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NASB | Proverbs 3:13 ¶ How blessed is the man who finds wisdom And the man who gains understanding. |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | Proverbs 3:13 ¶ Happy [blessed, considered fortunate, to be admired] is the man who finds [skillful and godly] wisdom, And the man who gains understanding and insight [learning from God's word and life's experiences], |
Bible Question:
There are those who would want our country to adopt the Mosaic civil law, along with all of its proscriptions and punishments. The Bible should be the only guide for determining the rule of law in America. Did you agree or disagree? 1 Pet. 2:9; Rev. 1:6; Acts 15:13-21; Gal. 3:19, 4:1-11; Col. 2:16-23; Heb. 7:12, 8:13, 9:8-10; John 3:17; Tit. 3:4; 2 Pet. 3:9, 15. |
Bible Answer: Hi, kalos; Disagree. The Mosaic Law was given to a nation chosen by God with a king of God's choosing (Deut 17:14-15). The laws of that nation were to be adjudicated by judges chosen for each tribe (Deut 16:18) in courts that included the Levitical priesthood (Deut. 17:8-9). That nation no longer exists as a political entity, so there is no longer a civil society for it to govern. Jesus distinguished between the Kingdom of God and the civil authorities (Matthew 22:16-21), as did Paul (Romans 13:1-6). Paul wrote that the civil authorities were God's servants and exercised power instituted by God, but neither Jesus nor Paul asserted that the Roman Senate or Emperor were subject to the Mosaic Law. In Romans 1, Paul condemned the pagan religion of Rome, but not the exercise of political power by the Roman civil authorities, pagan or otherwise. I think American Christians should accept the historical reality that ours is a secular nation established by the Constitution. The Constitution reflects the values and beliefs primarily of Christians, Deists, and a handful of Enlightenment philosophers. It is a political document with no mention of Jesus or even God. There is a great deal that could be said about the role of religion - any religion - in American society and politics and about what part Christians should play. But that's a different discussion. Peace and grace, Steve aka Indiana Jones |