Meanwhile, good quote from Ronald Reagan. This image from https://www.geckoandfly.com/19878/35-ronald-reagan-quotes-on-welfare-liberalism-government-and-politics/
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Kingdom mindset and limited governments
MY LAW.IQ
By Jeremiah Belgica, March 16, 2023
https://www.manilatimes.net/2023/03/16/opinion/columns/kingdom-mindset-and-limited-governments/1882965
IT has been a common notion by secular thinkers that faith and government should not mix. Last week, I pointed out that people's misapplication of the concept of the "separation of church and state" is the usual reason for the attempt to bar anything that has any trace of religious inclination from the sphere of political discourse. However, separating one's religious belief is practically impossible for any policymaker as religion is simply one's system of belief and comprehensive worldview of life's purpose, values, origin, destiny, or lack thereof. It is his worldview or religion that a policymaker uses as a measure and standard to ascertain what is right or wrong, good or bad for society. Everyone uses a measure of standard whether he believes or not in an immaterial, intelligent, all-good and all-powerful being....
It is in these general views and assumptions that one must perceive the idea and concept of government if one desires to have an accurate understanding of biblical government and its functions or limitations. It is so, simply because the biblical understanding of government should be perceived through the lens of the comprehensive sovereignty and authority of God in all affairs of life and of the entire creation...
It is here that the concept of "governments" comes in. Take note that it is governments with an "s" and not just government. The early Christian scholars who studied and developed the teaching on the principles of government understood that there ought to be not just one "super government" but various "limited governments" that God instituted to govern His creation...
Man has to ensure these governments function and cooperate within their given spheres because the misuse of one can lead to the detriment and oppression of the other. In other words, it is important for us to understand the limits and jurisdictions of these governments since the non-functioning of one is a detriment to the other and the entire community. The over-extension of one government creates an imbalance of powers and functions and is a violation of God's design and mandate.
Kingdom mindset and limited governments
MY LAW.IQ
By Jeremiah Belgica, March 23, 2023 80
https://www.manilatimes.net/2023/03/23/opinion/columns/kingdom-mindset-and-limited-governments/1883936
IN my previous column, I discussed the "kingdom mindset," or how theistic religions believe that God is not only a religious figure, but the king and ruler of everything. I also discussed how man was created and assigned by God to be the enforcer of His will over all His creation. Man fulfills this through the application and fulfillment of God's Law as manifested in His Word (Law-Will-Word).
In order for man to ably enforce the Law-Will of God over the entire creation, God created "governments" or institutions wherein tasks and responsibilities are divided among them. Each institution has the exact dimensions of their tasks and jurisdictions within which man is expected to fulfill his call of applying the Law-Will of God within that specific sphere of creation.
As man's duty is to keep or enforce God's commands for himself and the world under him, he now has to ensure that these governments function and cooperate within its given spheres because the misuse of one can lead to the detriment and oppression of the other....
A self-governed or spirit-led man is then called to enforce God's law through the three God-ordained institutions, namely, family, church and civil government. Take note that while man is the enforcer of God's law, God remains to be the head of each governmental institution.
The government of the family is the basic community that provides care, welfare, education and training (discipleship) over the person. Christ is the head of the family, husband and wife are one as Christ and church are one. The loving husband is the head of the wife, and the children are to obey and honor their parents....
Finally, the least of all governments is the civil government which holds the sword, and functions to protect society and the people from the works of the sinful nature. It likewise protects to ensure that man in all other institutions is free to pursue his God-given rights and calling. Christ is the head of the civil government as Governor and King of all nations....
All of these governments — self, family, church and civil government — are a ministry unto God and those who serve within them are considered ministers of God. Remember that the goal of each institution is the implementation and enforcement of the Will of God in their respective spheres as manifested in His Law-Word. Without God's Will and Law-Word being implemented through these governments, God's creation cannot be sustained and protected.
In sum, it is important for us to understand the limits and jurisdictions of these governments since the non-functioning of one would be detrimental to the other and the entire community. The over-extension of one government creates an imbalance of powers and functions and is a violation of God's design and mandate.
Promoting liberty, freedom and the proper functioning of society requires an understanding of the different governments and its jurisdictions. If we truly desire for a society where God's kingdom mindset prevails, each government must function responsibly and effectively in accordance with their design. And everything starts with the government of self.
As we used to always say as youth organizers back then, "Ang pagbabago sa lipunan, sa sarili simulan."
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See also:
Belgica papers 1, The responsibility of life, liberty and property, March 04, 2023
Belgica papers 2, The unalienable rights of man and the govt's protection of life, liberty and property, March 24, 2023.
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