"The Lenses of Reformation Concerning Illinois Governors and Corruption"
by Dr. Patti Amsden
At its most basic core, government is the distribution structure for the vision. Consider the four spheres of government of home, church, business, and civil. In a home, a father is the chief executive to ensure the family is nurtured and assets are secured. Elders guard the flock of God to maintain an environment where the Kingdom of God can be displayed. In the business realm, the chief executive certifies that the product or service, which had been previously determined by the organization, is produced and distributed. The executive branch of the civil realm is empowered to guarantee that the vision of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness is delivered to the citizenry through the laws that are passed.
Reformation lens #1 – The concept of government is best described as the mechanism by which the assignment is carried out.
The Trinity reveals or models God’s plan of government. All persons within any governmental system are equal in being. In the Godhead, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are equal. In human systems, all people are created in the image of God (albeit not all reflect the redeemed image of a Son of God) and all have been endowed with gifts and talents. Yet, in the Trinity, there is subordination in terms of function. The Father holds the Executive roll and, therefore, sets the will, the purpose, and the destiny. Jesus fulfilled the will of the Father, and the Holy Spirit was sent to oversee and administrate the purposes of the Father and the Son (Jn. 14:16-26). In the economy of the Trinity, there is subordination; while in the being of the Trinity, there is equality. Human governments should follow the pattern set in the Godhead, which is unity of persons while subordination of functions. The executive role defines the person who is responsible for the implementation of the vision. Without a vision or a purpose, there is no need for authority.
Reformation lens #2 – The executive position oversees the vision and maintains the government of the system, which ensures that the purpose is accomplished.
In order for government to be just, there must be an external standard of right and wrong that applies to every party without bias or prejudice. The executive officer or the governor is subject to the same laws as is the populace. That external standard, which Moses and Israel used, was the law of God. God communicated His eternal standard of holiness that man would be obliged to acknowledge, required to implement, and obligated to enforce. Any man who failed to live up to the law would be judged by the law that he had ignored.
Reformation lens #3 – The law was given to Israel as her standard of conduct and her criterion of judgment, and the law applied to those who governed as well as those who were governed.
Rulers are corrupt when they break the law of God in personal, financial, and covenant dealings and then seek to use their power to avoid discovery or prosecution. Any executive officer who will not be self-ruled by God’s Word is not qualified to rule the people. God told Moses to look for rulers who were men who feared God, who were trustworthy, and who hated a bribe (Ex. 18:21). Proverbs 16:12 says, “It is an abomination to kings (or a civil leader) to do evil, for the throne is established by righteousness.”
Reformation lens #4 – By justice a king gives a country stability, but those who are greedy for bribes tear it down. (Prov. 29:4, NIV)
As reformers, we must recognize that every legislative assembly is comprised of members who operate by authority. That authority might be granted by a superior who delegates the right to make decisions and to whom the delegates must give an account. In a structure like the executive office found in civil government, the governor governs by the consent of those who elected him. Governors derive their authority to rule from the collective vote of the people and answer back to the people in the next election cycle or in the donations and contributions from the people. Authority comes from somewhere. As citizens of Illinois, we must repent for electing officials who failed to meet the qualifications of a godly leader and who did not enact righteous policies while occupying the chief executive seat. As Proverbs 29:2 declares, “When the righteous increase, the people rejoice, but when the wicked rule, the people groan.”
Reformation lens #1 – The concept of government is best described as the mechanism by which the assignment is carried out.
The Trinity reveals or models God’s plan of government. All persons within any governmental system are equal in being. In the Godhead, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are equal. In human systems, all people are created in the image of God (albeit not all reflect the redeemed image of a Son of God) and all have been endowed with gifts and talents. Yet, in the Trinity, there is subordination in terms of function. The Father holds the Executive roll and, therefore, sets the will, the purpose, and the destiny. Jesus fulfilled the will of the Father, and the Holy Spirit was sent to oversee and administrate the purposes of the Father and the Son (Jn. 14:16-26). In the economy of the Trinity, there is subordination; while in the being of the Trinity, there is equality. Human governments should follow the pattern set in the Godhead, which is unity of persons while subordination of functions. The executive role defines the person who is responsible for the implementation of the vision. Without a vision or a purpose, there is no need for authority.
Reformation lens #2 – The executive position oversees the vision and maintains the government of the system, which ensures that the purpose is accomplished.
In order for government to be just, there must be an external standard of right and wrong that applies to every party without bias or prejudice. The executive officer or the governor is subject to the same laws as is the populace. That external standard, which Moses and Israel used, was the law of God. God communicated His eternal standard of holiness that man would be obliged to acknowledge, required to implement, and obligated to enforce. Any man who failed to live up to the law would be judged by the law that he had ignored.
Reformation lens #3 – The law was given to Israel as her standard of conduct and her criterion of judgment, and the law applied to those who governed as well as those who were governed.
Rulers are corrupt when they break the law of God in personal, financial, and covenant dealings and then seek to use their power to avoid discovery or prosecution. Any executive officer who will not be self-ruled by God’s Word is not qualified to rule the people. God told Moses to look for rulers who were men who feared God, who were trustworthy, and who hated a bribe (Ex. 18:21). Proverbs 16:12 says, “It is an abomination to kings (or a civil leader) to do evil, for the throne is established by righteousness.”
Reformation lens #4 – By justice a king gives a country stability, but those who are greedy for bribes tear it down. (Prov. 29:4, NIV)
As reformers, we must recognize that every legislative assembly is comprised of members who operate by authority. That authority might be granted by a superior who delegates the right to make decisions and to whom the delegates must give an account. In a structure like the executive office found in civil government, the governor governs by the consent of those who elected him. Governors derive their authority to rule from the collective vote of the people and answer back to the people in the next election cycle or in the donations and contributions from the people. Authority comes from somewhere. As citizens of Illinois, we must repent for electing officials who failed to meet the qualifications of a godly leader and who did not enact righteous policies while occupying the chief executive seat. As Proverbs 29:2 declares, “When the righteous increase, the people rejoice, but when the wicked rule, the people groan.”
