When God Gives Authority

We've explored the reason why God gives authority, but to whom does He give it. We know that all lawful authority comes from God for the purpose of bringing Him glory. God ordained three institutions and gave each one a sphere of authority - jurisdiction if you will. Each institution has certain roles and responsibility in bringing glory to God, and therefore has authority over different areas.

The three institutions that God ordained are:

1. Family - which is to be a ministry of education.
2. Church - which is to be a ministry of grace.
3. Government - which is to be a ministry of justice.

Each institution has separate jurisdictions, separate spheres of authority. For example: it is the role of the family to educate the children. It is not the role of government nor of the church. It is interesting to note that whenever any institution abdicates its proper role of authority, by necessity one of the other institutions will step in to fill the void.

This is why we see the state or the government educating our children. The family has failed in its obligation and duty before the Lord to educate children in the ways of righteousness. We've passed the burden intended for the family onto the state, and now complain how the state is educating our children. The state has no business educating children. That is not within their sphere of authority. Sadly, however they have picked up the baton and are carrying on to fulfill the need to educate.

The church has failed in the most basic of pure religion: caring for the widows and the orphans. The church has abdicated its role, and violated God's command. So the state has stepped in with its welfare programs to provide for the needs of the least of these.

When the state is caring for the orphans, and the widows, who has gained the right to speak into those lives? The state or the church? When the state is in control of education, who has the right to determine what is truth, and what are children should be learning?