We find the first hint of mankind being given responsibility and governance over the earth in Genesis 1:26 "Let them have dominion over all the earth." Clearly God is giving mankind the responsibility to oversee the affairs of the earth.

After God established that mankind will be over the affairs of the earth, he then gave us biblical qualifications and requirements for those in leadership and a formula for setting up government. Exodus 18 is the key to discovering where our founding fathers found the formula to set up our constitutional form of government and why they created the system we have today. Specifically, Exodus 18:20 tells us we need government and laws to live by" "And thou shalt teach them ordinances and laws, and shalt teach them the way wherein they must walk and the work that they must do."

Contrary to current-day misconceptions concerning "separation of church and state" (please read the important footnote at the bottom of this page) the bible teaches the opposite. Exodus 18:21 gives exact requirements for judges and leaders: "Moreover thou shalt provide out of all the people able men, such as fear God, men of truth, hating covetousness; and place such over them, to be rulers of thousands, rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers of tens."

Notice the three principles or lessons listed in this verse:

1. the idea of elections by the people,

2. the four qualifications for judges and elected leaders, and

3. the system and structure of how to divide the people into groups and form the governing bodies to be:

• Rulers over thousands (Federal government)
• Rulers over hundreds (State government)
• Rulers of fifties ( County government)
• Rulers of tens (City government).

The founding fathers used biblical principals to form the three branches of our government. All three of these branches are listed in Isaiah 33:22.

"For the Lord is our Judge (Judicial), the Lord is our Lawgiver (Legislative), and our king (Executive).

In the New Testament, Jesus did not believe in, teach or practice the separation of church and state. In Luke 19:17-19, Jesus advocates placing citizens in civil leaderships. In a parable, he tells of a nobleman who commanded 10 of his workers to continue to do business while he was away. He gives each of them money to work with and upon his return asks each of them how much they gained in trading. To the one who had earned the most, the nobleman said, "Well done, good servant; because you were faithful in very little, have authority over 10 cities." The nobleman went on to give authority to those who understood the importance of doing the utmost with what they were given by the highest "authority" (who stands for God, in this parable), and little or nothing to those who did not understand their responsibilities or take them seriously.

In Luke 5:27, Jesus calls a tax collector to be a disciple.

Romans 13:1-7 states how highly God feels about civil leadership: "Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God."

Timothy tells us to pray "first of all" for our elected leaders in Timothy 2:1-2: "I exhort therefore, that first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions and giving of thanks, be made for all men; for kings, and for all that are in authority: that we might lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty."

Both Old and New Testaments tell us much about government and how to determine the qualifications for our leaders. It is clear that government and the Christian's role in government is highly important to God. We, as Americans, need to study, learn and apply God's principals as we apply ourselves in roles of leadership for the betterment of our society.

*Footnote Concerning "Separation of Church and State" - Although many American believe that the "separation of church and state" concept is part of the Constitution of the United States, it is not. The phrase "wall of separation between the garden of the church and the wilderness of the world" was first used in 1644 by Baptist theologian Roger Williams, who was the founder of the colony of Rhode Island. The phrase was later used by Thomas Jefferson in a letter her wrote to the Danbury Baptists in which he was assuring them that the dominant position of the Congregational church in Connecticut would not affect the Baptists' religious rights, because they were protected by federal law, which states within the First Amendment that there shall be no law respecting an "establishment" of religion. In other words, Jefferson was assuring the Baptists that the government would not enforce one "denomination" of Christianity over another. The law does not state that Christian principals should be banned from government or society!

Please feel free to contact us at:
Biblical Concepts Ministries
Raymond Johnson
P.O. Box 19333
Jacksonville, FL 32246
(904) 328-8833

NOTE: The information provided above is the property of Biblical Concept Ministries and does not necessarily reflect all the views or philosophies of www.KeepGodinAmerica.com.