Welcome to part three of this series looking at a Biblical theology of government and certain applications to our current cultural moment. For links to the other installments, see the list below.
- Principle #1 – Civil Governments have a Legitimate Authority
- Principle #2 – Civil Governments have a Limited Authority
- Principle #3 – Theocracy is Inescapable
- Principles Applied
In today’s episode, we are looking at the third principle and thinking about the fact that all nations are, in fact, theocracies. The question is, which God is in charge?
Principle 3 – Theocracy is Inescapable
Under this principle I want to make two basic points. Firstly, every system of government will ultimately be theocratic. There will always be a God of the system. That is not up for debate. It is not a matter of whether there will be a God of the system, rather the debate is over which God it will be. Secondly, since theocracy is inescapable, we should gladly embrace God’s law as the righteous standard for determining the limits of civil government.
So, what do I mean when I say that theocracy is inescapable? Every society must have a god of the system. Every society must have ethical expectations that are governing its members. These, by necessity, must be generated by the god of the system. Whoever determines what is right and wrong in society, and whoever gets to determine the just penalties for misbehaviour is, by definition, the god of the system. Either Yahweh will be God, or some false god will take his place; either Allah, or Vishnu, or as we like it in the West, Demos. Doug Wilson puts it well when he says,
“There is no such thing as a society with the great god Vacuum at the top. Any society that had no arche to hold it together would—for that reason—not hold together. Every society has an ultimate point of cohesion, and that point of cohesion, whatever it is, necessarily has religious value.”[1]
Many people get perturbed when they hear Christians talking about theocracy because of the many negative connotations it carries, however, I want to maintain that we must come to terms with this reality because it is inescapable.
I take it that once we come to terms with this reality, much of the Biblical testimony about Christ’s Lordship over civil governments can finally be read rightly. Consider, for example, that famous passage that we have been putting in our Christmas cards for years, Isaiah 9:6-7.
For to us a child is born,
to us a son is given;
and the government shall be upon his shoulder,
and his name shall be called
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Of the increase of his government and of peace
there will be no end,
Seeing that Christ has all authority in heaven and on earth, it only makes sense that even the government rests upon his shoulders. Only by his power can they have any legitimacy. In fact, their authority, rightly ordered, is an expression of the increase of Christ’s own dominion. When civil governments recognise their position under Christ, they contribute to the increase of his government.
This brings me to the second point. Since theocracy is inescapable and since civil governments are called to be the servants of God, I am convinced that God’s law must dictate the just and righteous limits of civil government.
In the most famous sermon in human history, our Lord declares these words,
17 “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. 18 For truly, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not an iota, not a dot, will pass from the Law until all is accomplished. 19 Therefore whoever relaxes one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever does them and teaches them will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. 20 For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. (Matthew 5: 17-20)
In these words, Christ asserts the abiding validity of God’s law, down to the smallest pen stroke. For the purposes of our present discussion, this means that our civil governments are also bound to keep God’s law as it pertains to their office.
Since the New Testament requires civil magistrates to rule in a God-honouring fashion, governing authorities come under the judgment of God when they defy his law and wield the sword autonomously.
God has armed them with the sword, or the power of execution. God forbids the Christian citizen from seeking personal vengeance in Romans 12: 19,
Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.”
Paul then goes on to say that governing authorities are “an avenger who carries out God’s wrath on the wrongdoer” (Romans 13:4). Notice that the magistrate carries out God’s wrath against the wrongdoer. Therefore, the magistrate has a direct obligation towards God. An obligation to punish the wrongdoer in a just manner.
This is where God’s law must direct and limit the actions taken by civil government, for we all recognise that even when trying to administer justice, governing authorities can, in fact, administer injustice. For example, in some countries, stealing a loaf of bread could mean that you have your hands chopped off. This is surely injustice on the side of brutality. Conversely, in our country, a man can rape a woman and get little more than a smack on the wrist, receiving only a few years in prison. Again, this is surely an injustice, but this time on the side of leniency.
If we are to have any objective standards for just penalties outside of the subjective preferences of our leaders, then we must apply the general equity of God’s law. Since civil rulers are God’s servants, we must consult him in order to understand how crimes can be justly punished by the state. After all, the state is not carrying out its own wrath, instead it is carrying out God’s wrath. Therefore, we cannot assume to know how God wants that done apart from his word.
By God’s grace he has given us all that we need. As we look at the established nation of Israel, we see God’s standards applied to that particular people. From there we can observe the general principles of God’s commands and construct a system of law, penology, and governmental limits on the state. God’s ordinances should determine what constitutes a crime. Not all sins are crimes, by the way. We should not want a state that punishes covetousness in the heart. God never gave the state the power to do that. I suspect because God understands that men are not competent to read the hearts of other men. God’s ordinances should also determine what constitutes a just penalty. The only way we can be sure that we are not sowing injustice, either on the side of lenience or brutality, is by letting God’s law shape our penology.
Some will scoff at such suggestions, thinking that this would be a return to barbarity and cruelty. Some kind of puritanical extremism. However, this kind of reaction simply betrays the lack of respect and reverence that many have for God’s law. We seem to think that we can order society better without God’s ordinances shaping our view of civil government and we forget the goodness of God’s law. We would do well to reconsider Deuteronomy 4: 5-8.
5 See, I have taught you statutes and rules, as the Lord my God commanded me, that you should do them in the land that you are entering to take possession of it. 6 Keep them and do them, for that will be your wisdom and your understanding in the sight of the peoples, who, when they hear all these statutes, will say, ‘Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people.’ 7 For what great nation is there that has a god so near to it as the Lord our God is to us, whenever we call upon him? 8 And what great nation is there, that has statutes and rules so righteous as all this law that I set before you today?
A nation governed by God’s laws is meant to be such a light to the surrounding nations that they marvel at its greatness. God’s law is the wisdom of a nation. It is meant to provoke the admiration of countries that observe how righteous the laws are. Yet we somehow think that our pagan atheistic humanism is exempt from being impressed by the righteous laws of God applied to civil government.
[1] https://dougwils.com/books-and-culture/s7-engaging-the-culture/a-primer-on-theocracies.html