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Government - Role and Responsibility

Authority That Gives

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  • Peter J. Leithart

This article discusses from Isaiah how authority can be exercised well. The Lord's king will rule with justice, and as a result there will be healing of the people.

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God & Government: A Biblical Perspective on the Role of the State

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  • Cornelis van Dam

This article gives a biblical perspective on the role of government. The authority of the government is derived from God, and the state is tasked with promoting justice and righteousness within the limits assigned to it. In this way, the government is the servant of God.

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Respect for the Government: Outdated Concept or a Biblical Requirement?

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  • Cornelis Pronk

Should Christians obey the government? Is the government given by God always? This article argues that the government is instituted by God, and that God does this for our benefit.

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A Biblical Case for Limited Government

  • Semi-Technical
  • J. P. Moreland

The Bible teaches a minimalist view of government. To show this, this article evaluates three worldviews and their impact of the role of government in society, it shows how to read the OT and NT on government involvement, and it distinguishes between positive rights and negative rights.

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Be Subject Unto the Higher Powers

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  • Lawrence W. Bilkes

The author discusses the nature of power, the government as deacon, and the abuse of power. Romans 13:1 is an important passage in this article.

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The Task of the Government Today

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  • Cornelis van Dam

This article is about the relation of the government to the kingdom of God. Government's view on false religion is discussed, as well as its task to keep peace and order. Article 36 of the Belgic Confession also features in this article.

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Caesar's calling

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  • Ronald L. Cammenga

The church must preach the will of God with respect to the obedience owed the state, and the church must make plain the will of God for government. What tasks does God give to government? What calling does the government have towards the citizens? When does government overstep its calling? The author looks at the state as the servant of God.

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The State

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  • J. I. Packer

The civil government is instituted by God for the welfare of society. This article discusses the responsibility of the government and the Christian's duty towards it.

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Biblical Commandments In Politics

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  • G. Schutte

Should biblical commandments have a place in politics? This article looks at the place of righteousness in politics.

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Losing Our Religion

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  • Michael Wagner

This article explains why religious neutrality in a country is ultimately harmful toward Christianity. It explains the development of religious pluralism, where now the disagreements over moral princi­ples are much deeper than in the past.

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Thinking Christianly about Politics

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  • Andrew J. Goddard

Is there a Christian view of politics? This article looks at politics from a theological and biblical perspective, and how it relates to Christ.

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At Least Five Things Scripture Teaches Us about Governments

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  • Tim Challies

What should be the attitude of Christians towards the government? This article explains five things the Bible teaches about governments.

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Government: Small or Large?

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  • Art Lindsley

How big or small should the rule of the government be? Acknowledging that the government is established by God, listening to biblical warnings, pondering the pervasiveness of the fall, and learning from the lessons of history are four areas to consider to answer this question.

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Biblical Foundations of Limited Government

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  • Doug Bandow

The role of the government is to make sure that there is order, which allows people to live peaceful and quiet lives. This article shows that this truth forms the foundation for what the government must do and not do.

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How Should We Then Vote?

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  • Bob Burridge

Looking at Romans 13, this article shows that government is instituted by God to reflect the reality of God's kingship. God wants government to function in its sphere of authority, and it must promote the rights God has given to people. Based on this, Christians have an obligation to vote for a government that is the closest to biblical principles.

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"Subject to the Higher Powers"

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  • Lawrence W. Bilkes

The biblical call to Christians to obey the government is rooted in the reality that government is instituted by God and should serve in cleaning the world of injustices. This article looks at what Christians should do when government abuses this power, as well as the responsibility Christians have toward government.

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The Godliness of Government

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  • David C. Innes

God has given us government for our good, to enable us to serve Him and others. This fact should encourage Christians to take great interest in politics and to play their role in voting when called to do so. God has put governments in place to restrain evil.

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Debate: Ethics Without Belief Is Not Only Implausible, It’s Impossible

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  • Neil Dykstra

This article shows that policies passed by government on human rights are also based on a belief system, since morality cannot exist without a belief system at its foundation.

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Towards A Theology Of The State (Part 3)

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  • John M. Frame

This article discusses the relationship between state, church and the kingdom of God. The author maintains that there is no neutral government in terms of religion. The knowledge that the kingdom of God will last forever has bearing on how the church thinks about the state in relation to redemptive history.

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Towards a Theology of the State (Part 2)

  • Semi-Technical
  • John M. Frame

Looking at the historical development of the state, this article shows how the Bible views government. The author also discusses the challenges of the relationships between state, family, and education.

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The Smacking Debate

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  • Ronald C. Christie

This article is about parenting and physical punishment (smacking), and the laws government has on physical punishment.

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The New Testament Doctrine of the State

  • Semi-Technical
  • Ronald B. Mayers

Does the New Testament have a specific view of the state and government? What is the relationship between the church and state? How should we relate our present situation with that found in biblical times? The author considers the creation of the state and the natural law concept, Christian attitudes toward the state, and the function of the state.

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God and Government: A Biblical Perspective – The Bible and Limited Government

  • Semi-Technical
  • Tom Pratt

Tracing the development of government through the Bible, this article shows that the government must be limited in its reach. This limitedness is due to the fall and the reality that all authority belongs to God.

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John Calvin and Civil Government

  • Semi-Technical
  • Ron Gleason

This article looks at John Calvin's view on the task of the government, judicial laws and lawsuits.

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Oliver Protector: A Godly Ruler?

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  • Ruth E. Mayers

This article is about Oliver Cromwell (1599-1658) and his view on the godly rule of the government.

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Reformation Politics: The Relevance of OT Ethics in Calvinist Political Theory

  • Semi-Technical
  • Mark W. Karlberg

What does the Reformed tradition teach on the nature and limitations of civil legislation? What are the limits of government? How did the Reformers apply the civil laws of Moses? The essay notes the function of natural law and how the Puritans and Continental Reformers like Zwingli viewed the role of government.

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Towards a Theology of the State (Part 1)

  • Semi-Technical
  • John M. Frame

Looking at the participation of Christians in electing civil government, this article discusses a biblical way of thinking about the state and the way biblical law must be applied in relation to the civil government. In this article some principles are given which must govern Christian thinking on this topic.

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The State's Role in Reformation: Can Reformation Take Place without the Involvement of the Civil Government?

  • Semi-Technical
  • Gary H. Milne

This article is about the task of the government in promoting the gospel and pursuing the reformation of the Church.

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Can We Legislate Morality?

  • Semi-Technical
  • Johan D. Tangelder

This article is about the task of the government and morality in society. The author discusses private morality, imposing morality, and law and social change.

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The Political Theology of the Disruption Theologians

  • Semi-Technical
  • Donald Macleod

What was the political theology of the founding theologians of the Free Church of Scotland? Macleod considers their views on the state's obligations to Christianity and the church, the limits of the power of the state, their social criticism, and the observance of the Sunday.

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Private Property or Common Property: What Does the Bible Say?

  • Semi-Technical
  • John Boersema

This article considers what Scripture has to say on how much property the government should own. It concludes that among other things, the Bible does not require or forbid either private or public ownership of property.

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Truth is so obscure in these times, and falsehood so established, that, unless we love the truth, we cannot know it. Blaise Pascal
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