God & Government
Who truly rules?
The triune God (Father, Son, Holy Spirit) governs the world and leads it to the return of Christ.
What is government? Provide a definition.
It is the institution or group of people that takes care of and manages a country or group of people. They make the laws and rules for everyone else.
This type of government exists when a nation has no government or leader at all.
Anarchy
What are rights?
Freedoms that we have that are protected by law (The Constitution).
Which right?
You want to move from BC to Ontario.
Mobility Rights: You can work or live anywhere in Canada. You can leave Canada to visit other countries and come back to Canada.
What are the 3 levels of government?
Federal (all Canada)
Provincial & Territorial (e.g. Ontario)
Municipal (e.g. Town of Orangeville, Township of Amaranth)
Why do we need rulers or a government?
Simple Answer: SIN
The world and mankind are subjected to frustration as a consequence of sin.
What does legislate mean?
To create or pass laws
This is a form of government with a ruler who inherits the position, rules for life, and holds all the power.
Absolute monarchy
What are responsibilities?
Duties that we owe to our neighbour
Which right?
You would like to run for Mayor of Orangeville.
Democratic Rights: Once you are 18 years old you have the right to vote and run in an election. You have the right to choose a new government every 4 years.
What is an upper tier and a lower tier municipal government?
Is it possible to have a perfect government?
What makes a good government?
There is no good or perfect government - all mankind is sinful.
If there was a good government, it would follow God's laws perfectly.
If two countries have a conflict with eachother, what two ways could they do to resolve it that doesn't involve waging war?
1. COMPROMISE - Talk about it and come up with a plan both people can agree on.
2. MEDIATION - Ask someone else to help you decide what is fair.
The supreme power is held by ALL the people and it is used by them DIRECTLY. Each person votes on every law or issue.
Direct Democracy
What is the Bible more concerned with? Rights or responsibilities? What is man often more concerned with?
The Bible is more concerned with our responsibilities towards God and our neighbour. Man is often more concerned with themselves and their own rights.
What is dual citizenship?
When you have a citizenship in 2 different countries.
Who is the prime minister of Canada?
Justin Trudea
Where is your citizenship?
I am a citizen of Canada. Our citizenship is also in heaven. (Philippians 3:20)
If you could create 1 law for your country what would it be? Why?
Love your neighbour.
Jesus taught us that the root of the law is to love God and your neighbour. If you do everything out of love for your neighbour then you wouldn't need hundreds of laws.
Dictatorship
Where can we find a copy of the rights for Canadians?
The Charter or Rights and Freedoms. It is part of the Constitution (a legal document that outlines how the government of Canada works).
What right?
You move to Quebec and would like to go to an English school.
Minority Language Education Rights: You have the right to be educated in either English or French, as long as it is your first language, spoken in the home, or your parents went to that language school.
Who is the premier of Ontario?
Doug Ford
What does God's word teach us about government? (5 things)
1. God is the ruler of all. All nations are subject to Him. God blesses and punishes/disciplines the nations as He sees fit, according to their deeds.
2. We need government because this world has fallen into SIN, so God set up government over us for our good.
3. God grants authority to the government. Their job is to use laws to restrain and punish evil and promote good. The government may use discipline (the sword) to punish wrongdoers and to protect what is good.
4. The role of the government isn't just to protect the public, but also so that God's church may do its work and increase.
5. God commands us to listen to the government. We must obey, pay taxes to, and respect them. We must obey them in all things that agree with God's Word. If they do not obey God's word, then we must not follow them in wrongdoing. We must pray for the government that they may glorify Him in all their work.
6. The government can never fully or permanently fix all the wrong in this world because it is all rooted in sin. We need a Saviour!!!
Why do you need some kind of government? (3 things!!!)
1. Sin - Our hearts are completely evil and we don't treat our neighbour with love as we should.
2. CHAOS - If everyone did whatever they wanted, then thins won't go well. We need to work as a team. You need a leader to take charge.
3. ORDER - Someone needs to uphold the law, and protect good and punish evil because of sin.
Voters choose representatives to act in their best interests.
Indirect democracy OR representative democracy OR republic
What is a citizen?
A member of a certain country. With citizenship comes rights and responsibilities.
What right?
You are arrested for a crime you didn't commit.
Legal Rights: You have the right to be innocent until proven guilty and to have a lawyer represent you in a fair trial.
What things is the municipal government responsible for?
Garbage, Libraries, Water & Sewage, Transit, Local roads, local parks, recreation (arena, pool, soccer fields), police (e.g. Toronto Police, local town police)
What are the 4 freedoms Canadians have?
1. Freedom of Conscience & Religion - right to do as your conscience says, and the right to practice the religion of your choice
2. Freedom of Thought, Belief and Expression - right to think, believe and communicate your thoughts
3. Freedom of Association - Right to establish or belong to an organization or group of people (as long as it's not illegal)
4. Freedom of Peaceful Assembly - Right to gather and demonstrate in public, as long as it is peaceful
If you were starting a country, which type of government would you choose? Who?
Answers will vary, and any answer would be accepted as long as it can explain, with good reasoning, a form of government that would show love to their neighbour.
Examples -
Indirect democracy. It is efficient (not everybody has to vote which would take too much time), but it is relatively fair because the people can choose their government.
Absolute Monarchy - I'd love to be the king and make all the rulers for everyone. I would make sure that I'm fair and serve the people, showing love to them, rather than lording it over them.
What type of government does Canada have? Explain.
Constitutional Monarchy & Parliamentary Democracy
We have a King whose power is limited by the constitution. His role is only ceremonial; he has no actual power.
We have a parliament that is elected by the people. The leader of the party with the most votes becomes the Prime Minister.
How are rights and responsibilities connected?
If we all follow our God-given responsibilities everyone will be taken care of and there would be no need to fight for your personal rights. Sadly, because of SIN, people don't keep their responsibilities and others rights get hurt because of this.
How can you become a citizen of Canada?
1. Born in Canada
2. Apply for citizenship: You need to speak English or French, live here for 3 years first and make money paying taxes, and pass a citizenship test.
What things is the provincial government responsible for?
Healthcare, education (schools), licenses (fishing, drivers), provincial highway roads, provincial parks, police (e.g. Ontario Provincial Police)
What are some Canadian rights? Explain them.
1. Right to Life, Liberty & Security (right to live, be free and safe)
2. Legal Rights (rights under the law, right to be told why you are arrested, right to have a lawyer and a trial, right to be innocent until proven guilty)
3. Democratic Rights (right to vote and run in an election when you are 18, right to choose a new government at least every 5 years)
4. Minority Language Education Rights (right to learn in school in either English or French, as long as that is the language spoken in your home)
5. Mobility Rights (right to move around in Canada, come and go from Canada, work and live in any province)
How do you become the premier? or Prime Minister?
The premier is in Ontario at the provincial level. The prime minister is in Canada at the federal level.
1. You need to run in an election and get elected as a Member of Parliament (federal) or Member of Provincial Parliament (provincial).
2. You need to be the leader of the political party that wins the election and gets the most seats in parliament.
What things is the federal government responsible for?
Defense, international trade, road (Trans Canada Highway), national parks (Parks Canada), police (Royal Canadian Mounted Police), immigration, currency (money)