Is The Government The Ultimate Authority?

Society is a part of the authority in making laws but it is not the ultimate authority. The ultimate authority comes from God. God is the one who has “encrypted” us all with an instinct nature of what is right versus wrong. It is because we were made in His image which allows us to share an absolute truth. Because man is sinful, we cannot possibly create the laws off of our own ideas because what may be just for one person may not be for another, there would be disorder and chaos. We are not perfect and thus cannot create a perfect system of law and government.

Rom 13:1,3-4,6 says “Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established... Do you want to be free from fear of the one in authority? Then do what is right and he will commend you. For he is God's servant to do you good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword for nothing... This is why you pay taxes, for the authorities are God's servants, who give their full time to governing. 1 Pet 2:13-14 also says “submit yourselves for the Lord's sake to every authority instituted among men: whether to the king, 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. It is clearly stated in these verses that God has placed law and authority over us.

However, if Sarah believes laws are created only by societies then she is looking at a Secular Humanist view, not a Christian view. Secular Humanists believe that laws evolve over time and man is perfectly capable of creating their own since they do not believe in the supernatural. The problem with this is if laws are constantly evolving than they are always changing and nothing is for certain as what may be a law one day might not be another. How can order be established if there is no set law? If the government makes up the laws for our rights than they can just as easily take them away. Where would equality and freedom then be? The government could pick and choose based on a majority who and what laws are worthy to be given. This could lead to rebellion or suppression of a group or type of people as already seen in history (black racial prejudice, Holocaust ect) when there are rules that go against the laws given by God. In order to have an organized and universal set of laws there must be only one supreme ruler which puts laws in place and intertwines them within humanity’s character so that everyone has an understanding of right and wrong.