Influencing government in developing countries

I found the update button! Sorry for the delay in posting, but there were other things more important than blogging that arose during the last week. However, I have been musing on the importance and place of proper church government in Christian missions. It seems that the importance of church government has been largely ignored in the twentieth century in the midst of a sincere desire on the part of Christians to see the lost know Jesus in a personal way. Para-church mission agencies have passionately gone out in the name of Jesus, but have largely left the church behind, or at least left behind a strong sense of how the church is to be governed under her King and Savior, Jesus.

Before you write me off as a stodgy presbyterian who is hopelessly stuck in the mud, consider the consequences of error in this field.. As those with a kingdom theology, we recognize that Jesus is interested in far more than merely individuals, but also nations - whole societies as well. When the gospel permeates a land, the civil government of that nation should be affected. Where will new believers have their first introduction to orderly government? It should be the church. My developing thesis, which is by no means complete in my own mind, is that the form of civil government which develops or changes in a nation that is freshly impacted by the gospel will reflect the form of church government that is operative among the people whose lives have recently been changed. Of course, church government will always look different that civil government, but parallels do and will exist.

Consider various patterns in the history of the world. In lands where Roman Catholicism has been strong, absolute monarchies and dictatorships have abounded. Take for example the Philippines, parts of Central and South America, Spain, and so forth. On the other hand, look at the anarchy that tenaciously remains in lands deeply impacted by Pentecostalism and para-church missions groups which tend to emphasize a highly congregation/informal church government. Nations of Africa, modern day Central America, and some parts of Southeast Asia serve as examples here. Finally, consider the civil governments of nations formed or reformed through the influence of Christians discipled in Presbyterian and Reformed churches or others with a similar form of church government. Many of the nations of Western Europe, the United States, Australia, and South Korea reflect the republican form of government exemplified in biblical presbyterianism. Those the governments of these nations are far, far from perfect, it is in these nations that we see the greatest balance of freedom and stability.

This thesis is in seed form and incomplete. However, you begin to see that if we really care about having a biblical worldview, if we really care about societies and nations being influenced then we must give great care to our doctrine of church government so that new believers will be quietly discipled in governance that most glorifies the Lord of the church and nation. Where else will converts, who will one day impact the nation, learn in the early stages of their Christian walk what true leadership and orderly governance is all about? Of course, it is not the church’s primary mission to teach about how civil government ought to be formed, but it does best to provide a model of stable prebyterian/republican governance.

It is a noble thing to desire a person from a dark land to know the Lord, but it is a far more noble thing to desire to see that person know the Lord and then know how it is that the Lord wants to be glorified in every part of life. The stability of nations is at stake - and because the stakes are so high, it seems to me that we ought to at least give greater consideration to these truths as we seek to carry out the great commission.