Consent of the Governed
Scholars Crossing
Faculty Publications and Presentations Helms School of Government
10-1985
Consent of the Governed
Steven Alan Samson Liberty University, [email protected]
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Recommended Citation Samson, Steven Alan, "Consent of the Governed" (1985). Faculty Publications and Presentations. 56. https://digitalcommons.liberty.edu/gov_fac_pubs/56
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seeks to show that the Gospel writers are divides into two major sections. Part two tling with issues about which many pastors gifted theologians, not merely compilers examines the redaction (editorial activityl and other careful Bible students need to be of early church tradition about Jesus, but present in the resurrection narratives for more aware. The Gospels are not impartial. creative editors of that tradition. each of the Gospels, part three the tradi newspaperlike records of the life and minis Beginning with a brief survey of previous tional materials at the disposal of the four try of Jesus. They are highly "prejudiced" studies of the resurrection narratives since evangelists. in the sense that, through a selective han the Enlightenment (part one!. the book The main value of this book is its wres- dling of material. they are written to call the reader to faith in Christ. Osborne's work serves to make this unmistakably clear. 1 wish, however, that the brief conclu sion (part fourl could have been expanded. The crucial question touched on here, the relationship between history and interpre tation in the resurrection narratives, is one on which evangelicals need help in arriv ing at an informed consensus. Plainly, Osborne wishes to maintain both historical A new cassette series reliability and theological validity for the interpretation. Questionable, however, is his proposal to accomplish this by ascer taining from the narratives the event of Jesus' resurrection, as uninterpreted as possible, in order on that basis then to validate the evangelists' interpretation. Among Osborne's particular exegetical conclusions, bound to provoke debate from the Barnhouse Archives! among evangelicals, is his view that the true ending of Mark has been lost. He You'll enjoy this col many others, including finds this lost ending hinted at in Matthew lection of classic mes Dr. Barnhouse's power 28:9-10 and possibly 28: 16-20, and pro sages from the confer ful message using the poses a reconstruction that highlights the ence ministry of ETER diagnostic question reversal of the women's fear'to joy, based NITY founder Donald "What right do you primarily on his assessment of Mark's edi Grey Barnhouse. His have to get into torial tendencies. timely applications and heaven?" The text, a complete revision of his doc valuable exposition A great collection on toral dissertation under the supervision of make the messages of Scripture a variety oftopics""::iilled with the I. Howard Marshall, is still heavy with ref a living reality. colorfu I, pointed anecdotes told erences to the views of other scholars. This sometimes makes the thread of Osborne's in the inimitable Barnhouse Visualize the scales of God, ex own argument difficult to follow. Still, serious amine Satan's purpose, and un style. A master storyteller illus students of the resurrection narratives will derstandyourworshipofGod. Plus trating Biblical truths. want to give this book careful attention.!! Order the entire series, 5 cassettes, for $19.00. Or order in dividual cassettes, $4.50 each, 3 for $11.00. 0-179,180 The Scales of God 0-184,185 Jonah Consent of the Governed Your Right to Heaven Be of Good Cheer 0-181 Marriage 0-186 The Promises of God Steve Alan Samson 0-182,183 Fig Leaves Men Whom God Struck Dead BEFORE THE CONVENTION by M. Susan Power 111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111. University Press of America. 1984. 268 pp. $13.00 111 Please send me the new Barnhouse Classics cassette series! 111 Steven Alan Samsofl is assistant professor of political 111 D Send the entire series (5 cassettes) ...... $19.00 111 science and history at Mariofl College, in Marioll. Ifldiana. 111 D Send these individual titles ($4.50 each, 3 for $11.00) 111 (#_-) , (#_-) , (#_-) , (#_-) , (#_-} ...... $-- 111 111 The national traumas of the 1970s provoked 111 0 check, 0 VISA, 0 MasterCard namB 111 a period of public soul-searching and re 111 Acct. # Exp. strBet 111 newed attention to the foundations of civil
_ city sta, zip liliiii order. We now see a growing willingness Mail today to: Bible Study Cassettes among Christian leaderships to articulate -111 - 1716 Spruce St., Phila., PA 19103 -111 and practice their faith publicly according 111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111 to a consciously biblical standard of govern-
58 ETERNITY/OCTOBER 1985 ------IN PRINT
ment. Efforts to bring all areas of life into lamented, not to be celebrated." submission to God hearken back to the Although the book is not written for gen earliest and best of our political traditions: eral consumption, it provides a needed cor namely the public Christianity that shaped rective to the prevalent secular interpreta the American constitutional system. tions of our country's political roots, ac M. Susan Power, a professor of political cepted in many Christian circles. We must science at Arkansas State University, ably attend to rebuilding the foundations before sketches in Before tlie Convention a few of the the pillars of government are toppled. n leading personalities and key elememts of the covenant-making tradition that pro moted local self-government. rule of law, and limited government based on consent Never Ask What is True of the governed. She underscores continuity George M. Marsden of this tradition from the early Puritan set tlements to the War of Independence with a series of studies on the interplay of religion MORMONISM: THE STORY OF A NEW RELIGIOUS TRADITION by Ian S(lipps and politics in the works of three founders: University of Illinois Press. 1985. 212 pp. $14.50 John Winthrop, Thomas Hooker, and John Dickinson, the "penman of the Revolu George M. Marsden is professor of history at Calvin College in Grand Rapids, Michigal1, and editor of tion." These early American Christians Evangelicalism and Modern America regarded religion as a public matter in IEerdlllans, 1984). separable from community life, and urged the idea that government exists "to sup Jan Shipps, the leading non-Mormon (and port. maintain, and extend good moral be non-ex-Mormonj expert on the topic, ap havior" and "to protect. aid, and advance proaches Mormonism largely from the religion and the church." point of view of "history of religions" Separate chapters of the book are de theory, a modern academic cult whose voted to a critique of the ideological va first commandment is "Thou shalt never garies of current scholarly literature, the ask whether it is true." This approach has limited influence of John Locke's theory of some obvious disadvantages. For instance, resistance, and Eric Voegelin's misconcep Shipps makes early Christianity and early tion of the Puritans as "Gnostic revolu Mormonism seem like equivalents. But the tionaries" seeking to establish a millenia I history of religions method also has a few utopia on earth. The discussion of Gover advantages which Shipps makes the best nor Winthrop's theory of discretionary use of in the series of diverse essays that power suggests how far removed our con make up her important book. cerns have become from this earlier Chris Shipps's approach, however, does shed tian context: some light on the first question some of The chief problem in modern times with us cannot help asking about Mormorism: applying Winthrop's theory is his reliance "Is it true?" After we look at what the Mor upon a Christian conscience to act within mons are asked to believe based on the or according to the law of God as a suf~ authority of Joseph Smith (and recent ficient and serious restraint upon tyran revelations about his involvement in folk nical actions. If a ruler seriously believes in Divine punishment. this reliance would magic, which Shipps takes into account. do not amount to tyranny unless one is will not favor his credibility). our next question ing to argue that compliance with God's is likely to be, "How could the early Mor law equals tyranny. But in a modern mons believe such stuff?" secular state, depending upon the ex While avoiding this question directly, ecutive's willingness to abide by God's Shipps's brilliant insight provides a part of law as a restraint upon his power may the answer. Early Mormons were part of well be impossible. a folk culture where the Bible was both the The comparison does not reflect well dominant literary force and the primary upon us or our modern secular state. The source of history. By accepting Joseph's general absence among leaders of a Chris revelations as authentic, they could begin tian conscience or a willingness "to act living literally as though they were part of within or according to the law of God" continuing biblical history. The roles be makes tyranny-defined as usurpation or came real. probably also for Smith himself. as rule apart from God-inevitable. Pro After Smith's death, the Reorganized fessor Power concludes: "If we live in a Church, which headquartered in Missouri. time of decline, Winthrop's solution may relived largely New Testament themes and 7L ZONDERVAN BIBLE PUBLISHERS not apply to us, but at least his argument eventually became something like an ec '8 forces us to see that ours is a time to be centric evangelical Christian sect. By con-
OCTOBER 1985/ETERNITY 59