A Government That Encourages Hard Work and Invites Active Accountability

Work is not part of the fall, but part of God’s creation mandate. From the beginning, God told man to use his gifts to further society (Genesis 2:15). Later this would be an even stronger injunction, that “if anyone is not willing to work, let him not eat” (2 Thessalonians 3:10). A government should not reward laziness and apathy but is told to commend those who do good to contribute to society. The Church should always show compassion and demonstrate benevolence, but the government was never meant to be a support for the selfish living of citizens who have something to offer their neighbors.

As the government should promote citizens who work hard, so citizens should have a way to provide accountability to their governing authorities. A fair and just election process, term limits, and checks and balances, among other things are proper for the government to invite, and necessary for citizens to actively participate. For the government of any nation to function at its very best, Christians must be engaged and winsome, using their influence for the good of their nation and the glory of God. 

Thanks for reflecting on these Biblical truths related to applying the Gospel to our Culture. May we always render to God what is rightly His as we seek to be good citizens working for the good of the city!  

* Excerpts from a “Gospel & Culture: Politics” paper I wrote to help us better understand how to “Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s” (Mark 12:17).