THEOLOGY – CREATION – ANTHROPOLOGY
SOCIOLOGY – SOCIAL INSTITUTIONS
Table of Contents
Overview
Sociology is specifically the study of society; and in relation to mankind, the study of human society. It is the social body of all people either collectively or within separate groups.
Perspective
Most sociology students are taught the traditional viewpoint of sociology from an evolutionary perspective, namely, that there is nothing beyond random events both physically and psychologically that have dictated mankind’s struggles for ideology that has lead humanity, since its origin, through all forms of government or social structures that we have experienced.
It is this ideological viewpoint that most sociology students have adopt as their own personal perspective, which is contrary to the theological perspective that focus on design and purpose originally setup from a primary divine hierarchy that has been put in place ultimately for the glorification of God, but also results in the benefit of all mankind.
From a Theological perspective, because man is a created being of God, not only the study of man on an individual bases is important, but it I equally important to understand how mankind works together, creating and functioning as a society. It is within the study of sociology from a theological perspective we are able to learn and understand the purpose and function mankind was created and designed to perform as they interact with one another.
Society & Sociology
God created all people to live and interact as social beings. This is the reason why solitary confinement is one of the worst punishments an individual can be sentenced to, and is recorded on many accounts has driven people to insanity because people are designed to be socially interactive.
It is not good that man should be alone – Gen 2.18
Humans where created to form societies and work together to survive in the world, it is through each other that we are able to maintain a reasonable workload and survive in the world. The original intent for God to have social structures was to create a large population of humans for Him to share His glory and joy with, to live forever in a perfect relationship. (Gen 1.28; Rev 4.11)
Man was also created to be the caretakers of the Earth, to have dominion over it and everything living on it. Societies are created so people can care for and learn to love one another. God purposed a new course of action due to the sin of mankind for human societies, the purpose of God had become to spread people all over the planet fulfilling His original plan and in such a way that they may come to know Him throughout each generation (Acts 17.26-27).
Social Psychological Needs
Another blunder of the naturalistic evolutionary thinking is found when we consider the dependence of societies, both human and animal, to the contribution of each of the members of its society, and for other dependent societies. Random chance alone cannot account for harmonious design and functionality of each creature to their systematic processes (i.e. the earthworm help balance the nitrogen cycles to keep plants fertile for herbivores), it’s perfectly designed function to help other system flourish.
Þ See pleromato creation model
Taking from this example we can see that every creature that belongs to a society has at the very least an instinctual urge and psychological need of fulfillment and belonging that keeps them in harmony and balance as a part of their society. Humans also experience the urges within their specifically designed psyche for social belonging & acceptance as seen in:
Moslow’s Hierarchy
Even though many of the details displayed in Moslow’s Hierarchy remain disputed, it remains as a plausible display of the hierarchy of human needs we generally experience in our lives.
- Self- Actualization – Needs for lack of prejudice
- Esteem – Need for achievements & recognition, need for respect of others
- Love/ Belonging – Needs for friends / Family, need for intimacy
- Safety – Need for security
- Physiological – Nutrition , Air (The only non-psychological/emotional need)
Notice how besides our physical needs (nutrition, air) all human needs are primarily psychological and emotional.
Sociology
Origins of Nations
Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD
– Psalms 33.12
The oldest known history of any society outside of the Bible that can be physically dated; dates back to roughly millennia after Adam was created and the world was destroyed from the world flood. After the sons of Noah had grown and repopulated their surrounding area, the human population with their cultures had grown and continued to passed on their traditions to their offspring as they further spread throughout the world.
Þ See Noah’s Flood Origin of Nations
According to many modern archaeological authorities, the oldest dated human civilizations are roughly 10,000 B.C. per dating methods. Taking in account for errors and specific inaccuracies in dating methods, we find that many key points in the data do match up to biblical records that date the beginning of civilizations before the time of the flood to roughly over 6,000 B.C.
Purpose for Societies
Just as it is revealed in God’s law that the sum of His law is to love others as you love yourself; this is to be the primary function for all societies to accomplish as they were created to base their philosophy and focus on this very objective. Every city, industry, business, social plan, etc. should be focused on doing what is in the best interest of the people, and work in favor of the greater good for that entire society.
Leaders of any society should treat the people they are responsible for as member of their own family, and in all considerations, love their people as they love themselves.
For the whole law is fulfilled in one word: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” – Galatians 5.14
Nationalism – Governments
Nationalism is one of the divine institutions given by God to help mankind establish their habitation and relationships in the world.
Þ See Divine Institutions – Nationalism
Nationalism is the assertion of a group or body of people to setup their own policies and interests, i.e. forming into a nation, typically forming their own government and social structure. God designed man with the desire to construct social order and form nations for a purpose.
The architecture of these formations would work to ensure the personal rights of all people that may be included in their societies, to create a system of security for one another and balance workloads. People desire and fight for a fair and just system of checks and balances to ensure that equality is disseminated to everyone (Rom 13.1).
The separation of nations was also instituted to keep a balance between each nation to ensure that one superpower does not dominate and takeover all the other nations (Gen 11.6-9). Nations are not meant to exceed beyond their two primary functions:
- To punish evil doers (justice system)
- To provide protection for its citizens (military)
Origin of Governments
All governments and rulers are ultimately appointed by God for every nation, He sets them up and He removes them. It is to these rulers of every nation that God gives authority to, and they are accountable for everything they ruled over and for their authority. On the day of judgment they will be judged for whether they did good or evil according to what God had given to them.
(God) he changeth the times and the seasons; he removeth kings, and setteth up kings; he giveth wisdom unto the wise, and knowledge to them that have understanding; – Daniel 2.21
Corruption of Governments
Unfortunately, even though people retain many of their originally designed features to band together and form governments, their sinful human nature in many instances takes precedence, especially when it comes to gaining power. In most cases, this causes entire governments to become corrupt, shifting power from the people who make up the society to corrupt leaders resulting in a loss of national morality and justice.
Governments look sight of their primary functions, creating new mandates for themselves outside of God intentions for governments and seek to control the people they once swore to protect.
The Bible is clear that it is God who takes kings and rulers away from their position of power, and throws down governments that have become corrupt, and have turned away from His design for them.
The kings of the earth set themselves, And the rulers take counsel together, Against Jehovah, and against his anointed, saying, 3. Let us break their bonds asunder, And cast away their cords from us. 4. He that sitteth in the heavens will laugh: The Lord will have them in derision. 5. Then will he speak unto them in his wrath, And vex them in his sore displeasure – Psalms 2.2-5
Different Forms of Government
There are many different forms of government each with strengths and weaknesses.
Biblical Government Structure
PAST: God’s Government setup in the Past
The Government that we find in the Old Testament that God setup for the nation of Israel was always centered on a theocracy, with different forms of rulers. First God had setup Moses as a prophet over the people of Israel, and through him was created a judicial court of elders whom ruled over the people (Joshua – Judges).
Later when the people complained to God, at their request God allowed a monarchy to be set over the people (1 Samuel). The people of Israel did this because they wanted to be like all the other surrounding nations that had kings over them.
God had intended to setup His king over them in due time, but because of the impatient complaints of the people, He gave them their request with consequences, Saul, the only man able to take the throne was not a good person at heart, eventually he became corrupt and oppressed the people. Monarchy was God’s intended plan for Israel, and was needed at the proper time to keep the kingdom of Israel intact.
The monarchy intended was meant to be ruled by a good king, King David a man after God’s own heart. Unfortunately, after King David the throne was taken many times by evil men who opposed God and oppressed the people.
PRESENT: God’s Government setup for the Present
In the New Testament, God no longer works through one specific nation but rather through His church to guide the people of every nation. There is not one specifically ‘good’ form of government because men who run them always eventually become corrupt. The form of government that reflects the original intents of God would be the best suitable for mankind as it allows:
- Freedom
- Protection
- Equal Rights
- Justice
- Adherence to God created religious moral laws
- Equally distributed power to the people (voting)
Even though God emphasizes that all men should submit to government authorities and respect them as God given, He did not setup one distinct form of government during the church age (after Christ) in the expectation that mankind would understand His primary source of influence and method of conducting his mission on earth is through the church, His body.
And he has made of one blood all the nations of men living on all the face of the earth, ordering their times and the limits of their lands, So that they might make search for God, in order, if possible, to get knowledge of him and make discovery of him, though he is not far from every one of us: – Acts 17.26-27
Let everyone put himself under the authority of the higher powers, because there is no power which is not of God, and all powers are ordered by God. .2 For which reason everyone who puts himself against the authority puts himself against the order of God: and those who are against it will get punishment for themselves. .3 For rulers are not a cause of fear to the good work but to the evil. If you would have no fear of the authority, do good and you will have praise; – Romans 13.1-3
FUTURE: God’s Government setup for the Future
God’s final form of government will be a monarchy, a kingdom will Himself as king over all creation, a good king forever. This kingdom will rule over all the earth in peace and prosperity forever, with all of God’s original intents to rule over mankind forever in joy.
See, the Tent of God is with men, and he will make his living-place with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them, and be their God. – Revelation 21.3
Economics & Business
The purpose of a good economic system is to maintain the financial structure of a society. This will enable a population to produce, purchase and trade goods for the further advancement of their society, and provision for the people. Economic traded goods in ancient times & in the Old Testament where in many cases performed by trading domesticated animals, eventually over time the use of precious metals and money began to be more popular as a form of purchasing goods.
Economic blessing even come from the Lord as a reward for following His commands; Abraham and Job are two examples of rich men God blessed who were faithful to God’s purposes, and where blessed financially.
Now if you give ear to the voice of the Lord your God… A blessing will be on the fruit of your body, and on the fruit of your land, on the fruit of your cattle, the increase of your herd, and the young of your flock. – Deuteronomy 28.1-4
And the Lord made up to Job for all his losses, after he had made prayer for his friends: and all Job had before was increased by the Lord twice as much. – Job 42.10
Good moral business ethics are instructed to men to keep their society from corruption and oppression, and that is a delight in God’s eyes. Good business ethics is described in the Bible as a fair measure of one type of good or payment for another; giving to someone the correct payment or selling an item at a fair price.
Scales of deceit are hated by the Lord, but a true weight is his delight. – Proverbs 11.1
And in the business of trading goods for money, do no wrong to one another. – Lev 25.14
The Bible teaches that fruitful working leads to economic wealth and stimulation while laziness leads to becoming poor.
He who is slow in his work becomes poor, but the hand of the ready worker gets in wealth. – Proverbs 10.4
Private Ownership – Land
The Bible teaches that people should have the right to privately owned land. A piece of land that they own and can even give as an inheritance to their children. Private ownership is encouraged and commended in the Bible.
For you are about to go over Jordan to take the heritage which the Lord your God is giving you, and it will be your resting-place. – Deut 11.31
In this year of Jubilee, let every man go back to his heritage. – Lev 25.13
Wherever there is property in land, the owner is to have the right of getting it back. – Lev 25.24
Workers, Servants & Slaves
The Bible teaches that it is ok to have servants work for you, and that they should be paid fair wages according to their job duties, or for an agreed wage. The Bible teaches that it is good for you not to grumble against your master (boss) or complain against him, but to do your job and be thankful for the things you have. The Bible teaches that there should be systems put in place to make sure master do treat their servant well.
And keep in that same house; taking what food and drink they give you: for the worker has a right to his reward. Do not go from house to house. – Luke 10.7
6. Servants, do what is ordered by those who are your natural masters, having respect and fear for them, with all your heart, as to Christ; .6 Not only under your master’s eye, as pleasers of men; but as servants of Christ, doing the pleasure of God from the heart; .7 Doing your work readily, as to the Lord, and not to men: .
8 In the knowledge that for every good thing anyone does, he will have his reward from the Lord, If he is a servant or if he is free. .9 And, you masters, do the same things to them, not making use of violent words: in the knowledge that their Master and yours is in heaven, and he has no respect for a man’s position. – Ephesians 6.6-9
Slavery
Further Examination:
Stewards are also servants to a master who retains a larger commerce in some measure. Stewards are charged with being wise over what the master put them in charge of. This speaks to managers and supervisors to be in care of everything they are put in charge of, and work at their jobs as unto the Lord, in good regard, working to their full potential.
Faithful stewards are to be recognized and rewarded due to their competency and abilities. They are often rewarded with more responsibilities as they have proven themselves through their accomplishments.
For it is as when a man, about to take a journey, got his servants together, and gave them his property. – Matthew 25.14
Masters, give your servants what is right and equal, conscious that you have a Master in heaven. – Colossians 4.1
Employment, Managers and Fair Work Rights
The Bible tells us that God is always on the side of His people, and pleads the case for the worker. Every business is in God’s hand and will serve His purpose as it is so designed. Every business owner and manager is responsible for his employees and servants. Unfair wages or unjust work rights will be held again every business leader at some point by God, in the same way that good business practices are commended.
Behold, the wages of the laborers who mowed your fields, which you kept back by fraud, are crying out against you, and the cries of the harvesters have reached the ears of the Lord of hosts. – James 5.4
A full and fair weight you shall have, a full and fair measure you shall have, that your days may be long in the land that the LORD your God is giving you. – Deut 25.15
God shows us in these verses a successful economic climate, generically occurs, when any society practices fair and just marketing and production values, giving people fair wages and equal work rights. All throughout history economic factors point to a strong middle working class, that is treated fairly and paid well, in any society create a very well balanced and stable society.
Economic System – Free Enterprise & Capitalism
Capitalism is defined as an economic system in which the means of production and distribution are operated by a private owner(s). This type of system was practiced and commended in the Old Testament, and when correctly established as seen throughout ancient Israel’s history, it allows the foundational framework for mankind’s most suitable social economic structure.
The Bible teaches free-enterprise for business and personal ownership of goods and merchandise. It teaches private ownership of individual businesses to produce economic gain for the owners and distribution of goods for social economic stimulation.
If you see your brother’s ox or his sheep wandering, do not go by without helping, but take them back to your brother. – Deut 22.1 [In this verse we see personal ownership of good and produce]
Acts 5.1-4 [in these verses we see the right to sell personal property]
Ephesians 4.28 [Enforces a viewpoint of private ownership, and to use it to help others.]
Economic System – Credit & Banking Systems
The Bible condones and makes allowance for borrowing and lending of goods to make profits and stimulate the economic businesses growth. It makes a society profitable to be able to make good business ventures by stimulating an economic system; it results in more jobs, a larger merchandising system and balance the social system.
1. At the end of every seven years there is to be a general forgiveness of debt.
2 This is how it is to be done: every creditor is to give up his right to whatever he has let his neighbour have; he is not to make his neighbour, his countryman, give it back; because a general forgiveness has been ordered by the Lord.
3 A man of another nation may be forced to make payment of his debt, but if your brother has anything of yours, let it go;
4 But there will be no poor among you; for the Lord will certainly give you his blessing in the land which the Lord your God is giving you for your heritage; –Deut 15.1-4
Crediting Systems
Balancing the System – Debt Forgiveness
The Bible also has many checks and balances to prevent the rich from taking over too much or becoming too powerful, and to keep the poor from being oppressed, this was called the year of Jubilee.
God commanded the year of Jubilee to ensure that the poor would be sustained and return to a financial stable position. This was to prevent the land nation from experiencing an economic collapse, eliminate all poverty in the land, and ensure the number of poor was very limited.
At the end of every seven years there is to be a general forgiveness of debt. 2.This is how it is to be done: every creditor is to give up his right to whatever he has let his neighbor have; he is not to make his neighbor, his countryman, give it back; because a general forgiveness has been ordered by the Lord. – Deut 15.1-2 (ref also 3-11)
But there will be no poor among you; for the Lord will certainly give you his blessing in the land which the Lord your God is giving you for your heritage; – Deut 15.4
Businesses are to be fair and equally weight all produce and merchandise with fair pricing. God command his people to make good business practices and make all sales at fair and reasonable prices. Lev 19.35-36
And let this fiftieth year be kept holy, and say publicly that everyone in the land is free from debt: it is the Jubilee, and every man may go back to his heritage and to his family – Lev 25.1
Warning against corruption
God strictly warns us to keep His measures and ordinances in place to ensure a well-balanced social system and to help prevent men’s natural selfish ambitions for control and power from destroying the people. [Matt 19.23]
Luke 12.16-21 – [Deceitfulness of riches]
Giving things personally to people is a test to see if we are faithful to God for what He gives us, or if we squander it on selfishness [Col 3.15, 1 Tim 6.17, Luke 19.17]
Purpose for Wealth & Gain
As we see in the book of Acts the purpose for God’s people to accumulate wealth is not to keep it, but to use it to help others and society overall. This is the purpose for money is to help other people!
And all those who were of the faith kept together, and had all things in common; 45. And exchanging their goods and property for money, they made division of it among them all, as they had need. – Acts 2.44-45
Socialism
This verse can be confused with evidence for socialism in the Bible, but as you can see, these Christians owned their own property, homes and possessions. The used what they had to bless each other and others. Socialism is not taught in the Bible, but rather the effectiveness of a giving heart out of the abundance of what you own. God strictly warns us about hording wealth:
I will say to my soul, Soul, you have a great amount of goods in store, enough for a number of years; be at rest, take food and wine and be happy. 20. But God said to him, You foolish one, tonight I will take your soul from you, and who then will be the owner of all the things which you have got together? 21. So that is what comes to the man who gets wealth for himself, and has not wealth in the eyes of God. – Luke 19-21
What profit has a man if he gets all the world with the loss of his life? – Mark 8.36
Judicial System
A Judiciary is a system of courts that interprets and applies the law for a state or people group. God gave to man, through the Bible, the perfect judicial system in order to keep a balanced social order.
Among its primary principles, the Bible serves as mankind’s greatest judicial & legal system and serves as a blessing any nation if followed correctly as seen throughout the Torah (book of the law).
Blessed is the nations whose God is the Lord! – ps 33.12
The Bible shows us that we are to acknowledge that there is only one law giver, God, and it is His laws and systems we are to obey. We know that men and appointed judges make up laws as well, that may or may not be based on good moral principles.
Every one of God’s laws that are founded on the highest truth and holiest principles. In the day of judgment everyone will give account to God alone, according to His law.
One only is the lawgiver and judge, even he who is able to save and to destroy – James 4.12
The Bible has the perfect foundational setup up civil law. The moral law as described in the Bible is completely separate from the civil, ceremonial and national laws in the Bible, although we still find that many of the moral laws are reflected, preserved and enforced in many of the civil laws, i.e. adultery results in death.
There are 3 different sets of laws in the Bible:
- The Moral Laws – This is the law written on our conscience to know right from wrong doing. To know what is good and what is sinful behavior and attitude of the heart. The pinnacle of such a system is represented in the 10 commandments and can be summed up as Loving God above all and loving others as yourself!
- The Ceremonial Laws – This is the law that the priests where to follow to perform all specific rituals for ceremonial worship.
- The Civil Laws – This was the set of national laws that the Israelites where to adhere to keep social order and justice for the people of the nation. This was also used to set the nation of Israel apart and be distinguishable from other nations.
Do no wrong in your judging: do not give thought to the position of the poor, or honour to the position of the great; but be a judge to your neighbour in righteousness. – Lev 19.15
Social Laws & Order
The Bible had many social laws to make the nation a distinguished people, specifically as God’s people, before Christ came to earth. Many of the civil laws kept the Hebrew people healthy and enforced sanitation issues to protect the people and keep them healthy. Other laws specifically enforced social order to prevent unjust acts from going unpunished. The Old Testament creates an entire judicial system to ensure justice for all people, and consequences for breaking such laws.
Laws for Sanitation & Hygiene
Sanitary laws kept the people clean and free from disease. The Bible had many laws that enforce the people to cleanse after meals, use anti-bacterial solutions and have proper sewage control.
Þ See Scientific facts in the Bible Sanitation
The Bible had laws for women’s menstrual cleansing to prevent blood born pathogens. There were multiple other laws for proper cleansing of the body, and to use correct sanitation methods. Men where even told how to keep their hair and what clothes they were allowed to wear, so that the Israelites would be a distinct people from other nations.
You shall not round off the hair on your temples or mar the edges of your beard. – Lev 19.27
All these laws given to the Hebrew people where not moral laws, meaning they where not used to tell the people right from wrong doing, and are not sinful to break; but God gave them to Israel to keep the people clean and health and distinguished form other cultures.
Dietary Laws
God did not give any of His laws without cause or reason. He gave His people specific laws such a dietary ones to prevent disease and bacterial infections. Specifically God gave the people of Israel these specific dietary laws to keep them physically healthy. There were many unclean meats and food in the ancient world and God gave His people the knowledge of what not/ to eat.
Examples of Dietary Laws:
Pork – And the pig, because it parts the hoof and is cloven-footed but does not chew the cud, is unclean to you. You shall not eat any of their flesh, and you shall not touch their carcasses; they are unclean to you. – Lev 11.7-8
In this verse we can see pork is considered an unclean meat, even today if not slaughtered in the proper fashion (drain the blood quickly) the meat spoils and causes people to get sick if it is eaten. This is why God tells His people not to eat pork and that it is unclean. Some religions like Islam, believe that eating pork will spiritually poison your soul, but the truth is, as in the Bible, an ‘unclean’ (physically) meat.
Shellfish – But anything in the seas or the rivers that has not fins and scales, of the swarming creatures in the waters and of the living creatures that are in the waters, is detestable to you. – Lev 11.10
All Shellfish have a type of fungus that lives in their shells, when people consume it, can cause different types of diseases, some reported cases such as gout, and people contract this disease when they eat too much shellfish. Shellfish are the bottom feeders often called the ‘cockroaches’ of the ocean.
God told his people not to eat shellfish to prevent them from getting diseases. Once again, all these laws given to people not as moral laws, nor to prevent the people from sinning; but God gave them to Israel to keep the people clean and health and distinguished form other cultures, God never does anything without design and purpose.
Laws for Marriage & Family
The Bible is very specific about marital laws and keeping the family unit strong:
Laws for Civil Justice
The Bible ensured a fair justice system for the nation of Israel by incorporating God’s law and executing convictions and punishment in a court system.
Accusations
An accusation had to be made by at least two or more people to be considered for judgment.
One witness may not make a statement against a man in relation to any sin or wrongdoing which he has done: on the word of two or three witnesses a question is to be judged. – Deut 19.15
Judgment on Intent
Intent of a person was also weighed and brought into consideration. Even the most extreme incident, taking another person’s life, accidentally would be weighed against personal intent and if found that it was an accident, that person would be given refuge and allowed to live, thus providing the most fair execution of justice.
He who strikes a man so that he dies shall surely be put to death. However, if he did not lie in wait, but God delivered him into his hand, then I will appoint for you a place where he may flee. But if a man acts with premeditation against his neighbor, to kill him by treachery, you shall take him from My altar, that he may die.
– Exodus 21.12-14
Equal Damages, Loss & Punishment
Anytime damages occurred as the result of a persons action, that person was held fully responsible for their actions and paid full price to restore what was damaged. If life was lost due to a persons malicious intended action, live was given in exchange for justice.
But if damage comes to her, let life be given in payment for life, 24. Eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot, 25. Burning for burning, wound for wound, blow for blow. – Exodus 21.23-25
Capital Punishment
Here we can see in Exodus 21.23-25 among other verses that the Bible enforces capital punishment. If a person is guilty beyond all reason they are to pay exact amounts for their crime, life for life.
National Military System
For everything there is a fixed time… a time for war, and a time for peace. – Ecc 3.8
The Bible teaches that a nation is to have its own military system to defend the people from invaders and national threats. God knows man will war with each other over selfish ambitions because of their choice to be stubborn and incompatible with others.
A military system meant to be established and used to create a national defense policy, to protect its people from external invaders. The ancient nation of Israel and its neighboring countries had fully formed military systems, relying on God as their source of victory.
The LORD your God which goeth before you, he shall fight for you, according to all that he did for you in Egypt before your eyes – Deut 1.30
With him is an arm of flesh; but with us is the LORD our God to help us, and to fight our battles. And the people rested themselves upon the words of Hezekiah king of Judah – 2 Chron 32.8
The LORD is a man of war: the LORD is his name –Exodus 15.3
Military systems are primarily categorized into the following:
- Military Intelligence – This is the supportive decision making order and command process or all military interactions within a very wide range of resources. Decisions are made based on recon divisions, intelligent analysis and all available data. This command structure also keeps the military organized for each of these decision making process. In the Bible we see the king or an elder always leads the army with wisdom and experience, with commanders and officers in charge of different sections and groups of people.
- In the spring of the year, the time when kings go out to battle… – 2 Samuel 11.1
- Military Logistics – This is the art and science of planning and carrying out military operations.
- Or what king, going out to encounter another king in war, will not sit down first and deliberate whether he is able with ten thousand to meet him who comes against him with twenty thousand? – Luke 14.31
- Military Technology – This is the usage of various technologies available to increase military power for offense or defense. The use of various structures, tools, weapons, etc.
National Defense
When a nation or society deliberately defies God and His ways, he allows war to come upon them to lead them to repentance, or when they continually refuse to listen to Him or to repent, He causes them to be destroyed.
But if you do not give ear to the voice of the Lord your God… 25. The Lord will let you be overcome by your haters: you will go out against them one way, and you will go in flight before them seven ways – Deuteronomy 28.15-28
I am the giver of light and the maker of calamities; causing blessing, and sending troubles; I am the Lord, who does all these things. – Isaiah 45.7
Incorrigible Enemies
In ancient times when a nation becomes incorrigible against God and impossible to correct; God dictated His nation of Israel to be the punishing force against them. Typically when the actions of a people lead to war, throughout history we see that survivors of such tragic acts become horribly scarred and continually despise their conquerors.
Any conquered nation of people and their descendants will cause troubles to their enemies, until they are extinguished. Every conquered nation throughout history also inevitably mixes with the people that conquer them bringing their ideology and religious views with them and mix their cultures with each other.
Throughout the history of the Israelites, many of their enemies that where completely incorrigible. God gave the Israelites the land of the people who refused to listen to Him. God would erase these rebellious people and commanded the Israelites to extinguish them to prevent repercussions to their wars. Unfortunately the Israelites did not always follow Gods command and ended up paying consequences for not completely destroying their enemies, and even mixed with their cultures turning their children away from the true God to idols, just as God warned would happen.
But if any nation will not listen, then I will utterly pluck it up and destroy it, declares the LORD. – Jeremiah 12.17
Thou shalt surely smite the inhabitants of that city with the edge of the sword, destroying it utterly, and all that is therein, and the cattle thereof, with the edge of the sword. – Deut 20.17
And you shall consume all the peoples that the LORD your God will give over to you. Your eye shall not pity them, neither shall you serve their gods, for that would be a snare to you. – Deut 7.16
God is very clear as the reason why He uses military forces and destroys people in judgment, because they have refused His ways and turned away from the true and Living God. People may ask how is it right that God would allow families and children to be judged, and He does! This is a great lesson we must learn as parents, that our sins will have great repercussions on our families and how important it is to raise a nation in the fear of the Lord.
Know therefore that the LORD your God is God, the faithful God who keeps covenant and steadfast love with those who love him and keep his commandments, to a thousand generations, 10. and repays to their face those who hate him, by destroying them. He will not be slack with one who hates him. He will repay him to his face. 11. You shall therefore be careful to do the commandment and the statutes and the rules that I command you today. – Deuteronomy 7.9-11
Even the nation of Israel would eventually pay the same price for not keeping God’s covenant. They turn away from God to idols and rejected His messiah. Thus God delivered His wrath on the Israelites; just He did on the other nations.
Þ See Archaeology Exile to Babylon
Taxation
God tells us we are to pay what we owe to the authorities. Taxes are meant to be used to help society function and grow, and to pay the officials that have been given charge of that society.
Rules to Taxation
In Israel, God had setup specific rules for a sanctuary tax, which can be correlated to fair practices of taxation: rules to age of those whom had to pay, anti discrimination to each person – everyone had to pay, and had to pay the same price. This however was not a form of income tax:
13. Each one who is numbered in the census shall give this: half a shekel according to the shekel of the sanctuary (the shekel is twenty gerahs), half a shekel as an offering to the LORD. 14. Everyone who is numbered in the census, from twenty years old and upward, shall give the LORD’s offering. 15. The rich shall not give more, and the poor shall not give less, than the half shekel, when you give the LORD’s offering to make atonement for your lives. – Exodus 30.13-15
Income Tax
The Bible does not specifically endorse a specific type of income tax, but rather it was referred to and accepted by the people in various times in conjunction to giving up 10% of personal income.
Oppressive Taxation
Jesus said we should pay what we owe to our governing authority; however there is no injustice for a revolution among the people when unfair taxes are oppressing the population. Going above 10% taxation typically become harsh to the general population, depending on the wealth of that population.
He (the king) will take the best of your fields and vineyards and olive orchards and give them to his servants. 15. He will take the tenth of your grain and of your vineyards and give it to his officers and to his servants. – 1 Samuel 8.14-15
‘Show me the coin for tax’ “Therefore render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.” – Matt 22.21
Tax Exemption
Throughout the Bible we see a consistent theme of tax exemption being applied to religious leaders and religious services, as their life and work are contribution to God. Taxation is meant to be to contribute to God’s work and putting aside money from societies businesses and work-labor for the purpose of building God’s kingdom and helping others. Even Jesus when he was prompted to pay the temple tax said the ‘sons are exempt.’ (Matt 7.24-27)
We also notify you that it shall not be lawful to impose tribute, custom, or toll on anyone of the priests, the Levites, the singers, the doorkeepers, the temple servants, or other servants of this house of God. – Ezra 7.24
The World System
The word for ‘world’ in the Bible is kosmos, literally meaning orderly arrangement; by implication, literally or figuratively – world. This word was used to specifically mean the whole earth, and its various attributes. It is where we get our word today for cosmos, which has taken on a slightly different meaning.
Biblical It is used to describe the entire sociological system in which all groups of people operate and form as a collective structure. The world system can be defined as the system by which all human social interactions take place, i.e. government, business commerce, media, etc.
World System – Original Created Intent
God created the human race with a divine intention for the formation of a national social structure to govern the human race. The Bible reveals that all governments originate from God’s authority (even if humans corrupt them over time).
1. Let everyone put himself under the authority of the higher powers, because there is no power which is not of God, and all powers are ordered by God. 2. For which reason everyone who puts himself against the authority puts himself against the order of God: and those who are against it will get punishment for themselves. – Romans 13.1-2
Beyond this there are only inferences that can be made to what God’s original intent would have lead to, suppose the fall of man never occurred. It is obvious the God whom is Lord of Heaven and Earth, was always to be the king of all mankind. God graciously and kindly offers his Kingdom to those whom are willing now on earth, but will one day come to setup His kingdom on earth in a final display of wrath and authority.
The Nation of Israel was intended to be an image or shadow of heavenly things, and God when He formed their nation was to be their invisible King. This was to show all nations that God was the true King of man, until the Israelites rejected Him for a human ruler.
the Lord said to Samuel, Give ear to the voice of the people and what they say to you: they have not been turned away from you, but they have been turned away from me, not desiring me to be king over them. – 1 Samuel 8.7
the Lord God will give them light: and they will be ruling for ever and ever. – Revelation 22.5
World System – Current State
The world system of authority and influence is subject to the construction and maintenance of people therefore becomes continually susceptible to corruption, as corruption stems from the sin nature of the very people that rule the world systems.
Þ See Spiritual Warfare Our Enemy the World System
Primary Categories
The World system can be broken down into two primary categories:
The World System of Authority – Governments, judicial, etc. In this category, the world system is represented by an authoritative and/or dominate entities that exercises social functions of decision making power regardless of enforcement.
The World System of Influence – Media, Economics, etc. In this category, the world system is represented by a non-authoritative influencing mediums that direct or manipulate the attention of people to or on a specific point.
The World system is hostile towards God
The rulers of the world systems typically prefer their own way and control contrary to God’s way and rule. In their pride and selfishness they desire to do what they feel is most beneficial according to their own understanding, rather than what is right in God’s eyes.
The world doesn’t know God
For seeing that in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom knew not God – I Cor. 1:21
The world’s works are evil
The world cannot hate you; but me it hateth, because I testify of it, that its works are evil. – Jn. 7:7
The world cannot receive the Holy Spirit
the Spirit of truth: whom the world cannot receive; for it beholdeth him not, neither knoweth him: ye know him; for he abideth with you, and shall be in you. – Jn. 14:17
The world hated Christ
If the world hateth you, ye know that it hath hated me before it hated you. – Jn. 15:18
The World System is Evil
The ruler of this world is the Devil
Now is the judgment of this world: now shall the prince of this world be cast out. – Jn 12:31
The god of this world
in whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of the unbelieving, – II Cor 4:4
The prince of the power of the air
wherein ye once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the powers of the air, of the spirit that now worketh in the sons of disobedience – Eph. 2:2
Demons are the world rulers
For our wrestling is not against flesh and blood, but against the principalities, against the powers, against the world-rulers of this darkness, against the spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Eph. 6:12
Whole world lies in the power of the evil one
We know that we are of God, and the whole world lieth in the evil one. – I Jn. 5:19
World System of Influence – Media World System
Any media system within any social environment eventually becomes a primary source of influence to all those that come in contact with it. The media system keeps a society informed, but is typically under the control on a few individuals that control what that public sees, filtering and revealing only what they choose to reveal.
We know that it is not what goes into a man that makes him unclean but rather what comes out of a man. This is true, but we also need to couple this with verses that instruct us keeping in company with good those that have morals, so we don’t allow our hearts to be corrupted.
There is nothing outside the man which, going into him, is able to make him unclean: but the things which come out of the man are those which make the man unclean. – Mark 7.15
evil company does damage to good behavior. – 1 Corinthians 15.33
The words of a gossiper are as dainty morsels, And they go down into the innermost parts. – Proverbs 26.22
As any society becomes corrupt, so does its media system, and visa-versa. The things we expose ourselves to in the media will become and influence to us, no matter how strong or unshakable you believe your personality it. Little by little, everything you expose yourself to goes into your heart and mind and becomes a part of you.
The World is NOT God’s Kingdom
Jesus tells us that this world is NOT His kingdom, but rather His kingdom is coming later.
Jesus kingdom is not of this World
Jesus answered, My kingdom is not of this world – Jn. 18:36
Jesus has overcome the world
I have overcome the world. – Jn. 16:33
Judgment of this world
Now is the judgment of this world: now shall the prince of this world be cast out. – Jn. 12:31
Friendship with the world is enmity with God
know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? Whosoever therefore would be a friend of the world maketh himself an enemy of God. – James 4:4
If anyone loves the world
Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. – I Jn. 2:15
Our faith overcomes the world
For whatsoever is begotten of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that hath overcome the world, even our faith. – I Jn. 5:4
Future State of the World System
The world system will eventually continually become more corrupt and unify supernaturally under one world ruler whom will deceive all mankind into turning away from God and His Christ (ps.2). This is during the time known as the great tribulation, and will happen just before God setups up His millennial kingdom to rule the world forever.
And numbers of people will be turned from the right way, and will give one another up and have hate for one another. – Matthew 24.10
Further Reading
Þ see Prophecy End Times – One world Government