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Government isn't the solution to our problem.

Government is the problem."

—Ronald Reagan

How well stated by Ronald Reagan!  Why is it that we’d like to think there is “someone” out there who can save us from all our problems.  Even as Christians, often, we like to think in such terms.  But is this the Christian idea of man and government?

In God’s Design for Government—A Unique Purpose, we learned the thoughts of Thomas Paine in Common Sense, that “government even in its best state is but a necessary evil…”  I enjoyed C.S. Lewis’ comments in Mere Christianity that "The State exists simply to promote and to protect the ordinary happiness of human beings in this life.  A husband and wife chatting over a fire, a couple of friends having a game of darts in a pub, a man reading a book in his own room or digging in his own garden-that is what the State is there for.”   1 Peter 2:13-14 clearly reveals God’s purpose for government.  "Submit yourselves for the Lord's sake to every human institution, whether to a king as the one in authority, or to governors as sent by Him for the punishment of evildoers and the praise of those who do right."

Let’s now consider the state that claims to exist to promote the welfare of its citizens.  Is this within God’s design for government?

Quoting again the wisdom of C.S. Lewis; “Of all the tyrannies, a tyranny sincerely expressed for the good of its victims may be the most oppressive.  It may be better to live under robber barons than under omnipotent ideological busybodies.” 

What are the Biblical principles for welfare and is this in conflict with our social programs?

The Bible doesn’t specifically enumerate welfare—the provision for others—as a governmental purpose.  As stated, the enumerated functions of government according to 1 Peter 2:13-14 are (1) the punishment of evildoers” and (2) “the praise of those who do right.” 

Jesus revealed that we would always have the poor with us; which defies any utopia that all poverty can be averted.  It is only the individual or family that can rise above poverty.  In helping the individual to rise above poverty, Jesus clearly taught that we are to give to the poor.  However, this wasn’t enumerated as a governmental purpose.  If not governmental, it falls to none other than the individual giver and the church.

Consider this verse—1 Corinthians 3:7-8—“So then neither he who plants is anything, nor he who waters, but God who gives the increase.  Now he who plants and he who waters are one, and each one will receive his own reward according to his own labor.”

Tracing history, this wisdom is clear.  The individual and the church have traditionally sought to raise the impovished out of their poverty and into self-reliance (according to their own labor).  This is contrary to our state-sponsored welfare, which has proven to keep generations of families deep in poverty and dependent on the state. 

          No—government isn’t the solution.  It is the problem.  There is someone, however, who can save us from all our problems and raise us out of our hardships; whether economic, emotional, or physical (one who gives the increase of our labor).  He is omnipotent (all powerful), omniscient (all knowing), and omnipresent (all present).  He lovingly pulls us out of our poverty into abundant life as we follow His Biblical principles.  He is our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ!

Now suppose one of you fathers is asked by his son for a fish; he will not give him a snake instead of a fish, will he?  Or if he is asked for an egg, he will not give him a scorpion, will he?    Luke 11:11-12

Christ tells us, “And I say to you, ask and it shall be given to you; seek, and you shall find; knock, and it shall be opened to you.  For everyone who asks, receives; and he who seeks, finds; and to him who knocks, it shall be opened.  Luke 11:9