Are All Governments Evil And Demonic? Selected Passages
MEMBERS BIBLE STUDYU.S. CAPITOLAre All Governments Evil and Demonic?TO: LEGISLATORSFROM: RALPHSpecial tribute to participants in theMembers Bible Study is in order whenever oneshows brilliance in their service. I want tocommend Congressman Lamar Smith for hisexegetical work on the immigration article hewrote in World Net Daily. Lamar did a great job ofgoing into the original biblical Hebrew to explainwhy one cannot base passive immigrationlegislation on the concept of sojourning in the OT.Great work illustrative of clear thinking fromScripture Lamar!Secondly, the defeat handed down by theUS Supreme Court to the challenge of authorTrent Franks’ Arizona legislation regarding SchoolTax Credit, which is based on great Church-Statetheology, is huge! This legislation serves toillustrate last week’s Bible study as it parallels andmanifests the biblical principles we recentlystudied. This legislation will forever changeAmerican education in the years to come! Trent,what a monumental achievement!INTRODUCTIONThis week we will examine through the lens of Scripturethe third of five wrong views regarding the relationshipof Church and State. Last week we studied the secondwrong view: Government should exclude religion. Theweek before we examined the false idea that governmentshould compel religion (by that we meant becomingtheocratic). This week we will study the following:I.WRONG VIEW #3: ALL GOVERNMENT ISEVIL AND DEMONICThe proponents of this view deduce that civilgovernment is a front for the forces of evil. Such beinginherently stricken by Satan himself, they believe that theinstitution is a pond of the devil. This idea is reasonedand concluded by the fact that governments inevitablyresort to force: Since force is not the way of Jesus,661-803-7970Selected PassagesDATE: APRIL 11, 2011government therefore, when it uses force is invoking theways of the devil and the world (as in the biblical idea ofbeing “worldly”). All is set in contrast to the ways ofJesus, who sought to love and serve with a patient andgentle demeanor. Said slightly differently, since the forceof government is supposedly uncharacteristic of Jesus,government must be the opposite of Jesus. These arethose who reason from Matthew 5:39 wherein Jesustaught His followers to “turn the other cheek.” (We willdrill down on a proper understanding of that passagelater on). Supporters of this worldview believe it is alwayswrong to use police and military force. Conversely oneshould build friendships, negotiate, show love andmanifest patience. The leading advocates of this areWallis and Boyd.1In the following outline, points A C will examine thesupposed scriptural basis of this understanding and pointsD H will examine at least five results stemming from an“All Government is Evil and Demonic” position. One istempted to title this camp with the word “Pacifism”because that’s where this idea inevitably leads. Pacifism:“To allay the anger or agitation of; to calm somebodywho is angry or agitated, or soothe violent or angryfeelings.” But one must refrain from this summarybecause not all pacifists believe all government is evil.A.THIS VIEW IS BASED ON A MISINTERPRETATIONOF SATAN’S CLAIMS IN LUKE 4:6The main passage for the supposed biblical basis of thisis Luke 4:5-7. Herein Jesus is being tempted by the Devil.And he led Him up and showed Him all thekingdoms of the world in a moment of time. 6And the devil said to Him, "I will give You allthis domain and its glory; for it has been handedover to me, and I give it to whomever I wish. 7"Therefore if You worship before me, it shall allbe Yours."MEMBERS WEEKLY BIBLE STUDYIMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING THE CONCLUSION OF FIRST-VOTES-BACK (MONDAY OR TUESDAY NIGHT)THE CAPITOL FAMILY ROOMDINNER SERVEDSPOUSES W ELCOME
U.S.CAPITOLMEMBERS BIBLE STUDYAre All Governments Evil and Demonic?Selected PassagesBasic to Bible study is that whenever you read a narrativepassage quoting Satan (I.e. Genesis 3), keep in mind whatelse Scripture says about him; note this in John 8:44where Jesus says:your good.” “It is the servant of God.” “[Governmental]authorities are the ministers of God.” Paul is clear andredundant that God is the author and owner of the State.Note Peter in 1 Peter 2:13-14:"You are of your father the devil, and you want todo the desires of your father. He was a murdererfrom the beginning, and does not stand in thetruth because there is no truth in him. Wheneverhe speaks a lie, he speaks from his own nature,for he is a liar and the father of lies.Submit yourselves for the Lord's sake to everyhuman institution, whether to a king as the onein authority, 14 or to governors as sent by him forthe punishment of evildoers and the praise ofthose who do right.If all of government were controlled by evil and demonicforces, one would not think that the Apostle Peter wouldcommand believers to submit to it! (Cf. Col. 1:16).That’s to say this: In Luke 4 when Satan says to Jesusregarding worldly kingdoms, “for it has been handedover to me” he is lying! God never handed governmentover to the devil as much as the devil would like to thinkthat. Therefore to utilize Luke 4 as a pretext for Satanowning Government is to fall for the same assumptiontechnique trick he tried to pull on Jesus. As a politicalleader, you of all people know that just because someonesays something it doesn’t mean it is true!It is important to clarify that Satan does have membersof governments under his control—and that is the casehere in DC—but such is quite different than saying Satanis the CEO of Civil Government as a whole. “The onlyverse in the whole Bible that says Satan has authorityover all governments is spoken by the father of lies, andwe should not believe it.”4 Therefore there is no biblicalbasis to make the assertion that all government is evil anddemonic. Rather, it is God’s instrument of restraininggrace in a fallen world. It is not evil; it is a restrainer ofevil. This represents a huge difference in understanding.NOWHERE IN SCRIPTURE DOES IT SAYTHAT SATAN IS THE RULER OFCIVIL GOVERNMENT2This is the error of Minnesota pastor Greg Boyd, theleading representative of this position today.3 Boyd errsin misunderstanding Luke 4. Satan thinks He can dupepeople by saying things with authority.B.C.THIS VIEW IS BASED ON AN IMPOUNDEDUNDERSTANDING OF JESUSIn setting forth a false dichotomy between therighteousness of Jesus and the compelling, often forcefulnature of civil government, the purveyors of this positionask, “When did Jesus ever act with the sword? Did Jesusever teach that war was justified?” These are the queriesproudly postulated by pacifists such as Boyd5 and arecommonly-held perceptions in today’s biblically-illiterateculture. Respectively, in Luke 22:36-38 Jesus didauthorize the use of the sword (actually two swords!).And contextually, it was for the purposes of self-defenseand protection against robbers.THIS VIEW IS BASED ON AN IGNORANTUNDERSTANDING OF PAUL AND PETERAs witnessed above in John 8, Jesus heralds that Satan isa liar. Accordingly, one should not build their theologyon the statements of Satan in narrative portions ofScripture. Notice what the Apostle Paul and the ApostlePeter state regarding who is the progenitor of CivilGovernment:Every person is to be in subjection to thegoverning authorities. For there is no authorityexcept from God, and those which exist areestablished by God.Secondly, what need be said relative to this point in theoutline is that pacifists often appeal only to the life ofJesus versus the whole of the Bible to seemingly advancetheir arguments. They impound Jesus from the remainderof the Word. But Scripture is clear in its self-attestationThree more times in Romans 13:1-6 (the above is verse1) Paul states, “[Civil government] is God’s servant for2
U.S.CAPITOLMEMBERS BIBLE STUDYAre All Governments Evil and Demonic?Selected Passagesthat “All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable forteaching, for reproof, for correction and training inrighteousness” (2 Timothy 3:16). The whole of the Wordis inspired by God, not just the teachings of Jesus.Remember “In the beginning was the Word, and theWord was God .and the Word became flesh and dweltamongst us” (John 1:1; 14; cf. 1 Thes. 2:13; Rev. 19:13).Synonymous to the living Word is the written Word. It isfundamentally erroneous (and it should catch one’sdiscerning eye), a hermeneutical violation, to attempt toisolate Christ from the remainder of His Scriptures. Onecannot legitimately build theology on the back of Jesus’sayings only. When Paul declared to the Elders, “I didnot shrink from declaring to you the whole purpose ofGod” (Acts 20:27) he wasn’t referring just to Jesus.Boyd exhibits a pacifistic ideology when he states thefollowing. (Note that in Boyd’s vocabulary “the kingdomof the world” and “the power of the sword” aresynonyms for describing “all governments are evil anddemonic”).Having said that, numerous passages in the Bible supportthe idea of government utilizing force to quell evil (cf.Genesis 9:5-6; Romans 13:1-7; I Peter 2:13-14). The thirdmember of the Trinity inspired the authors of each ofthose passages. The supposed idea that the ways of Jesusare antithetical to the ways of Civil Government is a falsedichotomy that does not bear up under the scrutiny ofgood exegesis.This is not a biblically-informed rationale. Boyd believesgovernment should not coerce people by threateningthem with punishment. Rather, he believes Scriptureteaches via the life of Jesus a “power under” versus a“power over” view of the role of government. Theformer being emblematic of “the kingdom of God”versus the later, “the kingdom of this world.” Anotherway he expresses this is “Lamb Power” versus “LionPower.” “Coming under” he believes transforms people’shearts versus using force. Again, Romans 13:4 needinform ones total understanding of government.D.Wherever a person or group exercises power overothers there is a version of the kingdom of theworld. While it comes in many forms, the kingdomof the world is in essence a “power over”kingdom .there have been democratic, socialist,communist, fascist, and totalitarian version of thiskingdom of the world, but they all share thisdistinctive characteristic: they exercise “powerover” people.6THIS VIEW RESULTS IN A MORAL EQUIVALENCEBETWEEN GOOD AND EVILWhat are the results of this understanding of the State? Ifevery nation is evil, what should a person conclude whentwo nations go to war? Was Great Britain evil when ittook on Hitler’s Germany? Was America evil when itliberated Iraq from Saddam Hussein? Is it equally evil fora nation to defend itself against terrorist attacks? Whenone reasons that “All Governments Are Evil” evil is thenation that advances or defends against evil. Romans13:4 states concisely to the contrary, “ it [civilgovernment] is a minister of God, an avenger who bringswrath on the one who practices evil.” Nations and theiractions are not patently evil according to God’s Word. Asa legislator you should not feel guilty when waging a justwar against evildoers.E.CIVIL GOVERNMENT IS A MORALIZINGAGENT OF GOD WHEREIN HE VESTS ANDMANIFESTS HIS RESTRAINING GRACE IN AFALLEN WORLDGod’s design for Civil Government includes the idea of itcontaining corporeal7 power and force over people inorder to compel righteousness. God intends for CivilGovernment to legislate morality.F.THIS VIEW RESULTS IN NOT DEFENDING ONE’SWIFE, FAMILY OR COUNTRY FROM EVILThe natural conclusion of not using force, believing thatsuch is in keeping with conformity to Christ, leads to onenot defending an attacker of his wife, family, friends ornation. Pacifists tend to utilize the following verses tojustify their point of view. A closer investigation of eachis in order.THIS VIEW RESULTS IN A DENIAL OFGOVERNMENTAL POWER OVER INDIVIDUALS3
U.S.CAPITOLMEMBERS BIBLE STUDYAre All Governments Evil and Demonic? “NEVER PAY BACK EVIL FOR EVIL”insulted by another. (Someday I’ll take a whole study todevelop this biblical understanding of the passage). Forbrevity’s sake, pacifism is not in view here.ROMANS 12:17Contextually this passage is found in a summary listing ofChristian virtues (after eleven chapters of doctrine, Paulreasons how therefore members of Jesus’ Church oughtto live with others). Verses 9-21 depict the corpus of thebeliever’s attitudes in Christ. Importantly, the contextpertains to how believers ought to live as members of theuniversal body of Christ, the Church. Importantly,contextually this is not a passage about the duties ofpolicemen in the State or military of the State. Eightverses later, (note verse 19 along the way!) Paul sooncontrasts this impermissible admonition herein relative topersonal revenge with the concept of permissible Staterevenge: He goes on to say that the state possesses theauthority to use the sword “an avenger who brings wrathon the one who practices evil.” All that to say this: Thecontext and contrast of the passage is critically importantto understanding its meaning! Parachuting in on apassage often cloaks authorial intent.Add to this the context of Jesus’ teachings. He is nottalking about the responsibilities of government inMatthew 5. He is portraying principles for individualconduct this side of heaven. Add to that, this specificportion of Scripture is not listing imperative commands,but giving general principle illustrations (the OT Proverbsare principles) of what personal conduct should look likein the lives of His followers. To illustrate, a few passageslater Jesus states, “give to one who begs of you.” If thiswere a command in the Greek language, it wouldn’t belong until conceivably, beggars could bankrupt churches.(Conversely, God also calls us to be good stewards of ourresources just like He expects us to defend ourselvesagainst evil wrongdoing).PACIFISM IS NOWHERE TAUGHTIN THE BIBLEThe big picture of Romans 12 is this: Paul is preachingthat Christ-likeness means believers are not vengefulpeople who are always looking to get even. If someone isbeing accosted in your presence, that is quite anothermatter outside of the intended scope of this passage’sinstruction. Short of a policeman near the scene of acrime, an individual can invoke upon himself the powerof the State in order to shoot a murderer, etc. Making acitizen’s arrest is noble; the said person is not paying backevil for evil in this case. “LOVE YOUR ENEMIES”The world is fallen and sin is rampant (especially whengovernment enforcement is weak). Strong police forcesand militaries are necessary as a result. Such fosterscivility. Importantly, this next point will help toinstitutionally contextualize the aforementioned passages.G.“TURN THE OTHER CHEEK”THIS VIEW RESULTS IN A BLURRING OF THEINSTITUTIONAL PURPOSES OF CHURCH ANDSTATEThe advocates of pacifism who invoke the love of Jesusto stylize their understanding of the conduct of CivilGovernment err in distinguishing separately theinstitution of the Church from the State. Whereas theChurch is called to evangelize all citizens, the State is tomoralize all citizens. God’s institutional purposes as well asHis methodologies for achieving His purposes are quitedifferent. Whereas the former is confined to love andcannot wield the sword, the later is to use it when andwhere necessary. It seems Boyd and Wallis both havetheir institutional methodologies a bit mixed-up. In theirnoble pursuit for a more loving world, they act as if themethods of the Church are the limits of the State.MATTHEW 5:44This passage is found in the midst of Jesus’ instruction inthe Sermon on the Mount. It stands to reason that if oneloves their enemies like they do their friends and family,then they will protect them from the onslaught of amurderer or an invading country. Should one’s actualenemies attack, is it loving to allow them to break thelaws of the land? Tough love applies to all. Selected PassagesMATTHEW 5:39In its tightest meaning when Jesus’ choice of words isunderstood in their cultural setting, “turn the othercheek” means one should respond in humility when4
U.S.CAPITOLMEMBERS BIBLE STUDYAre All Governments Evil and Demonic?manifest pacifism. One shudders to think what wouldhappen worldwide if America adopted such an ideologyas this? What aggressive nations would take advantage?KEEP IN MIND“NEVER PAY BACK EVIL FOR EVIL,”“LOVE YOUR ENEMIES,”“TURN THE OTHER CHEEK,”ARE ADDRESSED TO BELIEVERS IN THEINSTITUTION OF THE CHURCH,NOT POLICEMEN OR MILITARY PERSONNELWORKING IN OR FOR THE STATE.On a more personal, ministerial note, make no mistakehere: Pacifism curries not personal favor with God.Think not that such attitudes win favor with TheAlmighty, as though one is more spiritual than his“aggressive” counterpart. One is not more spiritual who is apacifist; one is less spiritual. Proverbs describes them in starkcontrast to wise people (1:20). They are called naïve orignorant: “How long, O naive ones, will you love beingsimple-minded.For the waywardness of the naïve willkill them” (1:22, 32). Much to think about beloved.In Scripture, Romans 13:4 & 7 speak specifically to thosewho work for the State (and not the Church!): They areto bear the sword. They are to avenge. They are to befeared. These passages should and need be applied in thecontext of the respective institution in view.8H.Selected PassagesNext Week we will examine the fourth wrong view ofChurch and State:THIS VIEW RESULTS IN PACIFISM ANDNATIONAL WEAKNESSThe military force necessary to stop Hilter, based on thisscriptural analysis, was a good thing. The evil ofAmerican slavery came to an end through the use offorce. That too was a good thing. Shooting a sniperperched in a school bell tower is a good thing. Hopefullyno one would argue that today.II.Do Evangelism Not Politics1Wallis, Jim God’s Politics: Why the Right Gets ItWrong and the Left Doesn’t Get It (San Francisco:HarperSanFrancisco, 2005). Boyd, Greg The Myth of a ChristianNation (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2005)2Confer with Ephesians 6:12. No mention ofgovernmental rule is listed in this main passage regarding thereign of the devil.3Boyd, Greg The Myth of a Christian Nation (GrandRapids: Zondervan, 2005). On page 21 he says that all civilgovernment is demonic. On page 22 he state, “Functionally, Satanis the acting CEO of all earthly governments.”4Grudem, Wayne Politics According to the Bible (GrandRapids: Zondervan, 2010) p 38. It is important for me to stateoften that I am following the outline of this book, with permission,in these complex studies.5Ibid. p 59, 168, 91.6Ibid. p 187Corporeal: Relating to or involving the physical bodyrather than the mind or spirit.8More broadly biblical institutions have a variety ofdifferent respective descriptors beyond those listed herein. Forinstance State leaders possess no biblically-explicit characterqualifications necessary for holding office, whereas leaders in theChurch do (cf. 1 Tim. 3; Titus 1). It follows that since there are nobiblical character qualifications or limitations for policemen ormilitary personnel in Genesis 9, Romans 12, or 1 Peter 2, thatMatthew 5 and Romans 12 cannot necessarily be applied to themas virtues that are essential to holding their position in CivilGovernment, especially as it relates to the dispatch of their Godgiven duties. This is not to say that it is impossible for a Christianto serve in the police or military.To posture however that these wars and battles wouldnot be necessary had someone first loved like Jesus is todeny the reality that sin exists in the world, that it alwayshas, and that it always will. Governmental restraint is notonly necessary but God-ordained to curb its everpresence (cf. Gen. 3:6-19; Eccl. 7:20; Rom. 3:23).Compelled by His restraining grace and love, Godordained this much-needed, valuable institution.SUMMARYThe “All Governments are Evil” understanding of theState encourages believers to oppose the use ofgovernmental force to quell evil. This is antithetical to theBible’s clear teaching in Romans 13 and 1 Peter 2wherein Government wields God’s authority to use thesword with justice.The picture of Neville Chamberlain investing endlesshours negotiating with Hitler comes to mind, as well as adefenseless Dalai Lama in the hands of an aggressiveChina. History is full of vivid illustrations resulting from5
one reasons that “All Governments Are Evil” evil is the nation that advances or defends against evil. Romans 13:4 states concisely to the contrary, “ it [civil government] is a minister of God, an avenger who brings wrath on the one who practices evil.” Nations and their acti
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order of 'most evil' to 'least evil' or 'not evil'. Discuss if there is a difference in types of evil. Suggest further categories: natural evil (caused by nature), moral evil (caused by humans) and ecological evil (damage caused to the environment by human actions). e) Focus on moral and ecological evil, both caused by human actions.
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evil spirits to leave the man and go into the . The pigs ran down the and into the . The people were , and they asked Jesus to . Jesus told the man to tell his and family members how the Lord had him. Jesus has over evil. One day, Jesus will end evil . Word list: afraid, begged, commanded, evil spirit, friends,
Supernatural EVIL and Human evil in TV adaptations of Salem's Lot (1979, 2004) 'Beneath the postcard camouflage there's little good in small towns. Mostly boredom, interspersed with a dull, mindless, moronic evil' (Salem's Lot, 2004) First published in October 1975, Salem's Lot is one of Stephen King's most enduring novels.
Jesus Has Power Over Evil BIBLE PASSAGE: Mark 5:1-20 MAIN POINT: Jesus healed a man with many evil spirits. KEY PASSAGE: Psalm 103:2-3 . A battle between good and evil still rages on today, but the outcome has already been decided. Spoiler alert: Jesus wins. One day, Jesus will end evil forever. Jesus the Healer 171 ª -*GF8BZ. Jesus Has .
God creates evil only in the sense that he brings punishment or calamity upon those who do evil. The late Rex A. Turner Sr. wrote regarding this point:“In no sense, therefore, has God created criminal or moral evil. In no sense, therefore, has God provoked or brought about evil in any angel
3 For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or contact ASTM Customer Service at service@astm.org. For Annual Book of ASTM Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on the ASTM website. 4 Withdrawn. 5 Available fromAmerican Concrete Institute (ACI), P.O. Box 9094, Farmington
