Theocratic Government by G.

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Apr 29, 1903

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 29, No. 17.

Theocratic Government

By G.

Theocratic Government.—It is a great mistake to suppose that in a true theocracy the Church controls the State. This is the National Reform theory, but it is a misconception. Our example is that of the government of Israel before the people demanded a king. There was not a union of Church and State as understood in modern times, for the Church and State were a unit. True, there were men chosen for various duties—the Levites conducted the public religious services, and the princes and captains and magistrates performed other duties. But the Levites were not the Church, nor were the other tribes the State. All the people composed the Church, and all the people composed the State. The Levites did not dictate to the State officials, nor did the latter dictate to the Levites. The Lord gave the laws and regulations for both. That is true theocracy. Now the National Reformers, and, logically, the supporters of their “bureau,” want the Church to say what the State shall do; and they point with pride to what they have accomplished in this line. This they call theocracy, at least they base their prerogative on the theocracy of Israel. But in their desire to have the Church, as represented by them, do the things that God Himself did under the theocracy, they simply try to put themselves in the place of God. But, remembering that even a true theocracy could not hold the people in allegiance to God, what hope is there for the success of an imitation scheme? G.