| It is often said that the Bible is not a handbook to, well, | | | | of God's displeasure. Thus, "Behold, we are slaves this |
| anything. Those who make this assertion are typically | | | | day; in the land that you gave to our fathers to enjoy |
| opposed to Christian involvement in activities outside | | | | its fruit and its good gifts, behold, we are slaves. And |
| Sunday morning worship. They want to see Christianity | | | | its rich yield goes to the kings whom you have set |
| remain safely within the four walls of the church | | | | over us because of our sins. They rule over our |
| building. It may be all right for Christians to become | | | | bodies and over our livestock as they please, and we |
| involved in warm and fuzzy local charity but anyone | | | | are in great distress" (Nehemiah 9:36-37). |
| who would suggest that Biblical principles should be | | | | Furthermore, "by justice a king builds up the land, but he |
| applied to "real-life" is labeled a fundamentalist wacko | | | | who exacts gifts tears it down" (Proverbs 29:4). |
| intent on creating a theocracy. | | | | Hence, virtue strengthens a nation whereas |
| The truth is much different. The Bible is in fact a | | | | Cornhusker kickbacks and a Second Louisiana |
| handbook. You see, according to Webster, a | | | | purchase will tear it down. In other words, to ignore |
| handbook is simply a book that is capable of being | | | | biblically defined justice means that the nation will begin |
| conveniently carried as a ready reference manual. It is | | | | to fall apart and move steadily toward anarchy and |
| a concise reference book covering a particular subject. | | | | then tyranny. This does not mean blood will run in the |
| In the case of the Bible, it is a reference book covering | | | | streets as order breaks down. Instead, the strong |
| all areas of life. It is not limited to a single subject like | | | | central power will increase its hold on the populace as |
| politics or education; instead, the Bible proclaims the | | | | the general unrest becomes more apparent. As a |
| truth necessary for the redemption of every individual | | | | result, the central power will increasingly force its will on |
| and his arena of activity. In this way, all things are | | | | the nation in the name of the people. After all, the |
| reconciled to the Father (Colossians 1:19-20). | | | | totalitarian regime never likes to let a good crisis go to |
| This means that there is no part of life that is not | | | | waste - especially when it is a crisis of its own making. |
| subject to biblical oversight. True, the Bible does not | | | | If we want good government we must be willing to |
| provide a periodic table of elements but it does provide | | | | look to the Bible for answers. The Bible is a handbook |
| the worldview necessary to do science properly. | | | | on political science (and on economics, natural science, |
| Again, the Bible does not mandate a particular form of | | | | education, marriage, business and so on). In this brief |
| government but it does present a distinct political | | | | article it is impossible to do more than touch on a |
| philosophy. For instance the Bible says, "when a land | | | | couple verses that pertain to the subject. As I have |
| transgresses, it has many rulers" (Proverbs 28:2a). In | | | | previously written in this column, we need to engage in |
| other words, God multiplies rulers over a wicked | | | | a thorough study of the Bible and understand how to |
| people and this vast bureaucracy exacting its pound of | | | | apply the principles therein to our current circumstance. |
| flesh from the hapless citizens under its care is a sign | | | | Until we do, we will continue to get what we deserve. |