Limited Government

My wife shared with me a quote of former President James Madison. Seems he was more than a little concerned that government intervention into education and providing care for people (both areas that had traditionally been provided for by Christian families and churches) would rapidly result in an out of control government. Here's what he said way back in 1792:

"If Congress can employ money indefinitely to the general welfare, and are the sole and supreme judges of the general welfare, they may take the care of religion into their own hands; they may appoint teachers in every state, county, and parish, and pay them out of their public treasury; they may take into their own hands the education of children establishing in like manner schools throughout the Union; they may assume the provision for the poor; they may undertake the regulation of all roads other than post-roads; in short, everything, from the highest object of state legislation down to the most minute object of police, would be thrown under the power of Congress."

What President Madison was concerned about has most certainly come to pass. The biblical conception of limited government is but a lost memory. When the government comes to such power and control, it becomes for many their god and their religion. Jesus Christ is the Supreme Leader, Provider and Protector of those called by His Name. We live in a culture and a nation where our government is our leader, our provider (note all the entitlement programs), and our protector. Biblically, the role of government was to be limited. Take time to study the Bible and learn what God has ordained for government. (A great resource in this regard is the 3 volume study guide by Gary DeMar called God and Government." It is available through his website at www.americanvision.org) Study and then work for change. Part of the great dominion mandate that God gives us as Christians is to work to bring all things under Him, every part of our lives, including our families, our churches, and our nation.