CHURCH
How do we govern? President Abraham Lincoln famously addressed the nation from the field of battle during the civil war. He attempted to show his resolve to end slavery and preserve our nation under its guiding principles of freedom, gifted from God, for everyone, when he said, “that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom- that government of the people, by the people, for the people shall not perish from the earth.” We echo those words in many places, today, as music to the ears of the human soul: “of the people, by the people, for the people”. But do we truly know what he meant and where those words came from?…
Those words were a quotation from John Wycliffe, the master of Balliol College, Oxford, in the late fourteenth century. President Lincoln knew that. Wycliffe was called the “Morning Star of the Reformation”. They came from Wycliffe’s introduction to his translation of the Bible into English in 1384. Listen to this….Here’s his quote: “This BIBLE is for the government of the People, by the People, and for the People.” When President Lincoln spoke those words America was Bible literate and knew the entire quote and, that the words were from Wycliffe. Not so today. So how do we govern? The BIBLE! Os Guinness, in his book, Last Call for Liberty, says regarding this: “….religious freedom goes hand in hand with civil freedom…” Let freedom ring!
All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work. 2 Timothy 3: 16-17
Submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every human authority: whether to the emperor, as the supreme authority, or to governors, who are sent by him to punish those who do wrong and to commend those who do right. For it is God’s will that by doing good you should silence the ignorant talk of foolish people. Live as free people, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as God’s slaves. Show proper respect to everyone, love the family of believers, fear God, honor the emperor. 1 Peter 2: 13-17
CIVIL GOVERNMENT
How do we govern? President Abraham Lincoln famously addressed the nation from the field of battle during the civil war. He attempted to show his resolve to end slavery and preserve our nation under its guiding principles of freedom, gifted from God, for everyone, when he said, “that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom- that government of the people, by the people, for the people shall not perish from the earth.” We echo those words in many places, today, as music to the ears of the human soul: “of the people, by the people, for the people”. But do we truly know what he meant and where those words came from?…
Those words were a quotation from John Wycliffe, the master of Balliol College, Oxford, in the late fourteenth century. President Lincoln knew that. Wycliffe was called the “Morning Star of the Reformation”. They came from Wycliffe’s introduction to his translation of the Bible into English in 1384. Listen to this….Here’s his quote: “This BIBLE is for the government of the People, by the People, and for the People.” When President Lincoln spoke those words America was Bible literate and knew the entire quote and, that the words were from Wycliffe. Not so today. So how do we govern? The BIBLE! Os Guinness, in his book, Last Call for Liberty, says regarding this: “….religious freedom goes hand in hand with civil freedom…” Let freedom ring!
All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work. 2 Timothy 3: 16-17
Submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every human authority: whether to the emperor, as the supreme authority, or to governors, who are sent by him to punish those who do wrong and to commend those who do right. For it is God’s will that by doing good you should silence the ignorant talk of foolish people. Live as free people, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as God’s slaves. Show proper respect to everyone, love the family of believers, fear God, honor the emperor. 1 Peter 2: 13-17
FAMILY
God created three governing authorities- Family, the Church and Civil Government; each was established to complement the others; to do otherwise spells disaster.
Governing authorities begin with the family, and the family is the original governing institution. This notion of the family as a governing authority finds its intellectual roots stretching as far back as Aristotle. In his Politics, the ancient philosopher traced the polis, or Greek city-state, from villages from the family unit.
Well before Aristotle, the polis, or anything else for that matter, God created the family as the foundation of civilization:
So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.
And God blessed them. And God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it, and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over every living thing that moves on the earth,” Genesis 1:27-28
This same God created the civil governing authorities to whom we are to submit ourselves, Romans 13:1. We first learn to submit ourselves to these authorities through the family structure as children, obeying our parents in “everything,” Colossians 3:20,
And why should we obey our parents and the civil governing authorities? Because God created these governing bodies, Romans 13:1, and it pleases Him. Colossians 3:20. God knows that if you rebel against your less-than-perfect parents and civil government, you will not submit yourself and obey God and His perfect rule.
It all starts with the family.
WHY DESTINE
DESTINE (The Daniel & Esther Statesmanship Training Institute for National Evangelism) stands in the gap to recruit and equip Godly professional athletes and Olympians and network them into the political arena to attain public office. To provide ongoing training, coaching and prayer for these leaders. To fulfill the Exodus 18:21 mandate.
God has created 3 institutions: the church, civic government, and the family. We are called to choose and develop Godly leaders for each. We have been mostly absent in government leadership for 100 years. It is time to change that.
THE EXODUS MANDATE
“But select capable men from all the people—men who fear God, trustworthy men who hate dishonest gain—and appoint them as officials over thousands, hundreds, fifties and tens.”
Exodus 18:21
D.E.S.T.I.N.E.
Daniel was a righteous, Godly man of princely lineage. He was taken away from his homeland to oppressive conditions but stayed true to God. He demonstrated great self-discipline and high character under fire. Daniel teaches us that God may continue to work His plan when all seems lost, so long as we focus on God.
“Daniel answered, “May the king live forever! My God sent his angel, and he shut the mouths of the lions. They have not hurt me, because I was found innocent in his sight. Nor have I ever done any wrong before you, Your Majesty.”
The king was overjoyed and gave orders to lift Daniel out of the den. And when Daniel was lifted from the den, no wound was found on him, because he had trusted in his God.”
Daniel 6:23,24
Esther is a powerful example of how God strategically places people to lead and save His people. She demonstrates tremendous courage, in an untenable environment, to a righteous cause. God rewards the effort with a miraculous transition to a winning, righteous conclusion. Esther is an example that can be followed by people in powerful positions, who must speak truth-to-power.
“For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father’s family will perish. And who knows but that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this?”
Esther 4:14
Statesmanship – noun
The ability, qualifications, or practice of a statesman; wisdom and skill in the management of public affairs.
“In selecting men for office, let principle be your guide. Regard not the particular sect or denomination of the candidate — look at his character. It is alleged by men of loose principles, or defective views of the subject, that religion and morality are not necessary or important qualifications for political stations. But the scriptures teach a different doctrine. They direct that rulers should be men who rule in the fear of God, men of truth, hating covetousness. It is to the neglect of this rule that we must ascribe the multiplied frauds, breaches of trust, speculations and embezzlements of public property which astonish even ourselves; which tarnish the character of our country and which disgrace our government. When a citizen gives his vote to a man of known immorality, he abuses his civic responsibility; he not only sacrifices his own responsibility; he sacrifices not only his own interest, but that of his neighbor; he betrays the interest of his country.”– Noah Webster
But how can I bear your problems and your burdens and your disputes all by myself? Choose some wise, understanding and respected men from each of your tribes, and I will set them over you.”
Deuteronomy 1: 12-13
Institute – noun
- A society or organization for carrying on a particular work, as of a literary, scientific, or educational character.
- The building occupied by such a society.
Education
- an institution, generally beyond the secondary school level, devoted to instruction in technical subjects, usually separate but sometimes organized as a part of a university.
- a unit within a university organized for advanced instruction and research in a relatively narrow field of subject matter.
- a short instructional program set up for a special group interested in a specialized field or subject.
- of, relating to, or maintained by a nation as an organized whole or independent political unit: national affairs.
- owned, preserved, or maintained by the federal government: a national wildlife refuge.
- peculiar or common to the whole people of a country: national customs.
- devoted to one’s own nation, its interests, etc.; patriotic: to stir up national pride.
“For lack of guidance a nation falls, but victory is won through many advisers.” Proverbs 11:14
Evangelism: noun
- the preaching or promulgation of the gospel; the work of an evangelist.
- evangelicalism.
- missionary zeal, purpose, or activity.
Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
Matthew 28: 18-20
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THE APPOINTMENT OF LEADERS
