"The Lenses of Reformation Concerning Local Elections"
by Dr. Patti Amsden
The story of the first couple eating from the forbidden tree is familiar to all believers. The judgment that God place upon Adam and Eve had immediate ramifications for their lives, continuing influence upon their children, and on-going consequences unto all people who would ever be born. They gave an account to God for their actions; they were liable for the creation; and they were culpable for the condition of the whole human race. Although they may have wanted to avoid the burden of responsible stewardship, they were unable. They actually verified that God had structured His will into His Creation; and although they could twist the plan, they could not annul the plan. They were created to be stewards, and they were still called to that task. The earth was dependent upon their management, and they were sent out of the Garden to manage.
Reformation lens #1 – Each individual and those appointed to represent others are under God’s mandate to act as accountable stewards and are responsible for the effects of that stewardship upon their own lives as well as the lives of those they govern.
Because the Genesis mandate requires the stewardship of the earth and because the scope of that mandate is greater than could be accomplished by one individual or even by some elite group, God’s commission encompasses all people and yet divides the jobs for the purpose of distributing the responsibilities. With duties comes authority, yet distribution requires limitations. Who rules, what they rule, and how they rule is addressed in the topic of jurisdictions. Every individual is responsible over the jurisdiction of their personal life; parents are allocated stewardship over families; elders are called to govern the house of God; business owners have power to manage their own companies; civil officials enact governance over cities or states or a nation.
Reformation lens #2 – Jurisdictional governance is tied to both authority and to responsibility because not everyone has authority everywhere but everyone has authority somewhere, which is the area within their set jurisdiction.
Excluding rare exceptions, God’s plan is for power to remain localized. Localism is defined as the practice of pushing decision-making, power, and provision to the lowest level and to those who are authorized in each jurisdiction. The closer the governors are to the governed, the less levels of bureaucracy will be needed thus maximizing efficiencies and minimizing waste plus minimizing abuse by maximizing more direct accountability.
Reformation lens #3 – Personal transformation is inside-out through self-governance while territorial and cultural transformation is bottom-up through jurisdictional governance, which must begin and be maintained at the local level.
As Reformers, we must understand that scripture does not advocate for a theocracy, which is a form of government in which a country is ruled by religious leaders; but it does advocate for the culture of Christ’s kingdom to be worked into every sphere in every nation in accordance with the Genesis Mandate. Transformation occurs most effectively and is maintained by efficiently on the local lever. Therefore, believers are called to participate with other citizens within their local jurisdiction to ensure that the kingdom is worked into the culture arising within their cities. Part of the role of the believer is to speak about and live out the scriptures. The other part of the Christian role is to become a jurisdictional representative or vote for a representative that will govern in keeping with scriptures. If believers abdicate their responsibility to build culture based upon their beliefs, the culture will reflect the viewpoints of those who remain engaged as culture builders.
Reformation lens #1 – Each individual and those appointed to represent others are under God’s mandate to act as accountable stewards and are responsible for the effects of that stewardship upon their own lives as well as the lives of those they govern.
Because the Genesis mandate requires the stewardship of the earth and because the scope of that mandate is greater than could be accomplished by one individual or even by some elite group, God’s commission encompasses all people and yet divides the jobs for the purpose of distributing the responsibilities. With duties comes authority, yet distribution requires limitations. Who rules, what they rule, and how they rule is addressed in the topic of jurisdictions. Every individual is responsible over the jurisdiction of their personal life; parents are allocated stewardship over families; elders are called to govern the house of God; business owners have power to manage their own companies; civil officials enact governance over cities or states or a nation.
Reformation lens #2 – Jurisdictional governance is tied to both authority and to responsibility because not everyone has authority everywhere but everyone has authority somewhere, which is the area within their set jurisdiction.
Excluding rare exceptions, God’s plan is for power to remain localized. Localism is defined as the practice of pushing decision-making, power, and provision to the lowest level and to those who are authorized in each jurisdiction. The closer the governors are to the governed, the less levels of bureaucracy will be needed thus maximizing efficiencies and minimizing waste plus minimizing abuse by maximizing more direct accountability.
Reformation lens #3 – Personal transformation is inside-out through self-governance while territorial and cultural transformation is bottom-up through jurisdictional governance, which must begin and be maintained at the local level.
As Reformers, we must understand that scripture does not advocate for a theocracy, which is a form of government in which a country is ruled by religious leaders; but it does advocate for the culture of Christ’s kingdom to be worked into every sphere in every nation in accordance with the Genesis Mandate. Transformation occurs most effectively and is maintained by efficiently on the local lever. Therefore, believers are called to participate with other citizens within their local jurisdiction to ensure that the kingdom is worked into the culture arising within their cities. Part of the role of the believer is to speak about and live out the scriptures. The other part of the Christian role is to become a jurisdictional representative or vote for a representative that will govern in keeping with scriptures. If believers abdicate their responsibility to build culture based upon their beliefs, the culture will reflect the viewpoints of those who remain engaged as culture builders.
