Biblical Landmarks

“No authoritarian state can tolerate those who have an absolute standard by which to judge its activities” Dr. Francis Schaeffer, in “How Should We Then Live?”

Just when you think the economy is bad enough, forcing people out of work, a new danger emerges forcing people not only from their jobs but in some cases from their houses as well.

It has become an accepted belief around the world that the government–local, state and federal–can do whatever it likes. Unfortunately, it is not just a belief, but it happens in practice as well.

As a result people have been served condemnation notices on their properties in order that the properties might become available to other businesses in the community. Under the guise of better planning, people have had to give up the right to their land and home, and often their livelihood, as the law has been used to evict them off their property in order to make way for someone else.

Under the mistaken notion of eminent domain, authorities around the world treat property as if it were their own, thus making the idea of property ownership an impossible goal for many.

What is not often realized, however, is that the concept of eminent domain is an exercise of divine right by the political order. This ancient religious belief has returned after centuries of being held in check. It was held in check by another view of divinity, Christianity, which asserted that divine right was an attribute of God not the political order.

Wherever you turn in the world today you are faced with the claims of eminent domain by the political order. You are not free to use your property any way you choose; you need permits and approvals before you can open the doors, often at high cost.

Increasingly people are not free to enter certain professions without state approval, often controlled by university and and college intake criteria. While the ostensibly good reasons of protecting everyone sound plausible, they are a continuation of the claim of divine right by the political order. In this case, it is attempting to save people from some harm they might do to themselves if left to act without the guidance of the political order. Apparently people need to be saved from themselves.

No people can be free when eminent domain is claimed by the political order. To speak of freedom in such an environment is an oxymoron. But because we turn our backs on the Christian concept of divinity we have no way of redressing the pain and agony faced by many as the state exercises its version of eminent domain.

If you want to find out what’s wrong with the economy you have to look beyond the mismanagement of the economy by those in authority. This is just the tip of the iceberg. Below the surface, something else is going on. You need to find out what is driving this manifestation of eminent domain that is causing pain to many.

“The earth us the Lord’s,” said the Psalmist. This is the belief that denied the divine right of Caesars, czars, kings, dictators, presidents, parliaments and congresses. It is also the belief that gave real protection to property ownership, and thus denied the political order the power of eminent domain. A man’s home is his castle, but this is only true if he is protected by the law, rather than be seen as a tenant of the state who can remove him at will.

The power of eminent domain is a sign of real danger to individual freedom, property rights (without which freedom disappears), and the ability of the economy to build a sound and lasting future. The challenge is this: What can be done about it?

God bless you.