“In any successful attack on freedom the state can only be an accomplice. The chief culprit is the citizen who forgets his duty, wastes away his strength in the sleep of sin and sensual pleasure, and so loses the power of his own initiative.” –Abraham Kuyper
Let us imagine that there is a nation somewhere that is ruled by a wicked government. Let us further imagine that God doesn’t like the nation’s current regime and is looking for a way to change it.
You’re thinking, “But God is omnipotent so he doesn’t ‘look for a way.'”
Right, but I’m speaking of God’s actions within certain God-ordained constraints. God said he would not destroy Sodom for the sake of ten righteous persons (Genesis 19). So we can say, without denying God’s omnipotence that he was looked for an excuse to save Sodom and didn’t find it.
But what would be the God-ordained constraint that would make Him “look for a way” to replace a wicked government with another.
In the case of regime-change, let’s assume God has more foresight than, say, American imperialists. He is not going to overthrow a government just to see it replaced with a worse one. He wants a better government to take the place of the one he wants to overthrow.
What that means is that God is going to look for an available group of people who can reliably govern.
(I realize various de-centralist ideals might cause some readers to ask why God would bother to replace it. But even if we are talking about fifty righteous independent state governments, or people with enough respect and understanding of property rights to produce a purely private sector order, the same factors will still apply.)
What kind of people will God look for?
Will he choose people who think that the world needs them to be in control because they alone are right?
Will he choose people who can’t tolerate opposition?
Will he choose people who respond to adversaries by lashing out?
Will he choose people who long to destroy all their enemies?
Look at it this way: Either the world is changed by God in his providence or he has left us alone to save ourselves. If the latter is true, then the qualities of a good ruler will be whatever are best suited to take power by any means necessary. Otherwise, he cannot ever gain power.
But if God gives authority to those he wants to have it, then other considerations should be important. If one wants to be put in power by God one must develop the will and skill to use power in a way that God commends. “Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master” (Matthew 25.21). In that case, gaining more power is not your primary responsibility. Your responsibility is learning to do well with what little power you already have.
Most people, when they have little power or wealth or responsibility of significance, tell themselves that their habits and speech don’t matter that much. But the Bible says differently. “One who is faithful in a very little is also faithful in much, and one who is dishonest in a very little is also dishonest in much” (Luke 16.10)
Won’t God prefer people who are cheerful in adversity, humble about themselves, and able to extend mercy, be tolerant, and show prudence?
If God prefers these latter qualities, are they ones he is likely to find in hate-the government sub-cultures, even those that have a just cause?
Back when Obama was running for his first presidential term, it came out that he taught from Saul Alinsky’s Rules For Radicals. Here’s the deal: the Bible has one of those. It is a book that talks about authority being wielded by the wicked and provides guidance for those who would like to see that authority transferred to the righteous.
So go read the book of Proverbs!
Proverbs will tell you that hard work and restraint of your mouth is a strategy for overthrowing tyrants. I know it sounds dodgy to use a Ghandi quotation as if he had anything in common with Solomon, but “Be the change you want to see in the world” does seem pretty close to the basic idea of Proverbs regarding social change. If you want your world to be governed well, show God you are sincere by governing yourself well. Train your children and select your friends to be God’s ideal ruling class without craving to rule anything or anyone. Let God give that to you or your progeny in his own timing.
If you want a new and better government you need to be one yourself first.<>
[…] READ THE REST: Why Hating Government Keeps It In Power – Kuyperian Commentary. […]
So, hating government is wrong, even though it (and associated ruling class) are the apotheosis of injustice and every violation of God’s commandments? hmm.
I should have provided more clarity. I’m talking about habits of speech and action, not Biblical moral discernment. The best example I can think of is from Titus 3
“Remind them to be submissive to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready for every good work, to speak evil of no one, to avoid quarreling, to be gentle, and to show perfect courtesy toward all people. For we ourselves were once foolish, disobedient, led astray, slaves to various passions and pleasures, passing our days in malice and envy, hated by others and hating one another.”
You can see in Paul’s instructions that he thinks of these rulers as “foolish, disobedient, led astray, slaves to various passions” who pass their “days in malice and envy, hated by others and hating one another.” There is nothing attractive or good about these ever destructive and self-destructive ruling groups.