WCBM ESSAY ON JURISDICTION

WCBM ESSAY ON JURISDICTION

by Michael Peroutka

Can we talk just a minute about jurisdiction?

The Latin word Juris means “law” and Dicto, means “I speak”.  So if a person – or an institution – has jurisdiction over a matter, this means that the person or the institution has the authority to speak, or to say, what the law is regarding this matter.

Now, please, notice this doesn’t mean that jurisdiction gives one the authority to make the law, just to speak it – declare it – and enforce it.

In the American view of Law and Government, we recognize that the Law of Nature and of Nature’s God, is a fixed, unchanging standard.  And jurisdiction – the authority to speak and enforce the law – is given to four separate governments.

First, there is self government, in which we, as individuals, are required to control ourselves; to conform our behavior to the strictures of God’s commandments.  (Thou shalt not steal…or lie… or murder.)

 The other three jurisdictions are institutional in nature.

They are the family; ordained by God in the Garden of Eden and charged with the health, education and welfare of its members.

Next, we have the Church, whose head is Jesus Christ, and which is charged by Christ with the promulgation of His word and the distribution of the sacraments.

Lastly, we have the Civil Government, which is charged by God with defending the borders and administering justice so that the Lord’s people might live in peace and harmony.

Overarching all these jurisdictions and their authority is God’s jurisdiction which, by nature of his status as Creator, is all encompassing and universal.

So while there is, in fact, a separation between the duties of the Church and the State, there is no separation of God and His law from civil government.  Conversely, there is an absolute duty on the part of the civil government to understand, promote, and enforce the law of the Creator.

Our founders, in the Declaration of Independence, referred to God as the Supreme Judge of the universe because His jurisdiction supersedes every act of civil government.

So, if someone tries to tell you that God and His law don’t have anything to do with civil government, then you can be sure that this person does not understand American history or American government.  He, or she, should not get your vote or your support.

This is MAP for IOTC bringing you TAV.