The Sovereignty of God and the Role of the Government

I attended a forum on Saturday, Singaporeans in Conversation Dialogue 2010: "The Singaporean Dream vs The Singaporean Reality". Being back in Singapore for good, I've also been trying to keep up with the issues in this year's National Day Rally. This got me thinking about the sovereignty of God in relation to the role of the government.

The Problem of Evil and the Sovereignty of God in Governing Creation

Assuming that evil exists, we can either say that God is (in some sense) responsible for evil or that God does not exist. However, we cannot both say that God is (in some sense) responsible for evil AND that God does not exist. In order to say that God is (in some sense) responsible for evil, we must first believe that He exists.

Of course, to say that God is (in some sense) responsible for evil is not to say that God is the author of evil. Rather, man is the author of evil and God is the author of good out of evil.

"You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives." - Genesis 50:20 (NIV)

"No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it." - 1 Corinthians 10:13 (NIV)

"When tempted, no one should say, "God is tempting me." For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; but each one is tempted when, by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed. Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death." - James 1:13-15 (NIV)

We are responsible for what we would freely do in every possible situation in every possible world, and God is responsible for working all things (ie. what we would freely do in every possible situation in every possible world) 'for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose' (Romans 8:28, NIV) in this particular world - the best possible world out of all possible worlds.

The Problem of Limited Resources and the Role of the Government in Governing Singapore

Assuming that resources are limited, we can either say that the government is (in some sense) responsible for limiting resources or that the government should not exist. However, we cannot both say that the government is (in some sense) responsible for limiting resources AND that the government should not exist. In order to say that the government is (in some sense) responsible for limiting resources, we must first believe that the government should exist.

Would we really want to live in a society where there is no government at all? Is it even possible for us to live in a society where there is no government at all? How would we decide to allocate limited resources? And how would public goods be provided?

Just as God could not create a better world because there isn't one (the alternative is to say that God could create a better world but chooses not to), so the government (past a certain point) could not create a better society because there isn't one. For example, the government (past a certain point) could not increase welfare/workfare without also raising taxes.

God is perfect and no government is perfect. But having an imperfect government is better than having no government at all. And having a God who works all things (even evil - especially evil!) according to His good, pleasing and perfect will is certainly better than having no God at all.