The Bible believer knows that in spiritual and moral affairs, we “serve the Lord Christ” (Colossians 3:24). He is our Potentate; “King of kings and Lord of lords” (1 Timothy 6:15). However, there is another realm — the physical and civil realm, in which God allows free agents to cast their votes and choose their civil leaders. With another political election rapidly approaching, the thoughts of many are now upon concepts of governance. People have traditionally divided over the role of human government. Some people prefer a large government that can supply their wants and needs. They seldom stop to consider that governments rely upon taxation for their resources, and that the more a government spends, the more oppressive its tax policies must be! Other people prefer a small, nonintrusive government that basically leaves them alone, allowing them to pursue their ambitions.
Some people might be surprised to know this, but not only does the Bible address the concept of civil government, it even speaks to the size and scope of such government. Political conservatives and libertarians may often advocate for limited government, but the concept did not originate with them — it came from God. God never intended for a nation’s government to be so massive that it placed an unreasonable financial burden upon its citizens. The Bible does instruct us to pay our taxes (Romans 13:6 & 7), but it tells us to do so for a certain reason. Paul said, “For because of this you also pay taxes, for rulers are servants of God, devoting themselves to this very thing.” Notice the expressions, “because of this” and “for this very thing.” These phrases point to the previous “thing” that Paul had addressed, which was the limited role of civil government! Paul had just described civil authority as existing for the praise and promotion of those who do what is “good,” and for the punishment of those who do what is “evil” (Romans 13:3-4). This “evil” is later defined as behavior that “does harm” to one’s neighbor (v. 10). History actually demonstrates that the larger a government grows, the more it hinders and even punishes those who do what is right and the less it punishes those who do evil! It does the exact opposite of what God intended and authorized.
God never intended for people to look to human government for their sustenance and survival. He intended for them to look to themselves. Paul told the Thessalonians, “Make it your ambition to lead a quiet life and attend to your own business and work with your hands, just as we commanded you” (1 Thessalonians 4:11). In situations where one is unable to provide for himself, the primary obligation falls to the family. Paul told Timothy, “But if anyone does not provide for his own, and especially for those of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever” (1 Timothy 5:8). He later wrote, “If any woman who is a believer has dependent widows, she must assist them and the church must not be burdened, so that it may assist those who are widows indeed” (v. 16). Notice that the last part of this verse addresses the role of one’s own local church in supplying needs of saints in special circumstances of need. Other able churches may also help needy Christians who are members of other churches (Romans 15:25-27). Individuals may provide such help to others. The Bible mentions Tabitha (Acts 9:36) and Cornelius (Acts 10:2) as being exemplary in providing benevolent aid to others. Traditionally, there have also been eleemosynary organizations in which people collect and pool resources to provide physical assistance to needy people. Governments are typically poor handlers of money, and for the simple reason that they are spending other people’s money. The term “waste, fraud and abuse” has now become synonymous with government programs. Let us always consider basic biblical principles when electing civil leaders.
—Tim Haile