As another Lame Cherry exclusive in matter anti matter.
In Martin Luther's time of the 1500's government was different in duties, as much a the government of Sodom was bad, as much as the government of America in 1776 was good. Governments evolve from the despots who seize power to the dregs who want to be abused for a handout.
Governments require responsible people as representatives and governments require responsible people, because without them all you have is an organized police state protecting corruption.
A Government has two purposes, and that is to protect against foreigners and protect against criminals. A Government is by design in it's purpose meant to promote a stability so that the working population can hand over their accumulated possessions to their responsible children.
The People have an expectation from their Government to protect them and not terrorize them whether Authoritarian or Republican. There is though the Physical Government and the Spiritual Government. The physical is to represent God and Christ represents God Himself.
Each though only functions with a responsible moral people, not a mob.
Matthew 22:21
They say unto him, Caesar's. Then saith he unto them, Render therefore unto Caesar the things which are Caesar's; and unto God the things that are God's.
Christ is the mould of the effective leader. Solomon was effective, but his success in Psalm 72 met with failure of his vanity. The purpose of Government is to protect those who have no protector, the poor, the orphan, the needy and to punish the oppressor.
Psalm 72:4
He shall judge the poor of the people, he shall save the children of the needy, and shall break in pieces the oppressor.
Civilization has leaders established by God by the consent of the People, either earned by warrior status in Luther's time or having earned trust in the time of representative governments. When that trust is violated, the government becomes a regime and instead of God, the regime becomes the tool of satan and the wicked.
Of Civil Government
Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. Consequently, he who rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves. For rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but for those who do wrong. Do you want to be free from fear of the one in authority? Then do what is right and he will commend you. For he is God’s servant to do you good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword for nothing. He is God’s servant, an agent of wrath to bring punishment on the wrong-doer. Rom. 13:1–4
Governments unlike the pulpit, are venues of men and women as leaders. Deborah became Judge of Israel, due to the fact that the men were not fulfilling their duties of leadership.
Leadership is a responsibility which has proven that few people are like George Washington in exhibiting self restraint. Most are of the Franklin Roosevelt type who will not leave office, like Bill Clinton who is corrupted by power, and a Barack Obama who thought he was above the law.
Judges 4
4 And Deborah, a prophetess, the wife of Lapidoth, she judged Israel at that time.
5 And she dwelt under the palm tree of Deborah between Ramah and Bethel in mount Ephraim: and the children of Israel came up to her for judgment.
Good government when it is has responsible leaders and citizens goes unnoticed as it is not intruding in people's lives and the people are not in constant riot. When it is bad, it is a police state of fear and a mob of resistance to that authority.
Government is based not upon man made laws, but based upon Biblical laws. Biblical Laws are incorruptible and definite in protecting the person from themselves and others. Man made laws are corruptible in criminalizing the people and protecting despots.
It requires honest citizens for Government and it requires a Government responsible for the People and not repressing the People.
agtG
