The choice is theonomy (God’s law) or autonomy (man’s self-law), and autonomy leads inexorably to either anarchy or totalitarianism.
Joseph Boot in The Mission of God
Theology of Government and COVID – Part 4
Welcome to part four 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
Theology of Government and COVID – Part 3
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?
Read MoreTheology of Government and COVID – Part 1
Here in New Zealand, we have once again been subjected to a nationwide lockdown. Churches are closed, the nation is on house arrest, and you can only go to work if the government deems your work essential.
I am convinced that one of the premier problems facing the Christian church is a disgraceful complicity with the idolatry of the state and a woefully lacking theology of government.
By the end of this series, I want to make the suggestion that churches and church leaders are morally obliged to disregard our government’s lockdown orders and reopen the church as soon as possible. But before we get there, we must lay some Biblical foundations. Foundations that have been eroded for decades and are about to cause a collapse of the entire house.
What I want to do here is lay a ground-up foundation for Biblical principles regarding our theology of government and then make application to our current cultural moment. My hope is that we might all be able to take a step back and reconsider some of our assumptions about the role of government and our obligations before God in relation to government edicts.
Across this series, we will look at three core principles and then some applications regarding our current cultural moment. here is where we are heading:
- Principle #1 – Civil Governments have a Legitimate Authority
- Principle #2 – Civil Governments have a Limited Authority
- Principle #3 – Theocracy is Inescapable
- Principles Applied
This first installment explores principle one. Enjoy.
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