A Balanced Biblical Response to Lockdowns and Masks

And to God the Things That Are God’s
By way of contrast, anything having the image of God (e.g. children) do not belong to the state. Children
are not made in the image of Caesar, but in the image of God. We are to render to Caesar the things
that belong to Caesar. Not everything that Caesar demands. Caesar receives the coin. Everything else
belongs to God.
The Sanctity of Life
The sanctity of life is the foundation for the establishment of all government. For this reason, God
commanded that: “Whoever sheds man’s blood, by man his blood shall be shed; for in the image
of God, He made man.” Genesis 9:6
Respect for Life
The priority of any government is to protect the right to life of preborn babies and every other law-abiding
member of society. Because those made in the image of God have inherent value, God has declared that
anyone who takes the life of an innocent human being is to be executed. Murderers forfeit their lives by
showing contempt for the lives of others (Exodus 21:12-16; Leviticus 24:17-22; Numbers 35:33; Romans
13:4; 1 Peter 2:14).
The Creation Mandate
The Creation Mandate clearly includes the right to life, to liberty and to private ownership of property. “Be
fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it; have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the
birds of the air and over every living thing that moves on the earth.” Genesis 1:28
Decentralisation to Restrain the Depravity of Man
Because of the depravity of man, God requires a decentralised state with most responsibilities and
powers resting on local government, the family and the individual (Exodus 24:1; Deuteronomy 1:13-17;
Acts 17:26).
Centralisation of Power is a Pagan Tendency
Centralisation of power in a unitary state has always been a pagan tendency, as seen in Nineveh, Egypt
and Babel (Genesis 10:11; 11:1).
Checks and Balances
Power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely. It is necessary to limit and divide the powers
of government in a system of checks and balances. Biblically, governments need to be separated into
Executive, Legislative and Judicial branches of
government (Isaiah 9:6-7; Isaiah 33:22).
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The Four Spheres of Government
God has instituted four spheres of government:
1. Self-government – symbolised by our conscience
(Proverbs 16:32; 1 Timothy 3:4-5; 2 Peter 1:6);
2. Family government – symbolised by the rod of
discipline (Deuteronomy 6:1-7; Ephesians 6:1-4;
1 Timothy 3:4-5);