To whom did God give children?

Several weeks ago I briefly answered the question, “Which came first, the chicken or the egg?”

While I do not wish to discuss the answer at length, we do need to understand that such a question is evolutionary in nature. That is, it has evolved from a philosophy that rejects the Genesis account of creation. In typical fashion, questions and arguments are put forward that are designed to damage what God has said — just like the serpent, that old devil, in Genesis 3 when he asked, “Yea, hath God said …?” To the thinking individual, it is clear that offspring descend from parentage, but for those who reject God, it is just incredulous to think God could possibly create a mature creation.

With this being said, you also need to understand this philosophy has not contented itself with the biological realm, but has extended its reach into the social realm as well. While they might not be asking if parents came first or not, what they are asking is, “Which came first, the government or the family?”

This is the fundamental concept behind the assertion that it takes a village to raise a child. The reason why they raise this question is because the answer determines authority: Who is subservient to whom? And the reason I ask to whom did God give children is not just to expose tactics employed, but to point out that it will be through the children that the whole family will be enslaved.

Despite the Declaration of Independence assertion that government, and especially our own, derives its power from the consent of the governed, it is for the sake of children that the question is raised. Despite the 13th Amendment that abolished slavery, we are told, “It’s for the children.” Despite elected officials whose oath of office includes their upholding of our Constitution and bureaucratic officials of Alaska state government the same, more power is requested for the sake of children.

But the Biblical record is clear: The family is God’s institution of origination and it is to families, not the government, that children are given. In both Genesis 1 and 2 we find the creation of the home. While chapter 2 focuses on its legitimacy in verses 18 and 22, it is in chapter 1 where we see its authority in verse 28 with terms such as “subdue” and “dominion.” While some might allegorize this to infer government, such an argument cannot be supported from the text which says “unto them.”

No, the concept of government is not found until Genesis 9:6, which says, “Whoso sheddeth man’s blood, by man shall his blood be shed …”

And thus we see a contrast, for while God gives authority to the family to use the resources of the earth to live, government’s sole purpose for existence is to punish behavior decreed by God to be bad, at this point even limited to capital punishment for murderers.

For those of you who prefer the New Testament, we find the same sentiments echoed there. In Romans 13, government is again limited in authority to that of being a “revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil.” The whole reason taxes are even legitimized here is our responsibility to fund their services. But that the family also has a scope of authority is found in Galatians 4, where we are told that a child “is under tutors and governors until the time appointed of the father.” Who is biblically the authority over even a child’s education? His name is Dad.

While the Bible teaches us to be law-abiding citizens, what the Bible does not teach is for government to be self-serving and intrusive.

Now, I say all this to say that though Constitutionally such rights cannot be taken from us, we can give them up. Apart from some kind of military aggression, a free country can only be subdued incrementally. Large ocean-going vessels cannot turn on a dime. The reason America is where she is today, why she has the president and Congress she has, why she carries the financial burdens she does, is because a lot of little choices have been made along the way — wrong choices.

The truth is, some things are better off not started. The hardest thing you will ever do is try to say “no” to that which has developed a voracious appetite.

Ron Hamman is pastor of Independent Baptist Church of Wasilla; contact him at 357-4229 or ron.hamman@gci.net.