"If men were angels, no government would be necessary." James Madison
Unfortunately, we are not.
Derrick
3 comments:
Anonymous
said...
I don't really get this one. Would there be no need for government because everyone would do the right thing all the time? Or because God would be the only government we need?
I was looking at the quote from two distinctly different potential meanings. Satan having been an angel as well, I was looking at the context maybe too deeply. It also translates ( to me ) as possibly meaning that Godly men would need no governing. Godly men would govern themselves if true in spiritual harmony with Scripture. Am I off base on this one? Interesting quote.
Russ, I think, considering it was Madison, would be more in line with the second idea. Except that he would also understand the Biblical teaching that there are no people who are righteous. I think that is why (I think it was him) he pushed for the balance of powers and checks and balances because he understood the heart of man.
3 comments:
I don't really get this one. Would there be no need for government because everyone would do the right thing all the time? Or because God would be the only government we need?
I was looking at the quote from two distinctly different potential meanings. Satan having been an angel as well, I was looking at the context maybe too deeply. It also translates ( to me ) as possibly meaning that Godly men would need no governing. Godly men would govern themselves if true in spiritual harmony with Scripture. Am I off base on this one? Interesting quote.
Russ, I think, considering it was Madison, would be more in line with the second idea. Except that he would also understand the Biblical teaching that there are no people who are righteous. I think that is why (I think it was him) he pushed for the balance of powers and checks and balances because he understood the heart of man.
Derrick
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