The Powers of Government

Every government possesses three basic powers. We know these in our government as the 3 branches of government - legislative, executive and judicial. Basically, the legislative branch of government exercises the power of government to make laws. Our Congress is made up of elected officials who serve for a certain amount of time to represent the people in making laws for the better ordering of the people among themselves. These laws are to be made to protect the individual and his property especially against theft and fraud. This is to be the most powerful branch of government. We are a nation based on written law, not the word of a king or a small group of men. As such, it is very important that man's laws do not violated God's law. The second branch of government is the executive branch which has the power to carry out the laws. This branch is very important because it is the one who makes sure the laws which have been made are carried out. They are, in many ways, the actual ones in the trenches making sure our property is protected. This branch deals with the hands on work of making sure laws are obeyed and properly enforced. It is very important with this power of government that the one who is leading this branch is most concerned with serving those he leads and to be careful not to use his position for his own personal agenda and authority. Our final branch of government is the judicial branch which is given the responsibility or power of interpreting the laws that are made. This branch is concerned with the administration of justice and equity. Of all the branches of government, our forefathers felt this was to be the least powerful. It was to deal with making sure that the laws made by the legislative branch were consistent with the law of God and that those laws were carried out with judicious care. They were to be a watchdog for the other branches of government to help protect against the greed of man in the legislative branch and the desire for power in the executive branch. Each power or branch of government was to remain separate of the others because our forefathers understood the sinful natures of men and knew that too much power vested in one man or one group of men could result in an abusive use of power because of the corruptiong nature of power.

Today, in our society, we have lost sight of the proper balance of the powers or branches of government. Our judicial branch of government is wielding almost unchecked power. They have not protected life, liberty or property. Our executive branch has become a platform to promote a social agenda that is anti-Christian and ultra-liberal. Our legislative branch has become a group of pawns for the executive branch, with the controlling political party selfishly promoting its own interests and not creating laws which will protect man's God-given rights.

We have a choice, we have a responsibility. Our leaders are a reflection of we the people. If we exhibit selfishness, a personal agenda, and a disregard for the laws, why should we be surprised when those in governmental positions do the same? If we seek to manipulate the system to our own benefit, why does it bother us when those whom we elected blatantly disregard the law? Our offices are filled with corruption and deceit. There are those who do execute their function of government properly, but those seem to be few and far between. We the people must return to the Word of God. We must follow its law of love and light and not be controlled by our own greed and passion. We must learn to do what is right and deal in a just and equitable manner with one another. We must live with a moral excellence or virtue which compels us to be upright, honest, morally pure, and honorable. For it is when we, as a upright people, stand up for what is right and not tolerate the vices of those in leadership positions that gradual change will take place which will return us to the proper function fo the powers of governmentand the restoration of our liberties.