Individual Rights + Limited Government Not Enough

“Unless a political order is clear about the identities and rights of the diverse institutions of society, most of which are not political,  then the mere combination of individual-rights protections and a procedurally limited government will not be sufficient to assure justice to a differentiated society.” — James Skillen, Recharging the American Experiment, p.29.

What Is the Greatest Harm Government Can Do?

“The government’s greatest harm may come less in the form of its annual cost to taxpayers and more in its destructive influence on civil society and its institutions, such as the family, church, neighborhoods, and other mediating structures that provide humankind meaningful and life-sustaining support.  A society that wishes to remain free and strong will protect these institutions from governmental overextension and politicization.” — Don Eberly, Restoring the Good Society, p.69

Not to Inaugurate the Kingdom of Heaven

“The Bible neither encourages nor discourages Christians from holding public office.  What does the Bible say about government?  The state is a divinely ordained institution that is to regulate relations within a secular society, not inaugurate the kingdom of heaven.  For…God has reserved that task for himself.  There are biblical principles that need to be applied to government, but the civil authorities will disappear when God’s Kingdom is fulfilled.” — Doug Bandow, Beyond Good Intentions, p.76.

On the Importance of American Legitimacy

“The moral standing of America in the eyes of the rest of the world is an important determinant of how both America and American power will be perceived by the rest of the world.  An America committed to certain values and standards in its behavior will naturally be perceived to be less threatening.  An America that is perceived to be playing rough and ready with the rules will naturally be less welcomed.  The ‘legitimacy’ of American power is important.  The more legitimate it is perceived to be, the more easily it will be accepted.” — Kishore Mahbubani, Beyond the Age of Innocence, p.134.

Political Implications of Postmodernism, I

“(1) Social Constructivism.  Meaning, morality, and truth do not exist objectively; rather they are constructed by society.” — Gene Edward Veith, Postmodern Times, p.158.

When Should Christians Address the Government?

1.  “Christians speak when rulers command them or others to disobey God.”
2.  “Christians speak when rulers invite them to comment or give advice.”
3.  “Christians speak when rulers become arbitrary and exceed their constitutional restraints.”
4.  “Christians speak words of commendation when government action is worthy of support or praise.”
5.  “Christians speak when a government is grossly inconsistent or arbitrary in its application of rules and regulations.”
6.  “Christians speak when a government persistently ignores major societal problems and evils even when it has the means to address them.”
7.  “Christians speak when governments are unresponsive to the legitimate concerns of minorities and exploited individuals.”
8.  “Christians speak when governments, including courts, undermine human dignity and oppose fundamental God-ordained institutions such as traditional marriage and the family.”
9.  “Christians speak when governments affirm the killing of the most innocent and vulnerable human beings by abortion.”
– John Redekop, Politics Under God, pp.153

What is the Difference Between a Republic and a Democracy?

Here are a few links that answer the question.  This entry will be updated from time to time. 
1. The Liberty Book
2. Lex Rex.Com
3. Capitalism Magazine
4. Walter E. Williams of World Net Daily gives this statement. 
5. Citizens for a Constitutional Republic have this to say.

What is Democracy?

In his book, The Spirit of Democracy, Larry Diamond takes on this question.  He says that democracy can be defined in two ways–one thin and the other thick.  The thin or minimal definition states that a democracy exists in a country when political decisions are made by means of regular, “free and fair” elections.  But if you want to go with the thick or maximal definition, a system is not a real democracy unless it has the following attributes:

(1) “Substantial individual freedom of belief, opinion, discussion, speech, publication, broadcast, assembly, demonstration, petition, and (why not)the Internet.”
(2) “Freedom of ethnic, religious, racial, and other minority groups (as well as historically excluded majorities) to practice their religion and culture and to participate equally in political and social life.”
(3) “The right of all adult citizens to vote and to run for office (if they meet certain minimum age and competency requirements).”
(4) “Genuine openness and competition in the electoral arena, enabling any group that adheres to constitutional principles to form a party and contest for office.”
(5) “Legal equality of all citizens under a rule of law, in which the laws are ‘clear, publicly known, universal, stable, and nonretroactive.’”
(6) “An independent judiciary to neutrally and consistently apply the law and protect individual and group rights.”
(7) “Thus, due process of law and freedom of individuals from torture, terror, and justified detention, exile, or interference in their personal lives–by the state or nonstate actors.”
(8 ) “Institutional checks on the power of elected officials, by an independent legislature, court system, and other autonomous agencies.”
(9) “Real pluralism in sources of information and forms of organization independent of the state; and thus, a vibrant ‘civil society.’”
(10) “Control over the military and state security apparatus by civilians who are ultimately accountable to the people through elections.”

In view of these ten points, Diamond says that we should aspire to a fuller manifestation of democracy.  When these ten factors exist, “we can call a system a liberal democracy.  To the extent that these are greatly diminished, democracy–if it exists at all–is illiberal.”  But if “there are regular, multiparty elections and other formal institutions of democracy like a national assembly, court system, constitution, and so on, but the people are not able to vote their leaders out of power because the system is, in effect, rigged, then the country has what I call pseudodemocracy” (p.23).

What Does God Require of Governments?

To answer this question, Anabaptist scholar John Redekop gives this 20-point list in his book Politics Under God (pp. 70-81) answer to the question.  Key Scripture passages that stand behind this list include Isaiah 10:1-2; Matthew 5-7, and Romans 13:1-7.
1.  A government has the God-given responsibility to rule.
2.  A government should uphold the general good.
3.  A government should see its role as a trust.
4.  People in government are required by God to practice integrity and honesty.
5.  A government should work hard to establish and maintain a free society.
6.  A government should respect, promote, and nurture human dignity.
7.  A good government has a social conscience and embraces a good measure of humanitarianism.
8.  A government should pay particular attention in its policies to the exploited and the marginalized.
9.  A government is required by God to establish and maintain law and order, to the best of its ability.
10.  An inherent function of government is to regulate the exercising of power by other institutions and organizations.
11.  A good government is committed to the pursuit of justice.
12.  A government should practice procedural fairness.
13.  A government should practice fiscal integrity.
14.  A government should implement fair trading laws.
15.  A government should strive for peace.
16.  A government should promote public morality.
17.  A good government realizes that it has responsibility for its physical environment.
18.  A good government is ready to listen to its critics.
19.  All governments should acknowledge that they are servants of God.
20.  All governments should acknowledge that they are accountable to God.

On Stealing By The Government

John Frame, professor of theology at Reformed Theological Seminary, has a short write-up on stealing by the government.  You can find it here.