Foundations For Discovering The Proper Role Of Government [Podcast]

Michael WintherPodcast

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Voting adults have a hand in the political process in one way or another. Yet government instruction and good government learning in particular is lacking in our schools and our children’s lives. 

Mike Winther breaks down why it is so important for children to learn good government principles and the proper role of government. He talks about authority, biblical principles, how we can help our society to thrive.

You’ll Learn:

  • [01:06] All of the political issues that we debate have an underlying question of what is the proper role of government.
  • [02:15] Mike shares a scenario about how parents invest massive amounts of time into their kids’ sports and extracurricular activities. Children receive thousands of hours of instruction. They get one semester of government instruction, but they are all going to vote. We need to train adults and children in government. 
  • [07:34] Our society is crumbling because we aren’t teaching good government to our children.
  • [08:25] Matthew 28 the Great Commission. Jesus shares his final charge with his apostles.
  • [14:57] All passages of scripture are central and necessary. God’s word is critical from property rights to business and economics.
  • [18:13] As Christians we often focus on family government and church government and neglect civil government.
  • [19:01] Christians need to learn what the biblical principles of society and government are. 
  • [21:26] Civil government is small when family and church governments are strong. When civil government grows, family and church government shrink.
  • [22:48] We often talk about power and authority when we talk about government. These two are not the same.
  • [24:45] Power is the ability to make someone do something. 
  • [25:36] We want to make sure that when the government uses power that it does it under the proper authority.
  • [31:59] Does the Constitution get its authority from the people? There are problems with having the people be the source of authority. 
  • [34:01] God is the source of all legitimate authority.
  • [39:48] Where does the source of our rights come from? If the government is the source of our rights, it would mean that what they give they could also take away. Is that the type of society we want to live in?
  • [42:49] Do we want the majority to be our source of rights?
  • [43:55] The Constitution is a document created by the people that can be amended.
  • [45:21] The only way to have secure rights is if they are from God. Our founding fathers understood this.
  • [50:38] Mike gives an example of property rights and volunteer charity. 
  • [54:34] The source of rights and authority are from God.

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