Law, Government & Economics

1. Law, Government & Economics MS 407 Biblical Worldview

2. Rule of Law • the ruler or measure by which judgments are made • Legal Positivism – the will of the sovereign • Evolutionary Rule • Scientific Rule • Humanist (Pragmatic or Utilitarian Rule)

3. Natural Law • Will of the Sovereign • Natural Rights • Life • Individual Liberty • Family Sovereignty • Private Property • Do No Harm

4. Functions of Government - Bible • Justice/Judgment Gen 9:5-6; Ex 18:13-16; Deut 17:8-13; Rm 13:3-4; 1 Peter 2:13-14

5. Government • Definition (Merriam-Webster) the act or process of providing authoritative direction or control; rule

6. God’s Governments • Self (Genesis 1) • Family (Genesis 2) • Church (Genesis 3) • The State/Traditional Government (Genesis 9)

7. S S S S F F F F C C C C G Jurisdiction

8. Colossians 1:15; John 1:1 By God and For God All Government & Governors must acknowledge God(Isa 42:8; Deut 17:14-20,*18; Dan 4,*v30-32; Acts 12:22-23) Purpose of Civil Government

9. Functions of Government - Bible • Justice/Judgment Gen 9:5-6; Ex 18:13-16; Deut 17:8-13; Rm 13:3-4; 1 Peter 2:13-14

10. Justice/Judgment • Rule of Lawthe ruler or measure by which judgments are made • Legal Positivism – the will of the sovereign • Evolutionary Rule • Scientific Rule • Humanist (Pragmatic or Utilitarian Rule)

11. Penal Standards • Judgment must be just/righteous • Fair • Based on 2+ Witnesses • Innocent until Prove Guilty • Right to Defense • Unpartial • No Bribery • Swift (Eccl 8:11)

12. Penal Sentences • Deterrence • Punitive until Restoration • Types • Restitution • Atonement (Satisfaction)

13. Functions of Government - Bible • Justice/Judgment Gen 9:5-6; Ex 18:13-16; Deut 17:8-13; Rm 13:3-4; 1 Peter 2:13-14 • ResearchPro 25:2

14. Research • Proverbs 25:2 • Origins in God’s Desire to be Known • Useful to Society • Subduing the Earth • “State of the Union”

15. Functions of Government - Bible • Justice/Judgment Gen 9:5-6; Ex 18:13-16; Deut 17:8-13; Rm 13:3-4; 1 Peter 2:13-14 • ResearchPro 25:2 • Collective ActionGen 11:1-9,*4; 1 Sam 8:1-22,*20

16. Collective Action • Public Goods • National Defense • Charity/Benevolence

17. Public v. Private Goods • Characteristics of Public Goods • One individual’s consumption does not interfere with another’s • No one can be excluded from its use • Cannot be provided individually • Examples: defense/public safety, weather service

18. National Defense • Not Compulsory Service • Just War Doctrine • Stance towards Israel Psalms 122:6 “Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: they shall prosper that love thee.”

19. God’s Heart for the Hurting • Widows • Orphans (Fatherless) • Poor • Foreigner (Stranger)

20. Church Benevolence • Commanded – Deut 14:28-29; James 1:27; Malachi 3:10 • Expected – Matt 25:36 • Practiced – Acts 4:32-*35; 6:1-2

21. Economics The study of production and consumption of goods and services

22. Main Concerns • Provision – Adequate provision for the life, health, happiness and wealth of individuals • Scarcity – Limited resources in any given geopolitical society

23. Three Questions • What to produce? • How to produce? • For whom to produce? • Most important:not WHAT are the answers rather WHO gives the answers.

24. Three Main Systems • Traditional • Command • Market Note: Nearly all economic systems are MIXED to some extent.

25. Who’s Responsible - Systems

26. Traditional Strengths Stable Predictable Provides roles and structure to society Weaknesses Subsistence, No room for growth Discourages new tactics Command Strengths Equitable Predictable Can quickly change direction Weaknesses Lack of motivationfor innovations Inefficient Error Strength & Weaknesses Market • Strengths • Self-Enforcing • Efficient • Dynamic • Motivates innovation • Weaknesses • Inequitable • Ignorant of the defenseless

27. Genesis 3:17-19 2 Thessalonians 3:6-13 Proverb:19:15; 13:4; 19:24; 12:27; 22:13 Proverb:24:30-34 Isaiah 49:15; Psalms 27:10 1 Timothy 5:4-8, 16 Luke 10:29-37, *37 ¿Who’s Responsible?

28. Government Neighbor Family Who’s Responsible – Bible Self

29. Discussion • Shouldn’t Civil Government be primarily responsible for society’s welfare? • The “Sword” - Romans 13:4 • Imperfect “Interest”

30. Talent & Opportunity • Intellect • Physical Strength • “Garden”

31. “Private Property” • God-given (natural) authority to direct and dispose of a resource. • Presupposed in 8th & 10th Commandment • Result of Dominion of Man over Creation • Natural/Logical Consequence of Labor

32. Standards for Benevolence • Tithe Principle: 10% • Zacchaeus Principle: 50% (half) • Widow’s Principle: 100% (all)

33. Discussion: Consumption “Materialism is Sinful” True? False? How so? • Material Wealth is a Gift from God • Provides an “Incentive” for Labor • Should Not Take Focus Off God & His Will • Should Not Deteriorate into Gluttony

34. Discussion: • Poverty & Inequality: What do we do about it? • “We’re Going to Eradicate Poverty” • Robin Hood? Take from the Rich give to the Poor? • Matt 14:16* (Mark 6:37; Luke 9:13) • Will it be enough? Malachi 3:10 “Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, so that there may be food in My house, and test Me now in this," says the LORD of hosts, "if I will not open for you the windows of heaven and pour out for you a blessing until it overflows.”

35. Importance of Investment • Engine that powers the economy • Not Stocks & Bonds; Rather Entrepreneurship • Profit = Accountability • Activates the “Multiplier” Acts unlike consumption spending • Depends on consumer saving

36. Utility of a Christian’s Business • Funding the Gospel • Meeting Needs • Discipleship • Making a Profit

37. The U.S. Economy • GDP = C + I + G + E (T) • GDP = Gross Domestic Product • C = Consumption (Consumers/Workers) • I = Investment (Business) • G = Government • E = Export Balance (Trade)

38. Discussion: Should a Christian Retire? What should a Christian do in Retirement? • Curse of Work – “All the days of your life” • Sabbath/Jubilee Principle “Rest and Reflect”