Dictators and other Trivia

The US founders kind of liked the idea that God liked the idea of a republic. A bit earlier, people were all into the ‘Divine right of kings’. Daniel served under an emperor. Before that, Israel had a series of Judges. Before that was the time of the patriarchs.

Does God have a style of government that He prefers?

Introduction

Addam and I have been having quite a bit of conversation. We disagree on a lot of things but, amongst our more minor agreements, we both seemed to agree on the idea that concentrated power in the hands of human authorities is not a good thing.

He was hoping that I would write more on that subject and, in particular, how that related to my belief in the Christian God. Or, better, the one and only God that Christianity has (to a greater or lesser extent over the years) proclaimed. Recently he wrote:

In particular, I'm interested in how you reconcile your belief that power should not be concentrated in any one place with the blatantly dictator-like behavior of the god you choose to worship. And I'm interested in whether you believe I am an evil person, despite my better qualities, simply because I love people who your god has said (without providing good reason) that I'm not supposed to love.

And he asked me to respond. How do I reconcile these two things? How do I reconcile my two beliefs?

A Bit of Clarification

But…what I actually said…

What I actually said was not exactly what he quotes above. The conversation was a long one, but this is perhaps the clearest statement of my views on this subject as I expressed them:

Yes. Although I think I might have something else to say about the words, total power, but yes they were trying to keep power from being concentrated into the hands of anyone in government. And for that matter in the hands of government itself.

And that principal can obviously apply no matter what system of government you have, as long as it has systems within it that keep power from being concentrated.

There are a couple of differences here, as well as a bunch of distracting fluff. So I am going to try to get the issue down to what I think his question is, namely the relationship between God and concentrated power.

God and Government

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.

Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation.

For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power? do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise of the same:

For he is the minister of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil.

Wherefore ye must needs be subject, not only for wrath, but also for conscience sake.

For for this cause pay ye tribute also: for they are God's ministers, attending continually upon this very thing.

Render therefore to all their dues: tribute to whom tribute is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honour to whom honour.

Romans 13:1-7

God is the LORD and King and ruler and high muckity-muck over all human authorities. He rules through those authorities. Anything they do in opposition to Him is evil, everything they do in service to Him is good.

Government and Evil

Why do the heathen rage, and the people imagine a vain thing?

The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the LORD, and against his anointed, saying,

Let us break their bands asunder, and cast away their cords from us.

He that sitteth in the heavens shall laugh: the Lord shall have them in derision.

Then shall he speak unto them in his wrath, and vex them in his sore displeasure.

Yet have I set my king upon my holy hill of Zion.

I will declare the decree: the LORD hath said unto me, Thou art my Son; this day have I begotten thee.

Ask of me, and I shall give thee the heathen for thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession.

Thou shalt break them with a rod of iron; thou shalt dash them in pieces like a potter's vessel.

Be wise now therefore, O ye kings: be instructed, ye judges of the earth.

Serve the LORD with fear, and rejoice with trembling.

Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and ye perish from the way, when his wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed are all they that put their trust in him.

Psalm 2

Governments do evil things. No matter what type, no matter what level. Even the best men (see David) have done bad things in their life, and in government.

Diversified and Balanced Power

The founders understood these problems. Which is why they created a system of diversified and balanced power. In the system as they envisioned it and attempted to codify it, there are LOTS of different levels and jurisdictions of power:

• The people: most of the power was meant to be here

• The family: much of the people power was meant to be in families

• The local governments. Less power here, but more than the other levels

• Local executive, legislative, and judicial branches; with differing terms, jurisdictions, and constituencies. The local government itself was broken into competing powers.

• The state government: Less power here, but far, far more than the national government.

• State executive, legislative, and judicial branches; with differing terms, jurisdictions, and constituencies. The state government itself was broken into competing powers.

• The federal government. Almost no power here.

• Federal executive, legislative, and judicial branches; with differing terms, jurisdictions, and constituencies. The federal government itself was broken into competing powers.

Now, at a minimum that makes eleven different powers, with eleven different roles, and eleven different jurisdictions. Often competing.

And that leaves out totally voluntary organisations such as churches and bowling leagues which would still influence the people in the country

The Point of government

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, and rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers of tens:

And let them judge the people at all seasons: and it shall be, that every great matter they shall bring unto thee, but every small matter they shall judge: so shall it be easier for thyself, and they shall bear the burden with thee.

If thou shalt do this thing, and God command thee so, then thou shalt be able to endure, and all this people shall also go to their place in peace.

Exodus 18:21-23

Which brings us back to the relationship between God and the government. God is perfect. He is ‘omni-benevolent’, in all senses of that word. He chooses to rule through human governments. The principal government that He uses is the family, His principle ruler, the patriarch.

Above that He has rulers in His church, and in the government.

What is a Dictator?

And the Lord said, Who then is that faithful and wise steward, whom his lord shall make ruler over his household, to give them their portion of meat in due season?

Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing.

Of a truth I say unto you, that he will make him ruler over all that he hath.

But and if that servant say in his heart, My lord delayeth his coming; and shall begin to beat the menservants and maidens, and to eat and drink, and to be drunken;

The lord of that servant will come in a day when he looketh not for him, and at an hour when he is not aware, and will cut him in sunder, and will appoint him his portion with the unbelievers.

And that servant, which knew his lord's will, and prepared not himself, neither did according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes.

But he that knew not, and did commit things worthy of stripes, shall be beaten with few stripes. For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required: and to whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the more.

Luke 12:42-48

So now we come to the definition of dictator. No, not the dictionary definition, the definition in the light of what we are discussing. Is God a dictator? Can He be a dictator?

If the underlying question is one of balance of power then, no, God cannot be a dictator. Or, if you prefer, God is always a dictator. They both work.

There is no other possibility. If there is an omni-potent, omni-benevolent etc. etc. God than He is the one at the pinnacle of all power and authority and truth and… etc etc. There is no possibility for Him to divide any of those things.

The only possibility for God is to… delegate those things. The God who has all authority, and cannot not have all authority, ‘gives’ authority to earthly rulers. But not ‘gives’ as in ‘gives away’, because that power cannot be alienated from Him. Gives as in ‘delegates’.

And ‘gives’ as in ‘gives and cares how you use it’. Governments, of whatever level, cannot do whatever they want.

Conclusion

So why don’t I care that God is a dictator, even though I’m mildly opposed to them in the human realm? Because the whole problem with a human dictator is that his ability to do evil is that much greater than someone in a balanced system. An order which kills a million babies is more evil than one which kills thousands, or one. Our current system has so much potential for evil simply because one man, or nine men in black robes, can make evil decisions that affect so many people.

But God is in control no matter what system He chooses to put in place. He was over Nebucadnezzer just as much as he was over Moses or over Jephthah.

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Von