Southern Baptist thinker Jonathan Leeman wrote a fascinating essay last month on God's purposes for the state. He points out that Scripture commends no specific polity, admits that democracy has benefitted Americans, but warns against idealizing any form of government.
As Leeman notes, government's proximate purpose is to employ the "sword to approve what is good and to punish that which is bad," per Romans 13:1-7 (where Saint Paul announces that God arms rulers to chastise the wicked), and to render judgment, per Genesis 9:5-6 (where God tells Noah that murderers shall be executed.)
Read Full Article »