Finishing up with the last two paragraphs of "Civil Government: The Neglected Ministry"
which I'll be sending to dozens of pastors close to the next election and encourage them to study it and pass the information on to their congregation.
"When rulers or magistrates enforce God's law, they become the ministers of God to people for good, ministers of God to bring God's revenge by executing God's prescribed wrath upon those that do evil (Rom. 13:4). It is for this cause that we are to be subject to them for conscience' sake, and to pay tribute to them: "for they are God's ministers, attending continually upon this very thing" (Rom. 13: 5, 6). The inspired word of God used for "minister" here reinforces the nature of the ruler's calling and duty. The ruler is a leitourgos, a public servant of God, a public functionary in the Temple or Gospel; in the general sense of the word, he is a worshiper of God or (and) a benefactor of man. His function is, as the derivation of the word makes clear, an active one: he is to toil, as an effort or occupation. For those of us who lack a knowledge of Greek, the word of God makes this point evident: the ruler,'God's minister, is to be "attending continually upon this very thing" (vs. 6).
which I'll be sending to dozens of pastors close to the next election and encourage them to study it and pass the information on to their congregation.
"When rulers or magistrates enforce God's law, they become the ministers of God to people for good, ministers of God to bring God's revenge by executing God's prescribed wrath upon those that do evil (Rom. 13:4). It is for this cause that we are to be subject to them for conscience' sake, and to pay tribute to them: "for they are God's ministers, attending continually upon this very thing" (Rom. 13: 5, 6). The inspired word of God used for "minister" here reinforces the nature of the ruler's calling and duty. The ruler is a leitourgos, a public servant of God, a public functionary in the Temple or Gospel; in the general sense of the word, he is a worshiper of God or (and) a benefactor of man. His function is, as the derivation of the word makes clear, an active one: he is to toil, as an effort or occupation. For those of us who lack a knowledge of Greek, the word of God makes this point evident: the ruler,'God's minister, is to be "attending continually upon this very thing" (vs. 6).
There can be no "benevolent neglect" of the ministry of government. For to neglect the ministry of the magistrate is to neglect the Christian's duty to be a teacher, missionary and servant of the Lord, to neglect the Lord's command to occupy for Him, to surrender a third of the very Kingdom of God! To occupy. the ministry of the magistrate is to wield a powerful sword in the army of the Kingdom of God."