God & Government By Dave Miller

God & Government by Dave Miller, Ph. D.

Polybius (ca. 200–118 BCE) was born in Arcadia of Greece, and through his father’s influence, he had over 40 years of experience in politics, diplomacy, and war. He witnessed the growth of Rome from a city to a republic. He wrote 40 books of history, but only five are extant (along with several fragments of the other works.) He took the study of history very seriously: “What man is so indifferent or so idle that he would not wish to know how and under what form of government almost all the inhabited world came under the single rule of the Romans in less than fifty-three years (220–168 B.C.)?” (Polybius, Histories I.1). The twin enemies of ignorance and apathy are a serious threat to any republic including our own. Polybius argued that the best type of constitution was one that blended the three main types of government identified at the time: kingship, aristocracy, and democracy: “For it is evident that we must regard as the best constitution a combination of all three these varieties since we have had proof of this not only theoretically but by actual experience” (Polybius, Histories, IV.3.) Some erroneously think our national government is a democracy when it is actually a republic. Polybius was among the first to speak of what has been called anacyclosis (circulation) which is the view that a nation may go through various types of government in a cycle from monarchy to democracy with stages in between. He argued the best way to break this cycle and provide true stability was to have elements of each. Our constitution blends these three varieties: kingship (executive branch), democracy (legislative branch), and aristocracy (the judicial branch). 

The Founding Fathers were knowledgeable of these types of theories, plus they clearly were influenced by the OT model of the civic nation of Israel. It is no accident that the expression that we are a nation of Judeo-Christian ethics is used to describe the United States. These themes are touched on in Dave Miller’s excellent work, God & Government in a series of eight essays. Several important subjects are discussed including: the origin/purpose of government, unalienable rights, the nature of law, how the government operates, capital punishment, care of the poor, welfare, entitlements, qualifications of rulers, taxation, and illegal immigration. Each of these essays is supported by materials from the Founding Fathers and/or the Scriptures. The essays will challenge one’s thinking, and some will not agree with every point made, possibly because of teaching we have not received in public school. For example, there are some who think socialism rather than capitalism is more suited to Christianity; however, that is a misconception of both systems. Acts 2:44–45 and 4:32–35 are often cited as support for socialism; however, Miller shows that the context of these passages does not support the way socialism operates. Depending on one’s view of the purpose of government, the response to these essays may not only challenge one’s thinking but likewise challenge their views or feelings. Dave Miller does an excellent work of interweaving passages and principles from the Bible that will be beneficial to all regardless of where they may be on the political spectrum. Each essay is very well documented with endnotes for further study and verification. There are indices of subjects, names, and scriptures included which facilitate easier reference to the material. 

Thomas Jefferson once wrote, “wherever the people are well informed they can be trusted with their own government.” How well are we educating our children on the foundation of our republic and the philosophies undergirding our constitution? Have we become so far removed from the issue that we would surrender our freedoms (including religion) without making a single argument or defense? This book will help shore up the foundation in what has been reported lacking in the education of our young people. It should be read by every concerned citizen of the United States, even those who claim dual citizenship in Heaven. 

Originally printed West Virginia Christian, Vol. 27, No. 7, July 2020, p. 8. Reprinted by permission.