As we approach the presidential election of 2024, more and more Christians are turning their thoughts to the Bible to guide their actions and decisions.

To establish good civilizations and good governments, we need to put into practice all of the good advice—all of the Wisdom—that the Bible gives us. (Matthew 7:24-27).

This doesn’t mean memorizing and applying the literal government practices that are described by the Bible in the vastly different circumstances thousands of years ago. What kinds of practices? Polygamy! Slavery! Stoning!

Instead, it means putting into practice the words and Wisdom of Jesus by applying the principles that Jesus taught us—and teaches us.

Mere memorization of Bible verses won’t be enough. Indeed, if applied out of context, words that were wise at the time they were given, may become foolish if applied unthinkingly in the circumstances that exist today.

I explained this in my blogs “Civilizations and Governments: A Good Trainer”  and “Civilizations and Governments: A Good Wife”; and in Appendix 2 of my book The Promised Land, at pages 160-164 (first published in 2004). At pages 163-164, I wrote:

[A] way of illustrating the need to apply the Bible thoughtfully in different circumstances and cultures involves using Legos, Tinker Toys, square blocks, and Lincoln Logs to build a house.

These four toys are different. Yet each can be used to  build a fine toy house.

Similarly, in different cultures, the ways of building a righteous community can differ. Only the foundation, Jesus Christ, remains the same (1 Corinthians 3:9-15).

For example, Abraham owned slaves. Yet he was a highly commended servant of God.

Moses, the great lawgiver, did not establish the separation of church and state in Ancient Israel.

David ruled as a king, rather than as an elected official. Yet he reigned with the blessing and anointing of God.

And Paul, despite his statement that there is neither male nor female for we are all one in Jesus Christ, told the women to be silent in the churches.

So we can only imagine what future generations may think of what today are common beliefs and practices of Christians regarding social customs, war, the economy, the environment, and how governments should function.

Therefore, in different cultures, the building blocks of a righteous community may vary.

For example, in a tribal society, we built with ordinary square building blocks. In medieval times, we built with Tinker Toys. In early America, we built with Lincoln Logs. And today, we build with Legos.

This illustration also shows a danger we face in applying Christianity to different people, places and cultures.

If the Christians who are different from us are faithfully building a righteous community on the foundation of Jesus Christ using Tinker Toys, we must not use Legos when we try to help.

The different method that worked so well in our own culture may not work in their culture. Indeed, our well-intentioned—but misguided—efforts may weaken, and perhaps destroy, their righteous community. Similarly, we must take care not to harm different cultures by blindly applying ideas and methods from the United States to those cultures.

This need to change building methods as facts and circumstances change also warns us against mindlessly continuing traditional ways of doing things. We will need to change our building methods from time to time.

Therefore, we should build our righteous community with open-mindedness and flexibility. Then new ideas and new ways can be added to our righteous community without too much trouble.

And we should be open-minded and humble enough to accept new ideas and new ways. Even if it means tearing down a part of the community that used to work very well and that we loved just the way it was.

Only when we build this way can we establish the work of our hands.

So I hope that my books [and blogs and podcasts] will help you establish the work of your hands by teaching you how to build your life, God’s family, righteous communities, and a good civilization on the foundation laid by Jesus Christ

—[who embodies the Spirit of the LORD who produces love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Galatians 5:22-23); and

—who embodies the Presence of the LORD who is compassionate, gracious, slow to anger, abounds in love and faithfulness, maintains love to thousands of generations, and forgives wickedness, rebellion and sin while reducing as much as feasible the bad consequences of bad choices (Exodus 34:6-7)].

THINGS TO THINK ABOUT

Was it good for Abraham to be a polygamist and a slaveowner? Why or why not?

Was it good for Moses to establish a theocracy instead of “separating church and state”? Why or why not?

What is a theocracy? How is a theocracy different from the government of the United States? Are the differences good? Why or why not?

Was it good for King David to become king and remain in power without holding elections? Why or why not?

Should Christians in the United Kingdom try to end the monarchy and to stop government support of, and interference with, the Church of England? Why or why not?

What does it mean to build civilizations and governments on the foundation of Jesus Christ?

How should civilizations and governments built on the foundation of Jesus Christ interact with people who are not followers of Jesus Christ? Why?

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For related thoughts, please read my blogs “Civilizations and Governments: An Independent Path”; “Civilizations and Governments: Giving Wisdom Without Finding Fault”; “Civilizations and Governments: Using the Word To Build a New Earth”, “Civilizations and Governments: A Good Trainer”, and “Civilizations and Governments: A Good Wife”.

In my blog “Building Houses on Rock: Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness”, I apply the principles of the Sermon on the Mount to explain why the Freedoms of Speech and of Religion are essential to a good civilization and a good government.