A Balanced Biblical Response to Lockdowns and Masks

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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). 2 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);
3. Church government – symbolised by the keys of church discipline (Acts 6:1-6; 1 Timothy 3:1-13; Titus 1:5-9); 4. Civil government – symbolised by the Sword of Justice (Genesis 9:5-7; Romans 13:1-4; 1 Peter 2:13-14). “… where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.” 2 Corinthians 3:17 Civil Servants Are to Serve In the teachings of our Lord, it is clear that civil authorities are to be public servants (Matthew 20:25- 28); “The kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them and those who exercise authority over them are called ‘benefactors.’ But not so among you; on the contrary, he who is greatest among you, let him be as the younger, and he who governs as he who serves.” Luke 22:25-26 Government Is to Serve its Citizens It is for this reason that officials in civil government are called: “ministers,” or servants/deacons of God (Romans 13:3-4; 1 Peter 2:13-14). The concept that civil government is a servant of its citizens is uniquely a Christian idea that originated from these verses, hence the term “Prime Minister” – as the First Servant. Lex Rex In the landmark book, Lex Rex (or The Law and the Prince), written by Samuel Rutherford (published in 1644), the Reformation principle is expounded that to be valid, all law needs to be rooted and grounded in God’s Law. For centuries, the prevailing philosophy had been Rex Lex, the Latin phrase meaning that the King is the law. The Reformers reversed this Latin Phrase to Lex Rex. The Law is King! The King is under the law. All civil authority is delegated by God and is limited and answerable to God. Obedience to tyrants and unjust laws is rebellion against God. In Defence of Liberty Against Tyrants Similarly, the Huguenot book: Vindiciae Contra Tyrannos (In Defence of Liberty Against Tyrants), makes the point that as citizens owe allegiance to their king, the king owes allegiance to the King of kings. If the king is in rebellion to the King of kings, we may not join in that king’s rebellion. We have a higher allegiance. Scottish Reformer, John Knox, declared “Resistance to tyrants is obedience to God!” 3
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A Balanced Biblical Response to Lockdowns and Masks

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