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The role of government and Biblical concepts have consistently been topics of debate among
policymakers in the United States. Though federal policies are not explicitly mentioned in the
Bible, policymakers and the government use scripture to address many issues relevant to current
federal politics. Biblical concepts contribute to what the Bible says about the role of government
pertaining to themes such as inalienable rights, natural law, the institutional separation of church
and state, covenant/federalism, and the distinction between sin and crime. An example of a
significant impact of the Biblical worldview has been the restriction of abortion throughout the
nation. It is important to acknowledge that the Biblical worldview is one of three major
worldviews - modernism and postmodernism- that influence federal policies. This analysis will
examine Biblical concepts in relation to the role of government, federal policy and Biblical
principles, key enumerated powers in the Constitution, and the three worldviews and their
influence on the government.
Keywords: Biblical concepts, worldviews, inalienable rights, natural law, institutional separation
of church and state, covenant/federalism, sin/crime, policy
Biblical Concepts & The Role of Government
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The Bible offers significant insights into the role of government. By nature we are made
in God’s image, thus we all possess inalienable rights. Inalienable rights are defined as rights that
are inherent to our personhood (Fischer, 2013). These rights cannot be taken away or given
away. The inalienable rights are defined as life, liberty, and property (Fischer, 2013). In 1776,
The United States declared independence from Britain, invoking the “Laws of Nature and the
Nature of God,” asserting that men are “endowed by their creator” with inalienable rights (Baker,
2012). The founding fathers believed that divine law granted men with God given rights,
necessitating the creation of laws in accordance with divine law in order to protect those rights.
The role of government is to uphold these inalienable rights. The Declaration of Independence
Enshrined the right to “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness” (National Archives, 1776). The
phrase was adapted from John Locke who stated “life, liberty, and property” (Desmond, 1953).
Jefferson substituted “pursuit for happiness” for “property” to emphasize that the primary
purpose of government was to promote the happiness of its citizens, not merely to protect
property (Desmond, 1953). The Government exists first and foremost to protect our inalienable
rights and ensure justice (Fischer, 2013).
Natural law is used in part to justify the existence of inalienable rights. God’s law is the
source of manmade law, as discussed with respect to the Declaration of Independence. Natural
law is used to explain the presence of standard right and wrong (Fischer, 2013). Natural Law
refers to laws of morality ascertainable through human reason (Mineshema-Lowe, 2009),
whereas Revealed Law, also known as divine law, refers to laws shown to us through the word
of the Lord, the Holy Bible (“Constitutional Rights foundation,” 2006). Natural law and divine
law are both concerned with the direction of human beings toward true human happiness
(fulfillment, perfection, flourishing). Though natural law and revealed law are different, they
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inherently are the backbone of our society. Fischer finds that natural law coexists but is also
subservient to God’s revealed law or scripture. Natural law explains that government is not the
ultimate source of authority and should be limited due to the fact that justice does not originate
from man-made law but instead from God’s laws found in scripture.
The biblical concept also describes the role of government when it pertains to the
separation of church and state. “God works through the Church and with the power of the Holy
Spirit and His Word (the Bible) to change lives. Government cannot do this. Thus, the
institutions of church and state are separate as a means of protecting freedom of conscience and
liberty” (Fischer, 2013). The Church is a spiritual entity that guides individuals in their faith and
moral development, while the government is a secular institution responsible for maintaining
order and protecting individual rights. When these two institutions are kept separate, citizens are
free to follow their own religious beliefs without interference from the state.
In a biblical context, a covenant is an oath-bound relationship between two or more
parties (Jones, 2014). All covenants are part of the one covenant of grace- the covenant God
made with man (Jones, 2014). The biblical idea of covenant is the political term federalism
(Fischer, 2013). “The reason we refer to our national government as our “federal” government is
because it shares power with the State governments and recognizes the States as sovereign
entities rather than just “administrative” offices of the national government” (Fischer, 2013). The
notion of sharing power with the states and respecting autonomy of state specific government is
keeping with the biblical idea of the covenant which seeks to empower and respect those
involved in the covenant. The State cannot remedy spiritual concerns, just as the Church, for
instance, cannot deal with injustices related to the violation of inalienable rights (Fischer, 2013).
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The institutions of Church and State need one another and are accountable to one another, which
is a reason as to why these institutions should remain separate.
The distinction between sin and crime helps us understand the roles of the Church and
State. The state prosecutes those who have committed crimes and also tries to prevent crimes
from occurring. Crimes are the only sins that equate to a violation of inalienable rights (Fischer,
2013). The New Testament explains that the government has a role in punishing crime. Genesis
9:6 states that “Whoever sheds human blood, by humans shall their blood be shed; for in the
image of God has God made mankind.” Which explains that the government must kill murderers
with capital punishment. In order for policy intervention to be successful, it must include multi-
sphered solutions to problems, i.e. Church and State working together. “The State cannot be
viewed as the only solution to any problem such as crime. Punishing criminals restrains evil; it
does not remove it” (Fischer, 2013).
Federal Policies and Biblical Principles
By considering the biblical foundations of inalienable rights, the institutional separation
of Church and State, and covenant/federalism, there is a better understanding of the intent behind
the 10th amendment and its role in shaping just and balanced government. The 10th amendment
states “The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to
the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people” (U.S. Constitution, 1791). In
other words, any powers that are not given to the government are given to the respective states or
the citizens. The 10th amendment reinforces a division of power between the federal government
and the states. This division ensures that individual liberties are being protected, thus protecting
the covenant of the people and the government. “Numerous scholars have studied the impact of
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federal theology on the social and political structures in early American life. City, state, and
ultimately national government structures and constitutions were impacted by this idea of
covenant. We see federalism specifically honored in the 10th Amendment” (Fischer, 2013).
Additionally, the 10th amendment’s ability to distribute power to the states and citizens ensures
that the federal government is not overreaching, thus protecting and preserving the liberty of
individuals and local governments to address their needs and concerns. To reiterate, “the
institutions of church and state are separate as a means of protecting freedom of conscience and
liberty” (Fischer, 2013). Lastly, The 10th amendment can be examined through the lens of
inalienable rights. The limit of federal power upholds the inalienable rights of “life, liberty, and
the pursuit of happiness” (National Archives, 1776), allowing states and individuals to govern
themselves in ways that respect their God-given freedoms. This analysis reinforces the
importance of federalism and the limited role of government as outlined in the Bible and in
documents that built the nation.
Key Enumerated Powers in the Constitution
The three branches of government, executive, judicial, and legislative, work together
through a system of checks and balances. The Constitution identifies and explains specific
enumerated powers for each of the three branches in order to ensure that one branch does not
gain more power over the others. Article 1 in the Constitution discusses the powers of the
legislative branch. The Congress has the power to “lay and collect taxes, duties, imposts and
excises, to pay the debts and provide for the common defense and general welfare of the United
States; but all duties, imposts and excises shall be uniform throughout the United State” (“U.S.
Constitution ,” 1791). Article 2 discusses the executive power held by the president. It outlines
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the president’s power of executing laws, commanding the military, foreign policy, and
appointing federal officers and judges (“U.S. Constitution ,” 1791). Lastly, Article 3 establishes
and identifies the power of the judicial branch. This article gives the Supreme Court and other
federal courts the power to interpret laws, trial crimes, and mediate disputes under federal law
(“U.S. Constitution ,” 1791). This system respects the separation of powers.
Three Basic Worldviews
The three basic worldviews- Biblical Christianity, Modernism, and Postmodernism, offer
specific perspectives on the role of government and policy. Biblical Christianity argues that the
government should protect inalienable rights granted by God, uphold moral laws, and ensure
justice based on the words of God (Fischer, 2013). Modernism is similar to the Protestant
Reformation, it came to fruition as a response to the abuses of the Catholic Church. Modernism
rejects the notion of God and focuses on logic, rationality, science, and technology in policy
making. Modernists believe that progress will come from science, technology, and reason. Thus,
modernists see the government as a rational institution that is designed to protect individual
rights, provide justice, and promote societal progress (Moreland , 2021). Lastly, Postmodernism
is the idea that all truth and reality are relative to a given culture (Moreland , 2021). To
Postmodernists, there is no such thing as objective truth. Postmodernism sees government as one
of many actors in a decentralized network that emphasizes the importance of cultural narratives
and different perspectives in policy making (Moreland , 2021). While both Biblical Christianity
and Modernism worldviews advocate for clear guidelines in government (biblically or
scientifically/logically), Postmodernism focuses more on the contextuality of truth and power
dynamics in policy making.
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References:
Desmond, C. (1953). Natural Law and the American Constitution. Fordham Law Review,
22(3), 235. https://ir.lawnet.fordham.edu/flr/vol22/iss3/1
Fischer, K. (2013). Biblical Principles of Government. Faculty Publications and
Presentations, 525. https://digitalcommons.liberty.edu/gov_fac_pubs/525
Jones, M. (2014, April 25). What Is a Covenant? by Mark Jones. Ligonier Ministries.
https://www.ligonier.org/learn/articles/what-covenant
Mineshema-Lowe, D. (2009). Natural Law. Www.mtsu.edu. https://www.mtsu.edu/first-
amendment/article/788/natural-law
Moreland , Dr. J. P. (2021, November 17). Three Popular Worldviews & How They View
Government. Tifwe.org. https://tifwe.org/three-popular-worldviews-how-they-view-
government/
National Archives. (1776, July 4). Declaration of Independence. National Archives; The
U.S. National Archives and Records Administration. https://www.archives.gov/founding-
docs/declaration-transcript
U.S. Constitution . (1791). The Bill of Rights, The 10th Amendment.
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