Don Tarbet
INTRODUCTION
I. As we search the scripture, we learn that God has established 3 major institutions for the good and happiness of mankind.-
A. God has instituted 3 such organizations for this purpose.
B. Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary defines institutions as an arrangement, establishment or organization, as based upon certain laws and practices.
1. God may have instituted certain actions, such as the Lord’s Supper, but the three institutions that involve an “organization” are of special concern for us today.
2. These 3 institutions are the HOME, CIVIL GOVERNMENT and the CHURCH.
ii. Now let’s give attention to God’s part in these 3 institutions.
DISCUSSION
I. 1st, the HOME as an organization of God.
A. God formed such in the Garden of Eden with the first couple of human beings: ADAM a male, and EVE a female.
1. God first formed Adam, but knowing it was “not good” for man to be alone, made woman as a helper FOR the man. Gen. 2:18; 1 Cor. 11:9
a. He took a rib or bone from Adam’s side and made the woman.
b. He brought her TO the man to complete the first human home on earth. vs. 21-24
2. God later placed woman UNDER man in His organization of the home. Gen. 3:18
a. This made man to be the HEAD of the home.
b. This made woman to be his helper—in submission TO man, forever.
B. This organization laid the foundation for another organization called the CHURCH, which we will later consider in the New Testament. Eph. 5:22-32
C. God set up the home with many features.
1. 1st, it is to be between 2 of the opposite sex—male and female. Matt. 19:4-5
2. 2nd, it is for the purpose of companionship between male and female. Gen.2:18
3. 3rd, it for the purpose of reproduction. Gen. 1:28
4. 4th, It is to be permanent, until the death of one in the home. Rom. 7:2-3
5. 5th, a divorce and marrying another is ONLY in the event of the awful sin of fornication or sexual unfaithfulness. Matt. 19:9
6. 6th, the home is to bring honor unto God, the organizer of the home. Heb. 13:4
II. 2nd, CIVIL GOVERNMENT is an organization of God.
A. This is not to say that God established only one type of civil government, for culture and many factors would cause many FORMS of “civil power” to exist.
1. God was to rule in the “kingdoms” (plural) of men, not in just one kingdom.
2. There might be democracies, kingdoms, or dictatorships, but the ultimate factor of any would be whether they function according to the principles of His will, as well as protecting it’s citizens and punish the evil doers, and allow them to worship God according to the New Testament.
3. God allowed his people to set up a kingdom, with a king, which eventually became a pattern for His spiritual rule in the CHURCH—which we shall consider later in this study.
4. A successful kingdom would involve a territory, subjects, laws and a ruler.
a. Democracy has proven to be one of the BEST forms of government.
b. However, many such have failed because of a desire of some of it’s citizens to change it to a socialistic form of government, or to elevate certain dictators to power.
B. God is the AUTHOR of civil power. Dan.2:20-21; 4:17; Rom. 13:1
1. The purpose of each power is to RULE and PROTECT it’s citizens, which often involves the necessary punishment of evil doers. Gen. 9:6; Rom. 13:2-5 a. The government is to be supported by a method of taxation. Matt. 22:14- 21; Rom. 13:6-7
b. The government is due our obedience, as long as its requirements are not against the will of God. 1 Pet. 2:13-17; Acts 5;29
c. The government is due the prayers of the righteous. 1 Tim.2:1-2
2. When any government becomes SO corrupt, God has the power to arouse another power to arise and replace the one that has become corrupt.
a. If mistakes are sometimes made by rulers, or some begin to contend that red lives matter, we might add so do the lives of white or black or red citizens, OR officers OF the law.
b. To create sinful rebellion, and destroy other people’s property in rebellion, is wrong and is NOT the characteristic of Christian citizens.
c. Even IF some in power do wrong, it is not right to do wrong in return to manifest our opposition, but to be an influence through good citizenship, and help elect better leaders.
3. RED LIVES MATTER. When the white man came to America, undoubtedly there were physical abuses from the white man—generations ago. Does that give the Red Man the right to go into an Indian village and destroy all the Indian businesses and loot their businesses and then kill any white policeman that tries to stop them–for the next 50 generations? To say, “Red Lives Matter” is no excuse for destroying their OWN property and killing white people in the rest of the world. True, “red lives matter” and should never be abused, but the lives of the whites also matter. Red lives always matter! White lives also matter!
4. YELLOW LIVES MATTER. The Japanese invaded the white man in World War II and killed many white Americans. Does this give white man the right to move to Japan, and there riot and loot the businesses that belong to the white people there, and then kill all the Japanese (or even white people) that get in the way–for the next 50 generations? If I as a white man go to Japan and start a fight, and I get killed, could my white relatives say, “White lives matter?” Yellow lives always matter! White lives also matter.
5. WHITE LIVES MATTER. Many white men died in the battle of the Alamo hundreds of years ago. Now, if a white man visits the Alamo in San Antonio, Texas, today and starts looting and destroying all businesses that belong to white people, and in the process a Mexican policeman has to shoot me, should all the white people in the area say, “White lives matter”? Surely, white lives DO matter, and so do brown lives.
III. 3Rd, the CHURCH is God’s spiritual organization.
A. As we previously stated, God portrayed the church in the marriage between Adam and Eve in the garden of Eden.
1. As the husband is always the head of the wife, this portrays the headship of Christ as head over the church. Eph. 5:23; 1:22-23
2. Then, as a woman submits to her husband, this portrays the submission of the church to the will of Christ, the HEAD of the church. Eph. 5:22-24
3. Finally, as man loves his wife, this portrays the love Christ had for the church, as He gave Himself or it. Eph. 5:25; Acts 20:28
B. The great “mystery” of the marriage union was to portray the relationship of Christ and the church. Eph. 5:32
1. The word “mystery” in this passage refers to something previously unrevealed.
2. God NOW makes known the mystery through the union of Christ and the church, as seen in Eve being in subjection to man in the creation.
CONCLUSION
I. All of these organizations are to bring glory unto God, and a good and peaceful life of the saved. 1 Tim. 2:1-4
A. God established the church with ONE head (Christ), with the one creed (the word of Christ and the apostles), with elders overseeing each congregation.
B. God did not intend for the church to have it’s varied forms of government as the world may have in it’s governments, but we are to be ONE, under the theocracy of Christ.
II. Good citizenship is seen in Christians, who have faith in Jesus, repented of their sins, and baptized into Christ and His church. Rom. 6:3-5
