the other hand, in a DEMOCRACY, sovereignty belongs to the people who have the voice of the law and the votes that count for electing and delegate their politicians as their accountable representatives, such that the people are only subjects to their politicians so long as such positions represent the people lawfully as the people demand. So, in a democracy the people are both the sovereign and the subjects at the same time, while the politicians are their representatives not monarch and princes.
Equity is the Righteous administration of Justice according to the rule of just laws.
Except in the Israelite dynasty of David, where the Monarch was equally subject to God’s Law with his subjects, Gentile Monarchs are usually exempt from the king’s law over his/her subjects. All nations also have this pagan tendency in a Republican Aristocracy. Even in modern Democracy where all are equal before the people’s law, as godly principles of equity and justice for all demands, the leaders are using pagan mentality to corrupt this principle in order to act above the law.
The Church must therefore awaken to PRESSURE the princes and politician for righteousness and justice and equity.
The Church must PREACH to the people to demand for righteousness and justice and equity from the princes and politicians.
The church must PRAY God for His will to be done which is righteousness and justice and equity among the people.
The only basis for which the Church would support any prince or politician must be for righteousness and justice and equity – no other considerations or sentiments should distract the Saints from this divine design.
2Sa 23:3
(3) The God of Israel said, the Rock of Israel spoke to me, He that RULES OVER MEN must be JUST, ruling in the fear of God.
Psa 72:1-3
(1) [A Psalm of Solomon.] Give the king your JUDGMENTS, O God, and your RIGHTEOUSNESS unto the king’s son.
(2) He shall JUDGE your people with RIGHTEOUSNESS, and your poor with JUSTICE.
(3) The mountains shall bring peace to the people, and the little hills, by RIGHTEOUSNESS.
Pro 14:34
(34) RIGHTEOUSNESS exalts a nation: but sin is a reproach to any people.
From theses verses, it is obvious that God’s ordained purpose for governance in any nation is justice and equity amongst citizens.
Over 80 years ago, in his book, *Fundamentals of Christian Statesmanship: _A Study of the Bible from the Standpoint of Politics and the State_*, published in 1939 by Fleming H. Revell Company, New York (https://archive.org/details/fundamentalsofch0000jame/page/n2/mode/2up ) James Wallace wrote on this subject matter.
Excerpts…..
“The basic teaching of Scripture bearing on Biblical conception of the Sate is
• that the State is founded on justice and equity;
• that its primary and essential purpose is the enactment and administration of just and equitable laws;
• that it is instituted of God for this purpose;
• that in the fulfillment of its mission it is more and more to become the agent and organized expression of His character and purpose;
• that the State, like the individual, is judged by the divine standard of righteousness and justice;
• that lawmakers, judges, executives (kings, presidents, governors) are God’s servants, charged with the responsibility of bringing to all the people the blessings of a just, efficient, and humane government.
In short, as presented in Scripture, the State is endowed with attributes of personality. It has mind, feeling, will–a moral nature.”
“This endowment and responsibility pertain to all States, but especially to a republic or a democracy.
A democracy can elect wise and able men to office or it can choose unscrupulous politicians.
It can base legislation on principle or be governed by expediency.
It can exalt wealth above morals or morals above wealth.
It can promote temperance and sound morality or the reverse.
It may be moved by prejudice and partisanism or be motivated by reason and rectitude.
It can have a passion for justice or a passion for power and conquest.
It can be peaceable or it can be warlike.
It can be humane or it can be cruel.
It can be utterly selfish (nationalistic) or generously recognize the equality and rights of other States (diplomatic).”
These were based on Scriptures that speak everywhere of righteousness of God as His character and that righteousness is God’s ruling canon in Zion for Israel and in the State or Government among the nations. For instance
Psa 45:6
(6) Your throne, O God, is forever and ever: the scepter of your kingdom is a RIGHTEOUS scepter.
Psa 96:10
(10) Say AMONG THE NATIONS that the LORD reigns: the world also shall be established that it shall not be moved: he shall JUDGE the people RIGHTEOUSLY.
Psa 99:4
(4) The king’s strength also loves JUSTICE; you do establish EQUITY, you execute JUSTICE and RIGHTEOUSNESS in Jacob.
Isa 32:1
(1) Behold, a king shall reign in RIGHTEOUSNESS, and princes shall rule in JUSTICE.
Isa 9:7
(7) Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with JUSTICE and with RIGHTEOUSNESS from this time forth even forever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this.
Isa 28:6
(6) And for a spirit of JUSTICE to him that sits in judgment, …
Isa 28:16-17
(16) Therefore thus says the Lord GOD, Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a tested stone, a precious cornerstone, a sure foundation: he that believes shall not be in haste.
(17) JUSTICE also will I make the measuring line, and RIGHTEOUSNESS the plumb line: and the hail shall sweep away the refuge of lies, and the waters shall overflow the hiding place.
Jer 23:5-6
(5) Behold, the days come, says the LORD, that I will raise unto David a RIGHTEOUS Branch, and a King shall reign and prosper, and shall execute JUSTICE and RIGHTEOUSNESS in the earth.
(6) In his days Judah shall be saved, and Israel shall dwell safely: and this is his name by which he shall be called, THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS.
We must therefore follow the footsteps of the Prophets and the Apostles to remember that God rules and vetoes in all affairs of all peoples (Dan 4:17, 25, 32); and all princes or kings or dignitaries in State authority are His agents of social restraint and retribution (Rom 13:1-7; 1Tim 2:1-3; 1Pet 2:13-17). Unlike the ministers of the Sanctuary and the Church who also work for the regeneration and revival of both the people and the princes, sovereigns and subjects alike, ministers of the State or secular authorities are not necessarily equipped as agents of spiritual regeneration and revival.
Grace to you
I. U. Ibeme.