I have been interested in politics and
government all of my adult life. In 2011, in anticipation of this year’s
election, I attempted to cultivate a theology of government.
That
project didn’t last long.
Later,
I began studying the book of Deuteronomy. I had never preached Deuteronomy and
desired to do so to our Sunday night group.
While
journeying through Deuteronomy, I came as close as I ever will to a compiling a
theology of government. I preached it in detail in the spring. I thought I
would share in this blog some of my amazing insights (he said tongue planted
firmly in cheek).
The
thing about Deuteronomy is it comes the closest to telling us what God was
thinking when it comes to running a country. God inspired Moses to preach
sermons; in them, Moses is saying, in essence, God is King… here is how he
wants his nation run. I believe Moses’ words offers us insight today, which we
can apply to our own nation.
[Disclaimer:
In Deuteronomy, God was talking to an ancient people in the Middle East 3500
years ago. No direct one-to-one
correlation should be made between that ancient government and the United
States of America. Attempts to do so may cause arthritis, stomach cramps, high blood
pressure, and irritation. If any of these symptoms appear, please consult a
doctor.]
Now,
one thing I was reminded of in this great book: God shows his love for people
by becoming involved in their lives. He showed his love for the Hebrews in
Egypt by rescuing them from the tyranny of the Egyptians.
He
expected a response from these rescued slaves: wholehearted love and devotion
to God. They were to offer God heart, soul, mind, and strength, and they were
to offer it to God alone (Deut. 6:5-6.)
The
natural result of this commitment was love for one’s neighbor. As one has
stated, since these people were loved by God, they were qualified to extend God’s
love to their neighbors—Israelites or otherwise. (When Jesus was talking about
the Great Commandment and how to live it out, this perhaps was what he was thinking.)
Unfortunately,
this did not occur naturally. To keep people from hurting and killing each
other, God gave humanity government.
Now,
regarding us today, as God blessed those Hebrews, so has he blessed us. How
will we apply those blessings? How do we love our neighbor?
Doug
McIntosh, in his commentary on Deuteronomy, illustrates the importance of this
point. There was a fellow who lost control of his car and crashed into the
front porch of another’s house. Rescue crews and other skilled groups arrived
on the scene.
A
utility crew began checking for gas leaks. They discovered that the homeowner’s
chimney and gas pipes were clogged by rubbish. As a result, carbon monoxide had
been seeping into the house for a while.
For
two years, the homeowner had been experiencing flulike symptoms, trembling,
headaches, chills, and nausea. He had also been blacking out occasionally. The
owner had no explanation for any of this.
Because
of the accident, the homeowner was able to address the problems in his house,
and his symptoms vanished. Without that wreck, he may have died as a result of
the poisonous gas.
Strangely
enough, the homeowner had formerly made his living… as a building contractor. He
knew the blessings of chimneys and furnaces, and he knew how dangerous furnaces
and chimneys could be. He had always warned his customers to check them two or
three times a year. Nevertheless, he had never checked his own.
A
lot of American citizens today are guilty of the spiritual equivalent. God has
blessed us with a nation that is, compared to others, healthy and safe.
However, provision must be made to keep things in check.
Human
nature produces a lot of “rubbish.” Unchecked, that rubbish—selfishness, greed,
immorality, or whatever form it may take—can poison us all. God has given human
beings government to address this problem and to facilitate the proper
application of the blessings of God.
May
we the people apply the blessings of God in the proper way.
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