Civil Government

Civil Government is, like these other institutions, the church and the family, established by God Himself, for our good.

“1 Let every soul be in subjection to the higher authorities, for there is no authority except from God, and those who exist are ordained by God. 2 Therefore he who resists the authority, withstands the ordinance of God; and those who withstand will receive to themselves judgment. … 4 for he is a servant of God to you for good. But if you do that which is evil, be afraid, for he doesn’t bear the sword in vain; for he is a minister of God, an avenger for wrath to him who does evil.”
Rom 13:1-2, 4, WEB

The foundation of Civil Government is in the death
penalty that was established in the Noahic law,
with all of our ancestors.

Before the flood, there was no organized punishment of evil doers. This resulted in world-wide anarchy and violence and abuse of others. It was so bad that in a mere 1600 or so years, God decided to destroy mankind and the animals and start all over again.

The punishment of evil doers in th law given to Noah and his descendants (us) is centered around preserving human life.

“Whoever sheds man’s blood, by man will his blood be shed, for in the image of God made he man.”
Gen 9:6 WEB

And so is its emphasis even to this day. This is a corporate responsibility of all of mankind. Organization and financing is not dictated, and many systems within this framework have been tried by men.

Government’s basic charter is one of defending the innocent
and punishing the guilty.

“For rulers are not a terror to the good work, but to the evil. Do you desire to have no fear of the authority? Do that which is good, and you will have praise from the same,”
Rom 13:3 WEB

Later this mandate was hedged by
dividing the nations.

In this way, never was this power of the sword concentrated into the hands of any single institution. If one nation became evil, and wanted to maliciously use others, other nations would exist to bring that abuse of power to an end, and protect their own people.

The central mandate of punishing evil
is hard to completely subvert.

Even at their worst, governments still tend to maintain order and prevent much looting and violence. Even at its worst it tends to retard violence and abuse.

Even a crooked sheriffs department tends punish much crime, and the system is such that, if the civil authorities are wicked, it tends to invite their punishment. These are strong institutions.

So criminals and corporations tend to try to subvert,
not do away with, the civil authorities.

“The woman whom you saw is the great city, which reigns over the kings of the earth.”
Rev 17:18 WEB

Subversion, not elimination, is the constant strategy of the wicked, against these powers which were for sure, established for our good, and they do, generally, retard the spread of wickedness.

This also is from God.

WEB is the World English Bible, a copyright free revision
of the original ASV American Standard Version 1901