Checks and Balances
May 9, 1999
Dear Friends,
The government of the United States has successfully operated several centuries on the concept of checks and balances. The three branches of government – the legislative, executive and judicial – share power in a such a way that they oversee one another. In this manner, the system is self-regulating.
True Christianity has its own system of checks and balances. Take for example ecclesial power. Jesus taught his disciples that “whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant.” Jesus taught this by washing the apostle's feet. That the apostles understood this framework is evidenced by their history. The apostles worked harder and suffered more than most of the disciples. Unlike any other organization, true Christian leadership is a leadership of service rather than being served. Hence, it is self-regulating because those who desire to lead must humble themselves in working hard for others. The ordinary benefits of such a position (power, money, helpers, etc.) are taken away. Those who are neither humble nor are servant are not true leaders. Only the sincere and devout need apply!
In a similar fashion, true Christianity self-regulates morality. There is no legalistic maneuvering one can do and still please God. In true Christianity, even if you do the right thing with the wrong motive, you are condemned. The Pharisees were the perfect examples of this. They pushed all the right buttons. They followed every ritual in place under the Law. They prayed. They went to the temple. They gave alms. Yet, their self-righteous attitude condemned them. Jesus told them they did all of these things for the praise of men rather than God and that they had their reward. Once again the process is self-regulating with checks and balances.
Faith and works are self-regulating. No amount of works without faith can save. Faith without works is dead. Again, the perfect system of checks and balances.
Take as another example, Christian marriage. In Ephesians 5, Paul tells the wives to “submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord.” He immediately follows that up with the admonition to husbands. “Love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it.” A wife is in submission to a man that cares much more about her welfare than his own. Again, the process has its checks and balances.
Although we began by making a reference to the government of the United States, the similarities between it and true Christianity are few. While the US has operated relatively well over its history, it has required constant revision and still has many systemic loopholes left to fill. Contrary to this, true Christianity has no loopholes and cannot be improved. It is perfectly created and perfectly administered. We only have one branch of government – the Branch (Is. 11:1). In the Branch are vested legislative, judicial and executive powers. If there is any fault in the system, it is in the adherents to that system who fail to live according to those principles.
Finally, the Bible tells us that “if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged.” It also says “Judge not, that ye be not judged. For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again.” In other words, if we live very narrowly within the confine of the divine principles Christ has laid out for us and do not succumb to self-righteousness, we will avoid condemnation at the judgment seat of Christ. Yet again, the system of divine justice regulates and monitors itself.
Let us resolve this week to live more closely to the ideal given us in the perfect, self-regulating system of government of true Christianity.
Have a great week!
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