Biblical Government & Authority

The Bible speaks to 4 types of government/authority.

In descending order based on the quantity of authority delegated by God:

Self-government:  We are accountable for our own actions being right.

Family-government:  Husbands/Fathers have specific authorities/responsibilities, as do Wives/Mothers and Children.

Church-government:  Who should be deacons, elders, teachers, etc.

Civil-government:  To protect individuals from theft (of life, liberty or property) at the hands of other individuals.

Civil-government has a natural tendency to encroach on the realms of the responsibilities of individuals, families & churches.  This is the natural result of a depraved human nature that chooses to abandon responsibilities to categories that absorb the tasks in an effort to increase their perverse desire for power over others.