Bob Enyart and Doug McBurney discuss KGOV's Biblical Apologetic, below, for The Proposed Constitution of America. The founding fathers, the David Bartons of the world, and many Christian educators have been historical revisitionists. They've claimed, wrongly, that God's disapproved of Israel’s demand for a king demonstrates that He is opposed to nations being governed by a monarchy. See though at kgov.com/constitution our proposal begins, "A constitutional monarchy governs America." Listen to today's program to hear, or see the Scriptures below that document, that long before Israel demanded a king, God had planned to establish a throne in Jerusalem which the Messiah Jesus Christ would later inherit.
Today's Resource: God's Principles of Government: Watch this video to join Bob Enyart as he explores God's Principles of Government. From Against Democracy where we look at the biblical principles related to the idea of majority rule, to a Representative Republic and its similarities with democracy, to a real Alternative to Democracy, to what a Bible-based Constitution actually looks like, after this series, the Scriptures' principles of governance will permeate your thinking like never before! Or your money back. (Really.)
Bible Apologetic for America's Proposed Constitution
[Draft: Check back throughout 2020 for progress on this document and feel free to email your suggestions to Bob@kgov.com. Thanks!]
The rationale for America's proposed Constitution consists of a political defense (not yet posted online) and the biblical arguments below. Note the dramatic differences between America’s Proposed Constitution and the current U.S. Constitution. Many conservatives blame America’s moral decay upon a departure from the constitution. However, as of early in the 21st century a growing number of Christians see the current U.S. Constitution itself as a compromise document that promoted decline, legitimized the destructive influence of democracy and representative republicanism, authorized the federal government to tax the importation of slaves, and in Article I counted most Blacks as 3/5ths of a person. If this apologetic for America’s new Constitution fails, then perhaps her existing Constitution is acceptable. If the reasoning herein prevails however, then the existing U.S. Constitution (which, regardless, is itself unconstitutional) stands condemned.
[Links Note, Etc. Many links herein will become live, Lord willing, throughout 2020 as the KGOV staff, with input from our audience, works on the Proposed Constitution set of documents.]
Monarchy: Biblical Apologetic [Political Defense; Against Democracy; Against Republics; Constitution] "The Constitution of America establishes a monarchy." Why? Consider the following.
- Many Christians believe that God opposes monarchy because he disapproved of Israel’s demand for a king.
- After Israel’s period of Judges, God permitted the nation to rule herself by way of a monarchy.
- Was an Israelite monarchy a concession on God’s part, or an afterthought, or was it part of His plan?
- God established the Davidic throne in Jerusalem, through which (Mat. 1:1) the Messiah brought salvation.
- For “...unto us a Child is born... and the government will be upon [Him] ... upon the throne of David.” Isa. 9
- As God said to David, “I will set upon your throne the fruit of your body [i.e. Christ, vv. 1718].” Ps. 132
- “For God is my King from of old, working salvation” Ps. 74:12
- From of old, by an ancient plan, “the Lord God will give [Jesus] the throne of His father David” Luke 1:32.
- David himself knew that of the fruit of his body God “would raise up the Christ to sit on his throne” Acts 2:30
- God thought well of monarchy long before the Jews demanded (1 Sam. 8) that Samuel give them a king.
- For “The LORD is King forever and ever...” (Ps. 10:16)
- Already in Abraham’s time, God foreshadowed Israel’s Messiah as both king and priest, by way of Melchizedek.
- For Abraham tithed to “Melchizedek king [and] priest of God” (Gen. 14:18), a type of Christ. Heb. 6:20
- By Moses God said: “you shall surely set a king over you whom the LORD your God chooses” Deut. 17:15
- History and prophecy work together to show that God planned to establish Israel’s monarchy in 1000 BC.
- Revisionist Christian historians wrongly claim that God disapproved of monarchy and did not plan for a king.
- Israel had rejected Samuel, God’s leader, and she refused to wait on the LORD for a king in God’s own time.
- God foreknew that Israel’s impatient demand for a king would coincide with His overall plan. [Deut. 17]
- 400 years before Samuel, God commanded that Israel’s future kings should obey the Mosaic Law. Deut. 17
- God told the king to “be careful to observe all the words of this [Mosaic] law” in his kingdom. Deut. 17:19
- God ordered the king to obey the law centuries before Solon of Athens got the credit for that idea. Deut. 17
- God told the king to “write for himself a copy of this [Mosaic] law... and he shall read it” Deut. 17:1819
- God wanted Israel’s future kings to trust Him rather than to rely upon their own strength. Deut. 17
- Any righteous king of Israel would tend to “prolong his days in his kingdom” Deut. 17
- One generation prior to God’s own timing, Israel demanded a king and got Saul, in about 1051 BC.
- Both Benjamites, the Apostle Saul and King Saul, were in a sense both “born out of due time” 1 Cor. 15
- So Israel demanded a king (1 Sam. 8) one generation before God had planned to give her one.
- A Davidictype monarchy and the Messiah’s ascension to its throne were not afterthoughts, but planned.
- “In those days there was no king in Israel; everyone did what was right in his own eyes.” Jud. 17:6, 21:25
- Jesus is not the Senator of Senators, but the King of Kings. 1 Tim. 6 Rev. 19
[C P] Against Democracy: Biblical Apologetic [Constitution]
- The majority is evil Mat. 7.
- “...wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and... many... go in by it.” Mat. 7:13
- “...narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.” Mat.7:14
- Since the majority is evil, majority rule is guaranteed, over time, to be evil.
- So majority rule, on average, hastens government’s descent into wickedness.
- Since the majority is evil, once a democratic government becomes evil, virtually nothing can restore it.
- While individuals often repent and turn toward God, the masses rarely do, especially not of their own leading.
- As in the modern vernacular, the Bible calls governing officials “authorities.” Rom. 13 Titus 3 Luke 12 Acts 16
- Government authority does not imply majority rule, but rule over the majority.
- Rom. 13 Democracy promotes arrogance, suggesting to people that the governing leaders should obey them.
- Democracy: people obey the gov’t, which obeys the people, who obey the gov’t, which obey the people, etc.
- Circular authority suffers from the same weakness as circular reasoning: both lack a valid foundation.
- Democracy promotes arrogance suggesting to people that they should be able to lord it over their neighbors.
- “Better to live under one tyrant 3,000 miles away, than 3,000 tyrants one mile away.” The Patriot film
- True authority, like water, flows downhill not up, not from the people to rulers but from rulers down. (Num. 16:1-40)
- Authority flows from God, through government, to men and passes through parents to reach children.
- “Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities...” Rom. 13:1
- For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God.
- “Governing authorities” are from God and each official should act as “God’s minister” Rom. 13. [i.e., God has appointed all authority structures, of parents, ministers, and governing officials.]
- Therefore whoever resists the authority resists the ordinance of God, and... will bring judgment on themselves. Rom. 13:2
- For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to evil. Do you want to be unafraid of the authority? Do what is good... Rom. 13:2
- God never established governance by committee, but governance by individuals.
- The desire to rule over others (Mat. 20, Mark 10) lurks among the vulgar lusts (Mat. 20; Mark 9; 10).
- Democracy exalts the vice of brazen self-promotion to the center of public life.
- In denial of Scripture, leftists believe men are basically good and so support rule by the people.
- Leftists inflate individual authority to release men from the restraint of government, church, and family.
- Man’s inherent sinfulness indicates that democracy will systematically worsen government.
- Unlike majorities, even wicked individuals, i.e. Pontius Pilate, may decide justly, for their own reputation’s sake.
- In the Rebllion of Korah, God destroyed the 250 Representatives of the People (Num. 16:2-3, 35)
- Elections “by smooth words and [with] flattering speech deceive the hearts of the simple.” Rom. 16
- Acluin’s Letter to Charlamagne 800 AD foolishly states “the voice of the people is the voice of God.”
- President Millard Fillmore rightly said, “May God save the country, for it is obvious the people will not.”
- The forces of Hell love democracy, including Hillary, Hollywood, Humanists, and Homosexuals.
- Because the majority is evil Mat. 7, democracy, that is, majority rule, is inherently an evil government system.
- In a monarchy the king is likely to be corrupt, but he does not legalize his own criminal behavior.
- In a democracy everyone is made king, and laws are changed to permit widespread criminal behavior.
- Since the majority is evil Mat. 7, democracy, that is, majority rule is inherently an evil government system.
Against Republics: Biblical Apologetic [Constitution]
· NOT DONE. Note God's treatment of the Representatives of the People in Numbers (Korah).
A Constitutional Monarchy calls upon the King to obey its righteous law.
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· King David did not expropriate land, but purchased it (2 Sam. 24:24; 1 Kings 16:24; 21:4).
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· God commanded kings to obey His law (Deut. 17:1420). [C P]
The military serves as the King's command. · INTRO.
"... And the general of the king’s army was Joab" (1 Chr. 27:34).
"David said, 'Whoever attacks the Jebusites first shall be chief and captain.' And Joab the son of
Zeruiah went up first, and became chief." (1 Chr. 11:6). CONCLUDE. [C P]
Two Just Functions: Biblical Apologetic [Constitution Political Defense]
The Constitution of America authorizes the government to perform only two functions. Why?
· God established three institutions: family, church, and government, each with specific functions.
In an example of separate duties, God requires the family to raise children, not government or the
church.
The family disciplines children for childish disobedience; the government and the church do not.
The church, which today is the Body of Christ, offers salvation from sin; the family and the
government do not.
The government convicts and punishes criminals; the family and church do not.
The government, not family or church, manages shared infrastructure such as airwaves and waterways. The Bible shows that God gives government authority over criminal justice and infrastructure. [C P] Other than crime fighting and infrastructure, God gives government no other authority. See Genesis to
Rev. [C]
Criminal Justice: Biblical Apologetic [Constitution Political]
The primary just function of government is defense of Godgiven rights.
“Whoever sheds man’s blood, by man his blood shall be shed...” Gen. 9:6
God instituted the death penalty thereby creating governmental authority, and that over even life itself. Authority is needed to rightly issue commands. Mark 1 Titus 3 Mat. 8 Num. 27
Authority is needed to rightly impose punishment. John 5 Luke 20 Acts 9; 16; 26 Rom. 13 Rev. 9
From Genesis to Revelation, including several New Testament passages, God supports the death penalty.
Execution is at the heart of the Gospel, for Jesus Christ was crucified.
Of the two others being crucified with Jesus, the Bible records that they were being executed justly. Government must prioritize, and the greatest crime is murder, and the most fitting punishment for it is
death.
The death penalty is at the heart of criminal justice, and therefore, at the heart of good government.
Rom. 13
A properly used military always supports criminal justice, so principles of criminal justice apply to the military.
With the death penalty, God launched the dispensation of human government. Gen. 9 [C P]
Infrastructure: Biblical Apologetic [Constitution Political]
The secondary function of government is to provide infrastructure.
You shall prepare roads for yourself...” Deut. 19:3
God gives to the government, and not to any other entity, the responsibility of building roads. God commands the government to build roads partly to facilitate criminal justice.
God gave His command to build roads in a chapter of Deuteronomy regarding criminal justice.
Criminals favor a disorderly society, for the disarray provides cover for them to commit crimes and to
escape.
An orderly (and thus easily traveled) society favors the government and those who abide by the law.
Justice is government’s primary function; its secondary role of providing roads facilitates its primary
function.
Extrapolating from Deut. 19, the government has authority to provide not just roads but infrastructure.
Infrastructure facilitates land, water, air, and space transportation with roads, bridges, canals, air lanes,
etc.
Infrastructure facilitates distribution of water and coordinates use of public radio waves, parks and
wilderness.
A principle discerned in Deut. 19 is that the government has authority that private entities lack.
Private entities lack the authority to acquire the rightofway to build a highway system.
The Bible says little about infrastructure but little needs to be said: government provides
infrastructure.
Private entities also lack authority to decree the use of radio frequencies, rivers, public lands, earth
orbits, etc.
The Deut. 19 infrastructure principle applies directly to rivers, harbors, air space, radio airwaves, etc.
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[C P]
Against Republics: Biblical Apologetic [Constitution] · .[CP]
· This RealAudio talk discusses government, republics, and democracy.
For Monarchy: Biblical Apologetic Judiciary: Biblical Apologetic
Jury vs. Judge: Biblical Apologetic
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· “Crucify Him!”. [C P]
Judicial Hierarchy: Biblical Defense
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· .[CP]
Judicial Advice: Biblical Defense
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· .[CP]
Willing Escalation: Biblical Defense
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· .[CP]
Forced Escalation: Biblical Defense
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· .[CP]
[C P]
[Constitution Political]
Not Above the Law: Biblical Defense
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· A judge is not above the law; so he has no authority to judge the law. [C P]
No Appeals for Criminals: Biblical Defense
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· Appeals increase crime; denying appeals reduces crime, the caseload, and thus, judicial errors. [C P]
Prosecutable Judges: Biblical Defense
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· Judges who negligently dispense their duties, especially in acquitting the guilty, encourage crime. [C P]
Parttime Judiciary: Biblical Defense
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· Ending the effective monopoly attorneys have on the bench, a host of lay judges will trim dockets. [C
P]
Unpaid Judiciary: Biblical Defense
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· A paycheck turns judging into a job, criminals into clientele, and thus eliminates outrage. [C P]
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· ShadowGov will publish the criminal procedure on March 1 and its political defense on March 10. [C]
Evil judge Pontius Pilate, concerned about his reputation: correct verdict.
Tosses the decision to a jury of Christ’s earthly peers, they convict Him, then disband.
Pilate has an excuse to do wrong, and thinks he can wash his hands of the responsibility.
Prov. 11:14 “Where there is no counsel, the people fall; But in the multitude of counselors there issafety."
Pontius Pilate is arguably the most evil judge in history, for sentencing Jesus Christ to death, after
finding Him innocent.
And yet, we see that even the most evil judge in history rendered a true verdict, and the jury shouted
crucify Him.
Remember this verse, as a condemnation of trial by jury: verse 23, Luke 23:23.
Mankind has experimented for centuries now with the progressive, leftwing notion of justice by
committee.
Juries, i.e., justice by committee, is a failure.
Judges must once again become responsible for justice, and for the courtroom results.
A judge may wash his hands after he oversees the jury’s miscarriage of justice, but that water will not
cleanse him of his guilt. Juries have no accountability.
Group action dilutes responsibility, and creates the excuse of majority rule.
A murderer prefers a committee to a judge, knowing that a jury increases his chance to evade justice.
If men are basically good, then more of them should improve their findings, but men are basically
sinful, and while even sinful people can often reach proper verdicts, juries will systematically undermine justice, so that its no longer a justice system, now its justasystem.
Let me say that again: It's no longer a justice system, now it's just a system.
A jury system lets a murderer like OJ Simpson go free, and it gives one like Scott Peterson a fighting
chance, with one of the jurors, by the way, who right now is sequestered during deliberations in Modesto California hotel, one of the jurors is a woman whose boyfriend years ago was arrested for murder, and after he was convicted, she married him while he was in jail.
That's one of the people standing up for justice.
The jury selection process typically involves seeking the most uninformed and apathetic.
Knownothings, those who know nothing about the biggest stories of our day, the knownothings are
the most qualified, and the apathetic and indecisive, those who’ve lived their whole lives and are rather ambivalent about fundamentals, like the death penalty, our jury system seeks out the ignorant, the apathetic, and the indecisive, into whose hands we commit the tranquility of our nation.
And the media shows the joke it has all become, when you can take a panel discussion of a jury trial,
and run it by accident as a pregame show for a sporting event, and the audience would hardly realize the mistake.
For analysis of jury trials have little to do with justice, and mostly to do with style, and entertainment,
and emotion.
Of course, this jury may find Scott Peterson guilty of murdering his wife Laci, and their son Connor,
that may happen, for even a broken clock is right twice a day.
But the man wrongly accused stands a better chance of exoneration from a trained judge than an
amateur jury.
For even an evil judge, like Pilate, has a reputation to consider, but a jury disbands into nonexistence.
A virtually anonymous jury disbands, and the jury no longer exists.
To quote Al Gore: there is no controlling legal authority; it vanished.
Juries have no earthly accountability, so, while there's an accountability chain a mile long for spending
a dollar of tax money, there's no accountability in tenthousand criminal cases, where the most serious business of government goes unanswerable.
So if a jury lets a murderer go free, and he murders again, no one is accountable.
And in our country, something so routine that it has become cliché, is the child molester that goes free,
or virtually without punishment, and is released to hurt again, and again, and again. And there is no accountability.
But wait for Judgment Day, because God keeps record.
As we can see by the trial of Jesus Christ, the most famous court case in history, we have been sold a
bill of goods supposing that security lies in justice by committee.
Juries that are often lenient with violent criminals, are conversely cruel to Christians who try to save
innocent life, and to good parents who lovingly discipline their children.
The criminal justice system must protect the innocent from, not subject them to, the public.
Just over a week ago, I interviewed a man running for president, who was describing America’s
government as based upon the Bible, and there were a number of times I had to challenge him, including when he said that we have the biblical right to a jury trial, for which I interrupted him saying, Michael, the Bible does not call for jury trials.
And rather than defend his position, he was after all running for president as a Christian candidate, he
meekly conceded the moment.
There might be a verse or two he could twist into some weak support for a jury system, but the Word
of God does not teach justice by committee.
Armed Forces: Biblical Apologetic [Constitution Political]
The King commands the military. Why?
· The officials of the King's Court include the "general" of the "army" (1 Chr. 27:34).
· The army is "the king’s army" (1 Chr. 27:34). [C P]
The constitution permits military protection of America: persons, land, and resources, from threats foreign, domestic, and natural. Why?
The constitution permits the King to use the military to defend our allies. Why?
Gen. 14: Abraham, Lot, etc. "made war."@@
· Healthy males insist on protecting, not being protected by, their wives, daughters, mothers, and sisters.
[C P]
The Constitution prohibits compulsory drafting of soldiers. Why rely on a volunteer army and not
conscription?
· The Mosaic law calls for voluntarily military service since compulsion can destroy morale (Deut.
20:8).
· "'What man is there who is fearful and fainthearted? Let him go and return to his house...'" (Deut.
20:89). [C P]
The Constitution prohibits women in combat or field support roles. Why?
The Constitution, consistent with a statement in its Dedication, mirrors some but not all of Israel's war practices.
In Scripture, the man is the default defender of his family and his nation.
"Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her" (Eph.
5;25).
"every male individually, from twenty years old and above—all who are able to go to war" (Num.
1:2). [C P]
Regional Authorities: Biblical Apologetic [Constitution Political]
Myriad state, county, and municipal bureaucrats cannot legislate or levy taxes. [C P]
Local authorities apply America's Code of Use regulations to their jurisdictions for real estate and
infrastructure.
Manage local police authority.
Infrastructure: Biblical Apologetic [Constitution Political]
Transportation Infrastructure: Biblical Defense
Centralized coordination facilitates speedy travel over or through land, water, air, and space. [C P]
Free Use of Infrastructure: Biblical Defense
Liberty includes the right to travel, at ones own expense but without government tolls, over land and
sea. [C P]
Private Firms: Biblical Defense
The King should use private firms since they typically outperform and cost less than government services. [C P]
Privatize Some Infrastructure: Biblical Defense
The King may not privatize land or water transport infrastructure because human rights depend upon such. [C P]
Regulation of Resources: Biblical Defense
The power of government to enforce its decisions makes it uniquely qualified to apportion water rights. [C P]
Parks and Forests: Biblical Defense
Unless sold or otherwise used, vast tracts of forests and public lands require management. [C P]
Buying and Selling: Biblical Defense
The government will need to purchase land, buildings, equipment, supplies, and sell excess
inventories. [C P]
Forced Sales: Biblical Defense
No rules are provided for getting a fair appraised value because any leader will either be fair or not. [C P]
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America’s Code of Use: Biblical Apologetic [Constitution Political Code]
ShadowGov.com begins publishing America’s Zoning Code on July 1, 2001. ShadowGov.com begins publishing America’s Use of Infrastructure on Jan. 1, 2003. [C P]
America has a single real estate zoning code, applied throughout the nation to parcels of land by
agreement of real estate owners or mediation by local judges. No zoning can be applied retroactively to outlaw existing buildings, developed facilities or patterns of use. Grandfathered
America's Use of Infrastructure contains regulations for the use of governmentprotected utilities. It
also contains America’s Traffic Code which enables subjects to travel safely throughout the nation. America's Code of Use is appended to this document, is fully authoritative, and is herein incorporated into the Constitution of America.
America’s Criminal Code: Biblical Apologetic [Constitution Political Code]
· The Criminal Code does not have thousands of of laws but a handful of principles printed on a single
pages.
· ShadowGov.com publishes the Criminal Code on Mar. 1, 2000 to one day replace existing law. [C P]
Rights of Subjects: Biblical Apologetic [Constitution Political] Godgiven Rights: Biblical Defense
· People have the right to fail without government intervention. [C P]
Needs vs. Rights: Biblical Apologetic
· The government should not tax as a way to compel charitable giving for welfare or any other reason.
[C P]
Responsibilities of Subjects: Biblical Apologetic [Constitution Political]
Godgiven Rights: Biblical Defense
· People have the right to fail without government intervention. [C P]
Needs vs. Rights: Biblical Apologetic
· The government should not tax as a way to compel charitable giving for welfare or any other reason.
[C P]
The Treasury: Biblical Apologetic [Constitution Political]
Five Percent Income Tax: Biblical Defense [Against Sales Tax, Tariffs]
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· No need for IRSlike tax collectors. Judges handle tax evasion as they would any other theft. [C P]
Against Sales Tax: Biblical Apologetic
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· The middle class will pay tax on nearly one hundred percent of their income. [C P]
Against Tariffs: Biblical Apologetic
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· Tariffs, as a commerce transaction toll, share many of the same shortcomings as a sales tax. [C P]
Tax Evasion: Biblical Apologetic
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· Since tax evasion is so easy to commit, such convicts get flogged to intensify deterrence. [C P]
Variable Tax Rate: Biblical Apologetic
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· Averaged over time this provision lets the market seek its own, optimal, nonarbitrary tax rate. [C P]
Against Welfare: Biblical Apologetic
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· “Do not steal,” is violated by the welfare state. [C P]
Socialism: Biblical Apologetic
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· KEEP: Socialism: regarding latch key kids: “...a child left to himself brings shame to his mother.”
Prov. 29:15
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· Socialism makes conspirators of the public as it convicts them of theftbyreceiving. [C P]
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Against Communism: Biblical Apologetic
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· Communist countries endorse evolution and oppose theism to rationalize their criminal behavior. [C P]
Against Public Education: Biblical Apologetic
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· The government does not have the right to force someone to pay for another man’s education. [C P]
National Debt: Biblical Apologetic
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· A debtor nation is more at risk being less able to defend its sovereignty than a creditor nation. [C P]
King’s Compensation: Biblical Apologetic
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· The King’s compensation should increase as the income of his subjects increases, and viceversa. [C P]
Carved in Stone: Biblical Apologetic [Constitution Political]
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· The arguments for the Amendment Process also defend this provision. [C P]
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· Joshua engraved the law on stone. [C P]
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· By the Constitution, the fivepercent tax rate may occasionally drop to one percent.
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· never increases above five percent. The government surplus, invested well, may produce enough
income, with the additional one percent tax revenues, to fund the government indefinitely. If so, find, the rate stays at one percent, effectively lowering the rate. Of course, many Monarchs will not have the best interest of the country, nor of the subjects, in mind. Theft...
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· Government support of the redistribution of wealth is expressly forbidden. The government cannot
inspire or enforce any form of socialism, communism, or collectivism. Further, it cannot nationalize, take over or regulate any business, health care or service, including education. The government, at every level, is specifically forbidden to tax or spend money for the purpose of education.
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· If someone is wrongly accused of tax evasion, his false accuser must pay restitution for the reasonable expenses incurred by the taxpayer in mounting his defense.
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· FIX: Subjects may pay taxes weekly, monthly, quarterly or annually with no interest penalty assessed for annual payment.
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· The King may specify the medium of exchange acceptable as tax payment.
Treaties: Biblical Apologetic [Constitution Political]
[This section was copied into the Web 20051231 file for uploading on 20060410]
America shall not enter into a foreign treaty. Why not?
God prohibited Israel from making "a covenant with the inhabitants of the land... lest it be a snare."
Ex. 34
Israel's treaty prohibition applied explicitly only to nations to be displaced within the Promised Land. Israel's incidental treaty ban, by extension, can become a wise, general prohibition on treaties.
External agreements supersede internal agreements, whether within ourselves, a family, a group, or a
nation.
By definition, treaties supersede national law, putting the entire nation under prevailing external
agreements.
God expected Israel to abide by their treaties even though He had commanded them not to enter into
such!
The current U.S. Constitution reflects the biblical principle of the precedence of international
agreement.
"all Treaties... shall be the supreme Law of the Land..." U.S. Constitution Article VI
Biblical arguments against making new laws validate a treaty ban because treaties actually create new
law. [C]
America will honor existing treaties.
Although God prohibited treaties in Canaan, the Bible shows He expected such treaties to be honored, if made.
The Gibeonites misrepresented themselves as a distant people, and thereby tricked the Israelites into a treaty.
No contradiction exists between both prohibiting entering into treaty, and if made, expecting it to be upheld.
God gave Israel commands of absolute morality, as well as symbolic commands, and incidental
commands.
Commands of absolute morality include prohibitions on, for example, kidnapping, adultery, and
perjury.
Israel's symbolic ordinances included regulations on fabrics, food, and days of special observation.
Incidental commands included those such as cross the Jordan, and do not make a particular covenant. Incidental commands like "cross the Jordan" belong to an instance in history and are subordinate to
absolutes.
God and His covenant nation Israel formed a unit, so to speak, with other nations external to that
union.
God would never insist that Israel, nor any party, honor any agreement that requires a party to sin.
The Israelites did sin by making their Gibeonite treaty, but would have sinned again by violating that treaty.
Covenants (agreements, treaties, oaths) lie at the heart of the entire plot of the Bible.
It was an oath of salvation that God "promised to our fathers" and remembers in "His holy covenant"
Luke 1
command.
Joshua complied with the Gibeonite treaty, even though tricked into that undesirable agreement.
Joshua 9
Centuries after it was ratified, God condemned king Saul for violating the Gibeonite treaty. 2 Sam. 21
America will honor existing treaties, but only if justice permits.
God required Israel to honor external agreements, even though making them violated His incidental
[C]
The very concept of treaty is based on morality, for it would be wrong for a party to violate agreed
upon terms.
A treaty that violates morality nullifies itself, since agreements themselves are meaningless apart from
morality.
Any agreement that requires sin (murder, theft, adultery, perjury, etc.), is automatically null and void.
A party can not unilaterally terminate an undesired agreement, unless it requires any party to commit sin.
If justice permits, America must honor existing treaties, even when those treaties are undesirable. [C] Why exempt foreign governments from treaty obligations to America?
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· Parties in covenant (contract, treaty, etc.) have the authority to mutually alter or terminate said covenants.
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· America desires to live in liberty, maximized as justice permits, only under those few necessary laws.
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· America desires to free itself from burdensome layers of law, and more so when such are supralaws.
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· America desires other nations to live in liberty, and wants them freed from unnecessary layers of law.
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· America exempts treaty partners from such obligations in hopes that they will justly exit such treaties.
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· When a partner in a treaty (contract, etc.) exits or breaks that treaty, the other party can release itself.
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· If a party breaks even a solemn agreement, the other party "is not under bondage in such cases." 1 Cor.
7
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· Prohibitions against nonLevites eating the holy offerings illustrate the release of a broken covenant. Lev. 22
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· One party exiting a multilateral treaty (contract, etc.) does not automatically release all other parties.
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· If a party exits a multilateral treaty, America can justifiably end treaty commitments toward that party.
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· If a party breaks or exits a bilateral treaty with America, that justifies America nullifying the treaty. [C] Why use a goodneighbor policy.
James, Paul, and Jesus all said, "let your 'Yes' be 'Yes,' and your 'No,' 'No.'” James 5; 2 Cor. 1; Mat. 5 Good neighbors do not need contracts between them other than not violating the criminal code.
"All the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this: 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.'" Gal. 5:14
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· "Do not devise evil against your neighbor, for he dwells by you for safety’s sake." Prov. 3:29
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· "You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor." Ten Commandments, Ex. 20:16
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· "You shall not cheat your neighbor... but you shall love your neighbor as yourself." Lev. 19:13, 18
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· Jesus said, "'You shall not murder,' ...and, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’" Mat. 19:18
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· Jesus said to love God and "your neighbor... On these two commandments hang all the Law...” Mat.
22
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· "Love does no harm to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfillment of the law." Rom. 13:10
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· "Fulfill the royal law according to the Scripture, 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.'" James 2:8
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· Neighbors do not need contracts to be good neighbors. [C]
Why would America have the rights of a household in an emergent society?
An emergent society, like a few huts built on an otherwise deserted island, has no established
government.
Rules exist for the just behavior of households even in an emergent society.
Rules that govern international relations equate to the rules that exist in an emergent society.
A household loses its sovereignty in an emergent society by violating any absolute principle in the
code of justice.
Crime (murder, rape, etc.) against a member of one's own house justifies a neighbor's forcible
intervention.
God has established three institutions: family, church, and government, each with specific functions.
God has not delegated a suprafamily authority whereby relatives must obey extended family members.
God has not delegated a suprachurch authority whereby churches must obey some ecclesiastical body. God has not delegated a supranational authority whereby nations must obey some international body. No divinely authorized international court of law exists on earth which has authority over nations.
Nations coexist by the principles of the absolute code of justice that would govern an emergent society. [C]
Succession Process: Biblical Apologetic [Constitution Political]
America holds a lottery to select the King, unless a prince inherits the throne. Why? Consider the lottery first:
Lots avoid divisiveness: "Casting lots causes contentions to cease, and keeps the mighty apart" (Prov. 18:18)
Thus selecting leadership by lottery avoids many of the terrible effects of democracies and republics. To replace Judas, "they cast their lots, and the lot fell on Matthias. And he was numbered with the
eleven apostles" (Acts 1:26).
God led the prophet Samuel to select by lot kings Saul (1 Sam. 10:20‐24) and David
(1 Sam. 16:7‐12).
The Feast of Purim, meaning lots, celebrates the salvation of the Jews from destruction by their
enemies (Esther 3:7).
Lots could make hard governmental decisions, for they “cast lots to bring one out of ten to dwell in
Jerusalem...” (Neh. 11:1).
For 1,000 years, lots determined the order of the service of the 24 divisions of the Jewish priesthood
(1 Chr. 24:5‐19).
Zacharias served "according to the custom of the priesthood, his lot fell... when he went into the
temple," (Luke 1:9).
God commanded Israel to divide the Promised Land among their tribes by casting lots
(Num. 26:52‐56; 33:54).
In matters of absolute right and wrong, you find God's will in the outcome; otherwise, you find it in
the manner of conduct.
The selection of a specific leader is not a matter of absolute right and wrong, but of conduct.
As justice is blind, and impartial, so is the best process for selecting a monarch, which helps fight the
raw ambition of politics.
The process of choosing a leader determines whether the selection is God's will or not; e.g. usurping a
throne violates God's will.
God authorized selection of leaders by lot, for "The lot is cast into the lap, but its every decision is
from the LORD (Prov. 16:33).
Casting lots for a king does not ensure the best selection but promotes national humility before God in
the selection process. [C P]
The Constitution establishes a hereditary monarchy, in which the Monarch’s eldest son succeeds him. Why?
Authority naturally flows downhill, from God through government to the people, from parents to children, from King to Prince.
God had a unique covenant relationship with national Israel, and occasionally explicitly intervened to select their kings.
Today God's covenant is with the international Body of Christ; and now He does not explicitly intervene in governments.
As a model, Jesus the Son of God, said, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth" (Mat. 28:18).
Jesus, the King of Kings, is the Mary's "firstborn Son" (Mat. 1:2425; see also Mark 6:3; etc.).
A hereditary monarchy minimizes the instances in which a leader must be selected, and maximizes
historical stability. [C P] Succession by a child king.
"Josiah was eight years old when he became king, and he reigned thirtyone years in Jerusalem" (2 Kings 22:1).
Relatives and advisors of a child king will rule de facto by proxy but may be tempered by his future reprisals. [C P]
"Now before [Josiah] there was no king like him, who turned to the LORD... nor after him did any arise like him."
Posthumous prosecution by order of a suspicious king who has met an untimely death.
· A father has authority over his son, and the military justly obeys a suspicious king's final command to investigate his son.
· No national authority exists over a new king other than a contingent prosecution order from his murdered father. [C P]
Legislatures and democracy prohibited.
· See Genesis to Revelation; and also above, on Monarchy, Against Democracy; and Against Republics!
Amendment Process: Biblical Apologetic [Constitution Political]
America does not permit amendments to its Constitution, nor to its Criminal Code. Why?
Like gravity in physics, the influence of the world pulls relentlessly on the flesh, downward toward
hell itself.
Jesus said, "no one puts new wine into old wineskins" (Mark 2:22).
Wineskins can represent the institutions men create to minister righteousness.
Christian institutions (schools, hospitals, etc.) inevitably corrupt due to the relentless influence of the
world.
On balance, amendments would be harmful due to this same corrupting influence of the world and the
flesh.
Thus God wrote His law on stone (Ex. 24:12) and authorized no amendment process (Gen. 1 Rev.
22).
Though circumstances change, fundamental principles of authority and criminal behavior remain the
same.
Those who war against the saints seek to "change the law" (Dan. 7:25) and "devise evil by law" (Ps.
94:20).
· This constitution makes no claim to perfection, but is vastly preferable against certain downward
progress.
· The reasons against amending the Constitution argue also against amending the criminal code. [C P]
The Monarch alone can amend only America’s Code of Use.
Scripture authorizes no legislative body, thus no other national governmental authority than the king exists.
Biblical laws which do not represent moral absolutes are symbolic ordinances (like circumcision, etc). Rules for use of infrastructure are not absolutes but subjective, for ex., stop lights colored red, not
green.
Usage rules for infrastructure do not represent absolutes, and thus may justly may be altered. [C P]
Amendments not germane authorize peaceful civil disobedience against such offense.
Generally, men must obey the government (Rom. 13:1); however, God rewards righteous
disobedience.
Peter said, "We ought to obey God rather than men" (Acts 5:29).
Many of those in the "Hebrews Hall of Faith" (Heb. 11) peacefully disobeyed the governing authorities.
The Hebrew midwives (Ex. 1:8‐9, 15‐21) and Moses' parents (Heb. 11:23) rightly disobeyed the government.
The King prevails in court even against the innocent.
“When the righteous are in authority the people rejoice but when a wicked man rules [they] groan” Prov. 29:2
Paul and Christ taught obedience to the evil Roman empire, but that does not repeal justified civil disobedience.
“Governing authorities” whether good or evil each one “is God’s minister” (Rom. 13) as are dads and pastors.
Governing officials, fathers, and pastors may be evil, however God instructs everyone to do rightly. [Deut. 5]
Moses (Heb. 11:27, 29) and Rahab (Josh. 2:1‐7; Heb. 11:31) rightly disobeyed the governing authorities.
David's wife Michal (1 Sam. 19:10‐18) and Daniel (Dan. 6:10) rightly disobeyed the governing authorities.
Peter (Acts 5:27‐29) and Paul (Acts 16:35‐40) rightly disobeyed and resisted the governing authorities.
"Judah did not keep the commandments of the LORD their God, but walked in the statutes of Israel which they made."
God punished Israelites who obeyed their laws when those laws contradicted God's law (2 Kings 17:1920).
Jesus even approved those, like David, who violated symbolic biblical law when justified (Mark 2:25 26).
Men have not only the right, but also the responsibility, to refuse to submit to unjust government coercion. [C P]
While no court has authority to try the King, still, he awaits the Judgment of God.
At least by Judgment Day, America will rejoice in God's vengeance against a wicked king.
"Woe to you who put far off the day of doom, who cause the seat of violence to come near" (Amos
6:3).
Patience is a virtue; good eventually wins; and "Vengeance is Mine, I will repay, says the LORD!" [C P]
Dedication: Biblical Apologetic [Constitution Political]
America hereby dedicates herself to God the Father, Jesus Christ His Son, and the Holy Spirit. Why?
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· Liberty comes from truth; for "the truth shall make you free" (John 8:32).
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· To govern successfully, America must not pretend that all religions are equal.
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· If Christ did not rise from the dead, then Christianity would be false, however:
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· Christ has risen from the dead, therefore, Christinity is true and other religions are false.
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· A government should be founded on truth, and not lies and falsehoods.
This Constitution arises from the Holy Bible's principles of governance.
· The JudeaoChristian Bible is God's special revelation to mankind.
· Special revelation clarifies and elaborates upon the general revelation of the Creation and man'sconscience.
This Constitution explicitly does not codify Israel's symbolic ordinances.
The Mosaic regulations contain many signs, symbolically looking forward to Christ, the great High
Priest.
The New Testament does not abolish God's law, but admits changes to it, following Christ's Coming.
“For the priesthood being changed, of necessity there is also a change of the law" (Heb. 7:12).
Thus the Constitution does not assume that all commands to, and practices of, Israel should be
implemented.
The Constitution attempts to implement enduring underlying principles from Scripture.
This Constitution will be superseded by Christ at His Return.
· “Then comes the end, when He delivers the kingdom to God the Father, when He puts an end to all
rule and all authority..." (1 Cor. 15:24). May God bless our King. Long live the King!
· · · ·
While democratic governments puffup the selfcentered ego, the Constitution encourages respect and humility.
The King should view himself as a servant, but his subjects should not think of him so, but respect him as leader.
The Constitution encourages subjects to have "good will toward men" (Luke 2:14), beginning with their leader.
"I exhort... that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life..." (1 Tim. 2:12).
End Notes
Top Constitution Use the <back> button (¡) to return to your place
Scripture quotes are from the New King James; square brackets around a verse reference indicate only indirect support for a concept. Some verse references above link to these passages here, while others show the passage itself in the ScreenTip as your mouse hovers over the link. In verses quoted below, reading the bold words will highlight a sentence within a sentence, which helps to communicate the point being made.
Israel Demands a King a Generation Too Early
1 Samuel 8:4‐7 Then all the elders of Israel gathered together and came to Samuel at Ramah, v. 5 and said to him, “Look, you are old, and your sons do not walk in your ways. Now make us a king to judge us like all the nations.” v. 6 But the thing displeased Samuel when they said, “Give us a king to judge us.” So Samuel prayed to the LORD. v. 7 And the LORD said to Samuel, “Heed the voice of the people in all that they say to you; for they have not rejected you, but they have rejected Me, that I should not reign over them. Back ¡
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The Majority is Evil
Matthew 7:1314 “Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which
file:///Users/bobenyart/Documents/GodsFormGov/Constitution/ConstitutionApologetic.html 14/23
6/23/2015 Bible Apologetic for America's Constitution
leads to life, and there are few who find it.” Back ¡
Governmental Authority includes the Death Penalty
Romans 13:1 Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God. [i.e., God appointed all authority structures3⁄4of parents, ministers, and governing officials.] v. 2 Therefore whoever resists the authority resists the ordinance of God, and those who resist will bring judgment on themselves. v. 3 For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to evil. Do you want to be unafraid of the authority? Do what is good, and you will have praise from the same. v. 4 For he is God's minister to you for good. But if you do evil, be afraid; for he does not bear the sword in vain; for he is God’s minister, an avenger to execute wrath on him who practices evil. Back ¡
Saul out of Due Time
1 Corinthians 15:8 Then last of all He was seen by me also, as by one born out of due time. [King “Saul... a Benjamite” (1 Sam. 9:21) and Paul, i.e., Saul of Tarsus, were both “of the tribe of Benjamin” (Rom 11:1) and similarly both born out of due time, the first, too early, and the second, too late, so to speak. God chose them both and orchestrated their symmetrical roles, the first at the beginning of Israel’s kingdom period, and the second at the beginning of the Gospel to the Gentiles (Acts 9:15; 28:28; Rom. 11:11, 15; Eph. 3:1‐2; 1 Tim. 1:16). For a detailed discussion of this, see Bob Enyart's The Plot manuscript. Back ¡
President Fillmore quote: Our American Presidents, Joan Bumann and John Patterson, St. Petersburg, FL: Willowisp Press, 1993, p. 48. Back ¡
1000 BC Enthronement: God will compare and contrast the 1,000 years of Israel's kingdom before Christ’s First Advent with the 1,000 years after His Second Coming. He planned to center this symmetry upon the 33 years of Christ’s life. God had David establish his throne in Jerusalem 1,000 years before Christ’s coming, and God will reinstate it again for 1,000 years after His Second Coming (Rev. 20:4). “About the year 1000 BC Jerusalem was captured by David... and the city became the Jewish capital,” Encyclopedia Britannica, 1976. In 1996 Israel celebrated Jerusalem’s 3,000th anniversary as its capital, which if accurate means that David may have established his throne in Jerusalem exactly 1,000 years before Christ’s birth in 4 BC. As a type of Christ, “David was thirty years old when he began to reign” (2 Sam. 5:4‐5) as “Jesus Himself began His ministry at about thirty years of age” (Luke 3:23). Christ’s earthly life lasted thirtythree years and “in Jerusalem [David] reigned thirtythree years” (2 Sam. 5:4‐5). For a detailed discussion of this, see Bob Enyart's The Plot manuscript. Back ¡
David’s Messianic Throne: Since Jesus is the “King of kings” (1 Tim. 6:15), the Father established a human royal lineage through which He would send His Son as “King of the Jews” (John 19:3). Thus God said “to David... ‘I will set upon your throne the fruit of your body [i.e. Christ, vv. 1718]’ ” (Ps. 132). “David... being a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him that of the fruit of his body, according to the flesh, He would raise up the Christ to sit on his throne” (Acts 2:29‐30) realized that the Messiah would come through his kingly line. As Isaiah wrote, “...unto us a Child is born... and the government will be upon [Him] ... upon the throne of David” (Isa. 9). Even Solomon’s Temple is called: “the tabernacle of David” (Acts 15:16). The four Gospels stress this Davidic connection. Matthew begins: “The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the Son of David” (Mat. 1:1). Mark preserves the inspired cry: “Blessed is the kingdom of our father David that comes in the name of the Lord” (Mark 11:10). Luke reports that: “the Lord God will give [Jesus] the throne of His father David” (Luke 1:32). And John records: “Has not the Scripture said that the Christ comes from the seed of David and from the town of Bethlehem, where David was?” (John 7:42). The Bible ends with this description of Christ, “I, Jesus... am the Root and the Offspring of David” (Rev. 22:16). See also Mat. 9:27; 12:23; 15:22; 20:30; 21:9, 15; Mark 10:48; Luke 1:69; 2:4, 11; 18:38; John 7:42; Acts 13:34; Rom. 1:3; 2 Tim. 2:8; Rev. 3:7; 5:5. Back ¡
King of the Jews: Among the first to recognize Jesus were the wise men from the East who asked “Where is He who has been born King of the Jews” (Mat. 2:2)? Thirtythree years later, Christ reaffirmed that title in the face of Pilate’s ignorance: And the governor asked Him, saying, "Are You the King of the Jews?" So Jesus said to him, "It is as you say" (Mat. 27:11). Then, “When they had twisted a crown of thorns, they put it on His head... And they bowed the knee before Him and mocked Him, saying, "Hail, King of the Jews!" (Mat. 27:29). Finally, written in Greek, Latin, and Hebrew, the world learned the title of the Man being crucified, “And the inscription of His accusation was written above: THE KING OF THE JEWS” (Mark 15:26). See also Mat. 27:37; Mark 15:2; Luke 23:3, 38; John 19:19, 2122. Back ¡
Greek Lawgiver: Some conservatives (among them the John Birch Society, @Get ref) give credit to the Greek statesman Solon of Athens for originating the idea that the king must obey the law. However Solon (c. 630‐c. 560 BC) only echoed the Mosaic Law of a millennium earlier (ca. 1,500 BC) which declared the constitutional requirement that the King submit himself to the law (Deut. 17). Back ¡
God Condemns Representative Government
Num. 16:1 Now Korah... v.2 rose up before Moses with some of the children of Israel, two hundred and fifty leaders of the congregation, representatives of the congregation, men of renown. v.3 They gathered together against Moses and Aaron, and said to them, “You take too much upon yourselves, for all the congregation is holy, every one of them, and the LORD is among them. Why then do you exalt yourselves above the assembly of the LORD?” ... v.20 And the LORD spoke to Moses... v.24 “Speak to the congregation, saying, ‘Get away from the tents of Korah...’ “ v.25 Then Moses [said] ... v.30 “if the LORD creates a new thing, and the earth opens its mouth and swallows them up with all that belongs to them, and they go down alive into the pit, then you will understand that these men have rejected the LORD.” v.31 Now it came to pass, as he finished speaking all these words, that the ground split apart under them, v.32 and the earth opened its mouth and swallowed them up... v.41 On the next day all the congregation of the children of Israel murmured against Moses and Aaron, saying, “You have killed the people of the LORD.” v.44 And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, v.45 “Get away from among this congregation, that I may consume them in a moment.” And they fell on their faces. v.46 So Moses said to Aaron, “...wrath has gone out from the LORD. The plague has begun.” v.49 Now those who died in the plague were fourteen thousand seven hundred, besides those who died in the Korah incident. Back ¡
God Plans a Monarchy for Israel
Deuteronomy 17:14 “When you come to the land which the LORD your God is giving you, and possess it and dwell in it, and say, ‘I will set a king over me like all the nations that are around me,’ [God knew that their impatience would coincide with His overall plan:] v. 15 “you shall surely set a king over you whom the LORD your God chooses; one from among your brethren you shall set as king over you; you may not set a foreigner over you, who is not your brother. v. 16 “But he shall not multiply horses for himself, nor cause the people to return to Egypt to multiply horses, for the LORD has said to you, ‘You shall not return that way again.’ v. 17 “Neither shall he multiply wives for himself, lest his heart turn away; nor shall he greatly multiply silver and gold for himself. v. 18 “Also it shall be, when he sits on the throne of his kingdom, that he shall write for himself a copy of this law in a book, from the one before the priests, the Levites. v. 19 “And it shall be with him, and he shall read it all the days of his life, that he may learn to fear the LORD his God and be careful to observe all the words of this law and these statutes, v. 20 “that his heart may not be lifted above his brethren, that he may not turn aside from the commandment to the right hand or to the left, and that he may prolong his days in his kingdom, he and his children in the midst of Israel. Back ¡
Psalm 132:11 The LORD has sworn in truth to David; He will not turn from it: “I will set upon your throne the fruit of your body.” v. 17 There I will make the horn of David grow; I will prepare a lamp for My Anointed. v. 18 His enemies I will clothe with shame, but upon Himself His crown shall flourish.” Back ¡
Family: God established the family (Gen. 2 1) and He gave parents authority over children (Eph. 6). Authority flows from God, through government, to men, passing through parents to the children. And even the kid corrects the cat. Back ¡
Church: God established the Church (Acts 20 1 Cor. 1 Eph. 1 5 Col. 1) and made her responsible to proclaim the truth (1 Tim. 3). Back ¡
God Authorizes the Death Penalty
Genesis 9:5 “Surely for your lifeblood I will demand a reckoning; from the hand of every beast I will require it, and from the hand of man. From the hand of every man's brother I will require the life of man. v. 6 Whoever sheds man's blood, by man his blood shall be shed; for in the image of God He made man.” Back ¡
Death Penalty: As to God’s view of the death penalty for today, consider reading the 15page article, New Testament Support for Capital Punishment. God the Father, Jesus (God the Son), and the apostle Paul all support the death penalty through many Bible passages including Gen. 9 Ex. 21 Lev. 24 Num. 35 Deut. 13; 19 Ezek. 13 Mat. 15 Mark 7 Acts 25 Rom. 13 Rev. 16 13. Back ¡
Tribal Allotment of the Land
Numbers 26:52 Then the LORD spoke to Moses, saying: 53 “To these the land shall be divided as an inheritance, according to the number of names. 54 To a large tribe you shall give a larger inheritance, and to a small tribe you shall give a smaller inheritance. Each shall be given its inheritance according to those who were numbered of them. 55 But the land shall be divided by lot; they shall inherit according to the names of the tribes of their fathers. 56 According to the lot their inheritance shall be divided between the larger and the smaller.” Back ¡
A Chapter on Criminal Justice Contains the Command to Build Roads
Deuteronomy 19:3 You shall prepare roads for yourself... that any manslayer may flee [to justice]. v. 4 ...whoever kills his neighbor unintentionally... v. 10 lest innocent blood be shed in the midst of your land... and thus guilt of bloodshed be upon you. v. 11 But if anyone hates his neighbor, lies in wait for him, rises against him and strikes him mortally, so that he dies... v. 12 then the elders of his city shall... deliver him over... that he may die. v. 13 Your eye shall not pity him, but you shall put away the guilt of innocent blood from Israel, that it may go well with you. v. 15 One witness shall not rise against a man concerning any iniquity or any sin that he commits; by the mouth of two or three witnesses the matter shall be established. v. 16 If a false witness rises against any man to testify against him of wrongdoing, v. 17 then both men in the controversy shall stand before... the judges who serve in those days. v. 18 And the judges shall make careful inquiry, and indeed, if the witness is a false witness... v. 19 then you shall do to him as he thought to have done to his brother; so you shall put away the evil from among you. v. 20 And those who remain shall hear and fear, and hereafter they shall not again commit such evil among you. v. 21 Your eye shall not pity: life shall be for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot." Back ¡
Romans 13:1 Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God. 2 Therefore whoever resists the authority resists the ordinance of God, and those who resist will bring judgment on themselves. 3 For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to evil. Do you want to be unafraid of the authority? Do what is good, and you will have praise from the same. 4 For he is God’s minister to you for good. But if you do evil, be afraid; for he does not bear the sword in vain; for he is God’s minister, an avenger to execute wrath on him who practices evil. 5 Therefore you must be subject, not only because of wrath but also for conscience’ sake. 6 For because of this you also pay taxes, for they are God’s ministers attending continually to this very thing. Back ¡
Deceptive Gibeonites Enter Treaty with Israel
Joshua 9:3 But when the inhabitants of Gibeon heard what Joshua had done to Jericho and Ai, v. 4 they worked craftily, and went and pretended to be ambassadors. And they took old sacks on their donkeys, old wineskins torn and mended... v. 6 And they went to Joshua, to the camp at Gilgal, and said to him and to the men of Israel, "We have come from a far country; now therefore, make a covenant with us." ... v. 14 Then the men of Israel [looked at] some of their provisions; but they did not ask counsel of the LORD... v. 16 And it happened at the end of three days, after they had made a covenant with them, that they heard that they were their neighbors who dwelt near them. Back ¡
There is always an absolute obligation to obey God, even if the command itself is incidental, and thus transient.
The Bible shows the varying nature of some of God's commands: eat, don't eat; kill, don't kill; cut, don't cut.
If a church obediently built Noah's Ark, it would be biblically correct, but dispensationally wrong.
[end]