Good Government
With a State election immanent, part of me wants to make some comment. It’s not my place to promote a particular candidate and part of me can’t think of anything more boring than discussing politics. But, within those parameters, I’ll have a go. Like most of us, what I really long for is good government. I want to be represented by a person of integrity who is committed to the common good and the well-being of this community. The bible has several things to say about this.
Firstly, it says that “all authority comes from God, and those in positions of authority have been placed there by God” (Romans 13:1). This is achieved, in Australia, through free and democratic elections. Because God’s in control, I have no problem with whoever is elected, whatever their party, provided they do their job.
And what is that? The task of those in authority is “to punish those who do wrong and to honour those who do right” (1 Peter 2:14). God sees the fundamental flaw in our human natures. Left to our own devices, we are driven by self-interest and look out for number one. Self-interest is what drives capitalism, capitalism is essential to a growing economy, and a growing economy is theoretically good for us all. But in practice, it doesn’t work out that way. The rich get richer and… you know the rest. To protect the common or collective good, self-interest has to be restrained and directed, and the things that promote the common good encouraged. These are what good government provide – restraint and encouragement. Bad government goes to the extremes by either allowing self-interest, or its own interest, to flourish, or trying to eliminate self-interest. Both are detrimental.
The result of getting it right is that, despite our incredible diversity, we all get to “live peaceful and quiet lives marked by godliness and dignity” (1 Timothy 2:2). Many would argue that God is completely out of touch with contemporary economics and political theory and the dynamics life in the modern world. Not so. He just doesn’t get distracted. He knows precisely what the problem is and how to fix it.
Neil Percival
Firstly, it says that “all authority comes from God, and those in positions of authority have been placed there by God” (Romans 13:1). This is achieved, in Australia, through free and democratic elections. Because God’s in control, I have no problem with whoever is elected, whatever their party, provided they do their job.
And what is that? The task of those in authority is “to punish those who do wrong and to honour those who do right” (1 Peter 2:14). God sees the fundamental flaw in our human natures. Left to our own devices, we are driven by self-interest and look out for number one. Self-interest is what drives capitalism, capitalism is essential to a growing economy, and a growing economy is theoretically good for us all. But in practice, it doesn’t work out that way. The rich get richer and… you know the rest. To protect the common or collective good, self-interest has to be restrained and directed, and the things that promote the common good encouraged. These are what good government provide – restraint and encouragement. Bad government goes to the extremes by either allowing self-interest, or its own interest, to flourish, or trying to eliminate self-interest. Both are detrimental.
The result of getting it right is that, despite our incredible diversity, we all get to “live peaceful and quiet lives marked by godliness and dignity” (1 Timothy 2:2). Many would argue that God is completely out of touch with contemporary economics and political theory and the dynamics life in the modern world. Not so. He just doesn’t get distracted. He knows precisely what the problem is and how to fix it.
Neil Percival