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Defining Good Government Through Biblical Principles

Release Date: 10/18/2023

Principle Perspective with Mike Winther

As Mike Winther continues his Biblical Principles of Government series, we'll explore practical components about how the world works while increasing our intellectual inquiry. All of this is so we can gain a better understanding of how we can make a difference. He kicks off the show by discussing whether the topics covered in the series really matter. For many Christians, they don't. Everything is already seen as a foregone conclusion. This is a view that people have held since the second century AD. If your answer is yes, this matters, then what are you going to do? This lecture will...

Biblical Principles of Government (7b)

Principle Perspective with Mike Winther

Mike Winther continues his conversation from last week about charity, highlighting God's plan for generosity and the importance of sharing. He differentiates between God's model of voluntary charity and the concept of forced charity, such as Marxism, which he claims is not genuine charity. He compares the government's approach to God's model, beginning the episode by referencing scriptural passages that outline God's vision. Mike also examines God's "safety net," which includes working, helping one's family, and seeking support from the church. Another critical topic he dives into is the...

Biblical Principles of Government (7a)

Principle Perspective with Mike Winther

In this discussion, Mike Winther explores the significant topic of charity. Mike approaches this subject with caution to ensure that our actions align not only with our intentions but also with what God intends. He discusses the arguments for both large and small government structures, highlighting two main reasons why government expansion occurs. Mike examines what the Bible says about charity and assisting the poor, and he contrasts God’s model of charity with that of Karl Marx. Additionally, Mike addresses the issue of inflation, the increase in the money supply, and rising prices. We...

Biblical Principles of Government (6b)

Principle Perspective with Mike Winther

This episode of the series begins by discussing the 2007 and 2008 housing bubble, a topic that remains highly relevant today. During that period, prices were skyrocketing and interest rates were low, leading people to refinance and sink deeper into debt. When the collapse occurred, proponents of big government blamed the free market and called for increased regulation. Mike dives into the causes of this housing bubble, highlighting the manipulation of interest rates, the pricing of money, and the economic stimulation by the Federal Reserve. He discusses how low interest rates and the selling...

Biblical Principles of Government (6a)

Principle Perspective with Mike Winther

Mike Winther kicks off Section 6a of "Biblical Principles of Government" with a poignant quote from Thomas Jefferson: "It's strangely absurd to suppose that a million human beings collected together are not under the same moral laws which bind each of them separately." This assertion underlines the principle of The Collective Application of God's Commands. Mike dives into the concepts of individualism and collectivism, explaining individualism as dealing with individuals, whereas collectivism addresses the group as a whole. He highlights the role of government as a collective entity that...

Biblical Principles of Government (5b)

Principle Perspective with Mike Winther

Last week, Mike Winther discussed the biblical view of property, the definition of property, and the question of whether private property should even exist. Throughout this series of lectures, he has been using the example of an island to illustrate each concept. Today, we return to the island to vote on redistributing money from the island's wealthy family to its poorer counterpart. In essence, our island has adopted a somewhat socialist approach, redistributing wealth from the rich to the poor. This change necessitates the introduction of an IRS agent and a social worker, leading to...

Biblical Principles of Government (5a)

Principle Perspective with Mike Winther

In the words of Samuel Adams, one of the fathers of the American Revolution, The natural rights of the colonists are these: first, a right to life; secondly, to liberty; thirdly, to property; and lastly, to support and defend them in the best manner they can. Our journey began with the theme of origins, followed by the theme of nature. Tonight, we turn our attention to property. We will explore the biblical view of property, define what property is, discuss how we manage property, and debate whether private property should exist. We dive into the multifaceted concept of property through a...

Biblical Principles of Government (4b)

Principle Perspective with Mike Winther

In this section of Mike Winther’s class on Biblical Principles of Government. Mike dives into economics with the goal of making economics useful to us. We explore the strategies communist leader Khrushchev purportedly advocated for undermining our economy through the gradual introduction of socialism. Mike emphasizes how societal readiness for change often emerges from discontent with the current state of affairs, suggesting that instigating dissatisfaction is a precursor to change. The lecture covers both microeconomics and macroeconomics, with Mike providing a tangible example of...

Biblical Principles of Government (4a)

Principle Perspective with Mike Winther

Welcome to Section 4a of Mike Winther's continuing lecture series on the Biblical Principles of Government. In this segment, Mike embarks on an examination of Samuel Chapter 8, focusing on the events following the Israelites' entry into the promised land, which was preceded by a significant 40-year period of wandering in the wilderness. This period began after the Israelites sent spies to scout the land of Canaan, and, upon receiving a discouraging report, the majority chose not to trust in God’s promise. Contrarily, only two spies, Caleb and Joshua, remained optimistic and faithful to...

Biblical Principles of Government (3b)

Principle Perspective with Mike Winther

Mike Winther continues his series of lectures on the Biblical Principles of Government. Today, we dive into the sources of authority. God is identified as a source of authority, a truth we understand through scripture. The Bible is also proposed as the foundation for authority within family governance, as well as in civil and church contexts. If God is not considered the source of authority, then who or what would fill that role? He discusses democracy and the principle of majority rule. Mike draws a distinction between large-scale (big) government and small-scale (small) government,...

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Elections are frequently influenced by the media and the electorate's preceding education. As Christians, we should foster a more robust philosophy regarding the appropriate role of government, defined by good governance through biblical principles. Changing hearts and minds is possible through educating others about these principles.

In this lecture, Mike Winther explains the role of good government by utilizing biblical principles as a standard. He discusses the necessity of maintaining certain absolutes within the government structure. Furthermore, Mike explores the three God-ordained roles of government, delineating between the proper and improper functions within these roles.

You’ll Learn:

[03:57] Current elections are determined by previous graduating classes. Campaigns are usually about shifting a small percentage of the population one way or the other.
[05:03] Education is what sways elections. We need to be able to change hearts and minds in America.
[07:01] Both political parties are heading to the wrong end of the spectrum, because of our schools and our media.
[08:02] Christians need to have a better philosophy about what the proper role of government is.
[09:37] Relativism is the belief that there are no absolutes.
[13:35] Do's and Don'ts for church, family, and civil government.
[15:27] The idea of a source of authority. All authority has a source or origin.
[18:23] The idea that the government gets its legitimate authority from our creator or God. If there is no God-given source of authority, the alternative would be the majority.
[19:42] Mike talks about Romans 13.
[22:18] The purpose of an election is to hold officials accountable and to choose people of good character.
[24:02] Mike talks about the three main categories of god-given authority for the civil government.
[27:08] Anything that's not a government power is the rights of the people. The founding fathers were clear about our rights coming from God.
[30:16] Problems arise when rights come from one place and authority comes from another place.
[31:32] We need to advance political thought to a much higher level than before.
[33:58] We don't want to give any human being too much power, so we decentralize power and have checks and balances.
[34:45] The decentralization of power is Plato's playbook.
[37:45] The maximum ethical tax rate is 9%.

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