What Sovereignty Looks Like

So, if we rule, then we should consider HOW we should rule. What is the ideal state that humanity should establish? There are three basic moral ways of ruling, according to Scripture. We can rule in a manner of judgment and law. One breaks the law, one dies. For instance, should a tiger or wolf kill a human, the animal dies—that’s the principle found in Genesis 9. This is the moral rule of judgment—it is fair, but it is harsh. This is the moral rule of vigilantism, which is softened and controlled by government forces, but is still the basic moral rule of government.

There is also the moral rule of self interest. This is the idea that resources are to be exploited for the self-interest of the ruling. Children are there to support their parents, the earth is there to be used for wealth and power of those who can grab it. This is the principle of business, where profit is the bottom line. This is also called “pride” by the Bible—taking that which truly doesn’t belong to you. Jesus specifically spoke against this kind of rule in Luke 22, and Paul in Ephesians 5.

Finally, there is the kind of rule Jesus supported. This is the sovereignty that holds authority for the sake of those under them. It is a rule to provide benefit, not for the ruler, but for the ones ruled. This ruler would sacrifice his or her own good for the good of the one ruled. It is a mother’s rule for her infant. And it is the kind of rule environmentalists have as an ideal for the earth, and the main characteristic of all “good” rulers.

Thus, there are two ways of being in God’s image. Surely, ruling in any way is god-like. And humanity, both individually and collectively is certainly god-like in changing the surface of the earth and ruling over all creatures—whether they know that is what they are doing or not. But the other aspect is a moral aspect. And to be like God IN our rule is to be merciful, to be forgiving, to act in the benefit of those rules, to use our power for the benefit of all, even our enemies. In this way, we show how truly divine we can be.