Genesis 1–11: God’s Design for Government

Genesis 1–11: God’s Design for Government (Pt. 5/5)

Building a nation to be increasingly consistent with God’s will and in fellowship with him sounds like building a Christian nation. This final video clarifies that this is categorically not the case. For God’s design for a nation is that the spheres of government and of religion are to be mutually independent. In the OT, the nation of Israel was supposedly a “theocracy.” Even then the king and the priests were mutually independent. What then is God’s design for government? This video presents the twofold role of the government in nation-building—to build the country into a nation and the nation to be consistent with God’s will in upholding justice and mercy in every sphere of the nation. Since Genesis 9:6 presents the beginning of government in terms of the mandate given to carry out capital punishment, special attention is given to the basis for capital punishment and how it should be practiced in light of this basis. When properly practiced, and not as currently practiced, capital punishment has formative influence in helping build a nation to be in fellowship with God and consistent with his will.

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Genesis 1–11: God’s Design for Government (Pt. 5/5)

Welcoming the Year of the Horse with Dim Eyes and Feeble Limbs

 

The Chinese New Year festival, being a spring festival, is naturally celebrated with renewed energy and fresh hope. The cold, dreary winter is behind us. The Year of the Horse symbolically augurs new opportunities, success and prosperity for the year ahead. “Time to blast fire crackers with eager anticipation!” This spirit of optimism is aptly captured in popular New Year greetings:

马到成功 (Mǎ dào chéng gōng): May success arrive as swiftly as a horse (Immediate success).
龙马精神 (Lóng mǎ jīng shén): Full of vigor and spirit like a dragon and horse (Vitality and strength).
一马当先 (Yī mǎ dāng xiān): May you take the lead and set the pace (To be first/forefront).
马上发财 (Mǎ shàng fā cái): May wealth come immediately (Get rich instantly).

However, these greetings and celebrations can evoke nostalgia and quiet melancholy in some older people. They cannot deny the fatigue that accompanies the fading vitality of their advancing years. Scripture captures this poignantly: Continue reading “Welcoming the Year of the Horse with Dim Eyes and Feeble Limbs”

Genesis 1–11: God’s Design for Nationhood

Genesis 1–11: God’s Design for Nationhood (Pt. 4/5)

The Great Commission is about making disciples of all nations to rebuild the global civilization to be in fellowship with God and consistent with his will. This video clarifies the meaning of “civilization” and “nation” based on Genesis 1–11. This is to present a biblical understanding of nationhood in light of the Creation Mandate as renewed in the Great Commission. In the process it explains how making disciples of Christ in a nation rebuilds civilization. A civilization is a developed culture. It is the outcome of God creating humanity with God-like abilities. A civilization consistent with God’s will is one that upholds “do justice and love mercy.” This correlates to God creating humanity with the God-like qualities of love and justice. A country may not (yet) be a nation. Building a country into a nation goes hand in hand with building a nation that is consistent with God’s will. For a nation is a community of people bound by a set of characteristics that motivates them to treat one another with justice and mercy regardless of race or ethnicity.
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