TMWOG -Chapter Two Government

When the average person thinks of government, he first thinks of civil government. I was typical, I guess.

Since being introduced to the Principle Approach, the word “government” these days causes me to wonder how I'm being governed; internally, by the Word of God or externally, by laws or expectations of man.

When I teach my daughter about government this week, I'm not going to first teach her about civil government. That will come in another week or two.

Instead, I will help her understand that government is direction and control.

I will help her understand that there are two spheres of government – internal and external.

I will help her appreciate that she is either governed by that which is within her (internal) or that which is without her (external).

I will help her appreciate that God's Word teaches her how to govern her heart.

I will help her understand that when she chooses God's Way, when she allows the law of God to be written in her heart, that law will control her actions, whether it's her speech, her attitudes or her outward behavior. Hence internal is causative to the external.

I will help her internalize this principle; that if she governs herself well, she will not need others to control her.

Some of the following verses will be reasoned out and used for copy and memory-work.

Proverbs 23:7a

For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he

Proverbs 4:23
Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.

Matthew 12:35

A good man out of the good treasure of the heart bringeth forth good things: and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth evil things.

Psalm 119:11

Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.

Romans 2:15
They demonstrate that God's law is written within them, for their own consciences either accuse them or tell them they are doing what is right.

2 Corinthians 3:3
Clearly, you are a letter from Christ prepared by us. It is written not with pen and ink, but with the Spirit of the living God. It is carved not on stone, but on human hearts.

Hebrews 8:10
For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith the Lord; I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people:

Hebrews 10:16

This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, saith the Lord, I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them;

Other learning activities:

1. Reading aloud the poem “My Kingdom” by Louisa May Alcott. I will encourage her to memorize it.

2. Sing a little song I wrote for her as well as the hymn “Trust and Obey”.

3. Complete the activity sheets TMWOG provided.

4. Read pages 3-6 of TMWOG textbook.

5. Copying the following leading ideas for her History Notebook.

   (i) Government is direction and control

   (ii) Internal is causative to the external.
   (iii) If I govern myself well, I will not need others to control me.