Moral Responsibility and the State

Synopsis     1Sam 12:7-13     9/8/2018

After confirming Saul’s kingship in front of all the people, Samuel gave a farewell address. He reminded the people of their history with God. He reminded them that God had always been faithful to lead the Israelites and to protect them.

Samuel conveyed to the assembly the importance of their faithfulness to God. He explained to them that most of their troubles weren’t because of the power of their neighboring nations. But instead, their own unfaithfulness had created their troubles.

Finally, he told them that, although they had been given the king they demanded, that no king could protect them from unfaithfulness.

The Protection of the Kingship

The Israelites wanted a king because they felt they would be better protected from the tyranny of neighboring nations. They wanted to end the oppression imposed on Israel from foreign military power.

But as Samuel explained, God had functioned as the king of the people from the time of Moses. God had been their protection. And they only ever became vulnerable when they did what was wrong. So, God made clear through Samuel that even a king would be of no benefit if the people were unfaithful.

Moral Responsibility and the State

I can’t transfer my moral responsibility to the state.

The thing about the natural moral law is that the state cannot insulate me from the responsibility to do the right thing. And so, persistently doing the wrong thing, especially in the midst of a community of people who persistently do the wrong things, only aggregates and compounds the wrong.

Participation in the Authentic Community means keeping my eyes wide open. So, I will examine myself daily.

“Examine yourselves to see whether you are living in faith. Test yourselves. Do you not realize that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless, of course, you fail the test.” 2Cor 13:5