Guess what the pagan king gave the Jews after Haman was killed and his conspiracy foiled? The king’s edict granted the Jews in every city the right to assemble and protect themselves; to destroy, kill and annihilate the armed men of any nationality or province who might attack them and their women and children, andContinue reading “The Bible Contains Wisdom for Nations, Not Merely for Individuals. Esther 8:11.”
Category Archives: Governance/Politics/Law
Politicians. Esther 9:16.
The worst thing my father ever said about another man may have been: “He’s nothin’ but a politician.” He only said it twice. These two men got under my father’s skin for three reasons: (1) they took on leadership positions not to serve, but to build their influence and their resume, (2) they cultivated friendshipsContinue reading “Politicians. Esther 9:16.”
HOW DO YOU PROVE OWNERSHIP? Jeremiah 32:9-15.
When I was a child, Mama wrote my name on the tags of my coats, so they would not be lost or stolen. The older and more careless I became, the more things needed my name on them: books, toys, balls, bats, bicycles. The simplest way to assert dominion over goods (portable property) is toContinue reading “HOW DO YOU PROVE OWNERSHIP? Jeremiah 32:9-15.”
Governance: How Will You Decide For Whom to Vote? Jeremiah 22:3.
America once elected a president who was an excellent speaker. He was good at explaining his beliefs about government, and would tell a joke now and then to keep you listening. People called him the “Great Communicator” and his enemies marveled at the way he could get his message out no matter how journalists fromContinue reading “Governance: How Will You Decide For Whom to Vote? Jeremiah 22:3.”
Poisonous Lawsuits. Hosea 10:4.
In his book NARCONOMICS, economist Tom Wainwright argues that drug cartels do not necessarily have more conflicts than other businesses. But they resolve conflicts with guns because they cannot use the legal system. In other words, drug lords murder people because when a contract for illegal drugs is breached, the seller can’t file a lawsuitContinue reading “Poisonous Lawsuits. Hosea 10:4.”
Public-Order Crimes.
All societies prosecute violent crimes: murder, rape, armed robbery, kidnapping, and assault. We even prosecute “white collar crimes,” wrongs committed by people sitting at computers in shirts and ties: embezzlement, securities fraud, insider trading. But Public Order crimes are controversial. Should gambling be a crime? Drugs? Prostitution? People call these “victimless crimes,” arguing that ifContinue reading “Public-Order Crimes.”
The Monarchy.
The book of Judges might be re-named “the Book of Committees.” Protestant churches love committees, right? Ours even has a Committee on Committees, a committee whose members nominate people to serve on other committees. But without an executive–without a chief at the top–committees can devolve into a league of partisan teams battling over authority (“vision”)Continue reading “The Monarchy.”
Household Words: 