The authority of law

The Bible tells the story of how men often reject God and do what they want to do.

The God of the Bible provided laws to try to help men hold society together (a fallback parachute for those people who are not in fellowship with God), but men ignored the laws, or rationalized their own way of obeying the laws. Because the heart and spirit of laws were not being followed, the laws became more complex to convict men intent on rebelling against law.

Complex laws do not stop someone intent on breaking the law – the added complexity can actually be used to find more ways to break the law as it gets more disassociated from its heart and spirit. The complication of laws stem from the law-enforcers (judges) disassociation with the giver/authority of law, and inability to discern and apply the heart and spirit of law.

What is the heart and spirit of law? "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it, You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments depend all the law and the prophets."

Who is the authority behind law? If it is man, the authority can be challenged at any time. Man is fallible – he can be tricked and manipulated. Man's power can be overthrown and bought. When man acts as the authority behind law, the laws will change over time as the authority is challenged and as the perspectives of men change.

When men create law, it is imperfect and may be corrupt too. In a free society of equals, any man may challenge another. The law of any man may be challenged, because the laws of men are imperfect and are fair game for scrutiny. Our court systems are full of such challenges. The growth rate of these cases might be a good indicator of the effectiveness of man's ability to create law and govern himself.

If the authority behind law is God – the God described in the Bible – then the law and lawgiver are perfect and uncorruptable. This kind of law does not change – nor does the penalty for lawbreakers. Although a man may challenge such law, he cannot win because the power of the lawgiver is unconquerable.

What is the destiny of a government that rejects God and his law?

1. Increasing social unrest and chaos (society will begin to disintegrate). Since men declare that the law is theirs to take and give, and since all men are fallible, man's law is imperfect and without supreme authority. Just as children with boundaries have peace and stability in a God-honoring home, society needs the kingship of God and the rule of His law to hold together.

2. The law will have no morality in itself (laws will begin to promote immorality). Morality is an action of man to follow Godly behavior even while not in relationship with Him. As God is rejected from government, morality is also rejected because it reminds the ungodly, of godly behavior. They will not tolerate such a reminder.

3. The government will persecute those who follow God. Such persecution is prosecution for lack of obeying the laws of men, which promote ungodly behavior. God is the lawgiver his followers will obey, and some of these laws will be diametrically opposed to the ungodly laws of men.

4. God will not bless a government or people that rejects Him. They will lack love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.

5. God will shake them, and allow them to be conquered – in hopes that they will turn to Him as their savior and King.

6. An ungodly government will eradicate God, reminders of God, and godly men from itself. Worse, in a government-run state, it will seek to prevent the people it governs from pursuing God too. In the United States, because the Government is "of the people", the concept of separation of church and state will be imposed on the people (a law twisted to suit men's whim). Minimally, no godliness will be allowed to be expressed in a government role.

Imposition of Anti-Christ government rule on society

No openly professing follower of God will be allowed to pursue government office. As society collapses and the government-state increases in power, the anti-God agenda will oppress and persecute the people of God more. For example, government branches will dictate proper standards for raising children in the home, and children will be taken from followers of God, who do not adhere to government laws prohibiting godly parenting practices.

Any business (there will be many due to economic strife) contracted or bailed out by the government will be obliged to comply with government standards. Thus, worker behavior in the private sector will also be mandated.

These behaviors are the complete antithesis of the Constitutional objective, which was to allow freedom of people from government oppression in the expression of their faith, and representation of people of faith by like-minded and like-acting representatives.

The perfect Government

Man has proven himself incapable of successfully governing himself. What nation has ruled itself for thousands of years without oppressing its people and being mired in internal corruption, meanwhile exhibiting love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control?

None.

There will be no perfect government until there is one that follows God's law flawlessly and has a direct, functioning relationship with Him – the giver of perfect law. Solomon said at the onset of his kingship "Give thy servant therefore an understanding mind to govern thy people, that I may discern between good and evil; for who is able to govern this thy great people?" While this should be the ambition of government, the only perfect governor is the Lord Jesus Christ. Of His rule, there will be no end.

But what do we do in the meantime?

"When I shut up the heavens so that there is no rain, or command locusts to devour the land or send a plague among my people, if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land." 2 Chronicles 7:13-14 NIV

"Listen now to me and I will give you some advice, and may God be with you. You must be the people's representative before God and bring their disputes to him. Teach them the decrees and laws, and show them the way to live and the duties they are to perform. But select capable men from all the people–men who fear God, trustworthy men who hate dishonest gain–and appoint them as officials over thousands, hundreds, fifties and tens." Exodus 18:19-21