Mosiah 29

(September 12, 2014)

                As I read through this chapter, it dawned on me how clearly government seeks to replace the true Theocracy, and how so many people look to government and worship it in place of God in some tragic form of idolatry.  There must, of course, be temporal governments, but these governments arise in three forms.  First, there are those who seek to build man’s relationship with Deity.  These are positive and worthwhile governmental systems, which seek to augment or administer the Lord’s works.  Second, there are those who seek to get out of the way of man’s relationship with Deity.  These are neutral – neither positive nor negative – but the Lord’s work can thrive in this environment as well.  Finally, there are those governments that seek to supplant man’s relationship with Deity.  These governments become idolatrous almost by definition through the attempted deification of its rulers.

                What seems to be the case, though, is that too often the second type of government becomes over time the third – it progresses from neutral in respect to religion to becoming hostile towards religion.  It does this, I expect, because too many of the people involved in government do not like the fact that anyone’s loyalty is to religion rather than towards the government.  When you set yourself up as a false god, it must be frustrating for people to continue to worship the True and Living God.  Thus the hostility increases over time.