Running Head:
ROLE OF GOVERNMENT
The Affordable Care Act: The Government’s Role and Biblical Principles
Jon Skeens
PADM 550- B03
Dr. Tory Weaver
January 28
th
, 2017
GOVERNMENT
2
It is generally accepted that biblical principals were integrated into the formation of
Western governments, especially the United States government.
According to Monsma “even if
sin had never entered the world, some form of government would have been necessary”
(Monsma, 2005) in God’s perfect creation.
Of course it would have been governed differently
but a government would have been required as the generations grew.
The Bible outlines
important concepts that dictate the role of government, including the concepts of inalienable
rights; natural law; separation of church and state; covenant/federalism; and sin/crime
distinction.
The Bible is clear on the relationship between Christians and the government.
Peter
wrote, “therefore submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord’s sake, whether to
the king as supreme, or to governors, as to those who are sent by him for the punishment of
evildoers and for the praise of those who do good,” (1 Peter 2:13-14, NKJV).
Biblical Concepts
Inalienable Rights.
The Bible clearly states that God is the creator of man and that man
has been blessed with assured human rights.
The book of Genesis confirms that we are made in
God’s image and that man has dominion over the earth.
In an article by Fischer, inalienable
rights is defined as “those rights that are inherent to our personhood.
They cannot be taken away,
nor can they be given away.
Inalienable rights are defined as life, liberty and property.” (Fischer,
2013).
