Biblical Law & Ethics (Class 03)

Class Notes:

Introduction to Biblical Law and Ethics

Class 03: Biblical Law and Civil Government

Introduction to Biblical Law and Ethics: Class 03

Biblical Law & Civil Governance

Introduction: Why This Matters

• COVID-19 raised important questions about church closures and government authority.
• Christians debated Romans 13 and whether obedience to God’s law ever requires civil disobedience.
• Sparked new interest in topics like Theonomy, Natural Law, and Christian Nationalism.

PART 1: Defining Theonomy, Natural Law, and 2 Kingdom Theology

1. Theonomy

• Belief that God’s law, including civil codes from the Old Testament, should guide governments.
• Two views:
  • Theocratic: Apply laws fully.
  • General Equity: Apply moral principles only.
• Support: God’s law is perfect and just.
• Criticism: Overreach, selective use, harsh penalties, church-state fusion.

2. Natural Law

• God’s moral law is written on the heart (Rom. 2:14–15).
• Accessible through reason and conscience.
• Support: Universal and allows moral dialogue with non-believers.
• Criticism: Human reason is flawed; interpretations vary.

3. Two Kingdom Theology

• God governs through two spheres: Spiritual (Church) & Civil (State)
• Support: Preserves church’s mission; prevents overreach.
• Criticism: Can encourage political disengagement.

PART 2: Examining Christian Influence in the Western Legal System

• “Western Society” shaped by Greco-Roman philosophy and biblical ethics.
• English Common Law was built on biblical principles (e.g., 10 Commandments).
• William Blackstone: Natural law, moral order, and unalienable rights.
• Declaration of Independence (1776): “Life, Liberty, & the pursuit of Happiness” rooted in God-given rights.
• Quote – John Adams (1798): “Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people…”
  

PART 3: The Christian’s Role in Civil Government

Biblical Commands:

• Pray for leaders (1 Tim. 2:1–2)
• Submit to authority (Rom. 13:1)
• Defend the vulnerable (Prov. 31:8–9)
• Be salt and light (Matt. 5:13–16)

Key Questions:

• Can/should religion be legislated? (All laws legislate morality—whose?)
• How do we maintain the Gospel while pursuing justice?

Final Thought: Baptists support separation of church and state, not separation of God and government; The state is accountable to God—and the church must remind it.