LORD's political system Vs. Roman's system

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Wu Siu Yan

Nov 30, 2001 - 5:32PM

LORD'S POLITICAL SYSTEM IN SHORT

LORD'S POLITICAL SYSTEM IN SHORT

I wish to expound LORD's political system here.

(Note : As my understanding of the Bible is limited, therefore, all comments are welcome. My motto is "truth and truth only, what is right and not who is right.")

LORD's political system is that which Moses used during Exodus. At that time, Moses led away 600000 people from Egypt, and journeyed through Sinai Peninsula. It was no small management task, 600000 people ! and yet the system worked terribly well. Later, when Israel entered Canaan, they used this system until king Saul. (They wanted a King, despite LORD's warnings of the heavy taxation of the king [1 Samuel 8])

The two main pillars of this system are

Free Justice based on the very simple Laws of GOD, where an average person may learn in one day! Moreover, LORD prohibits us adding to nor deleting from His Laws, hence LORD's Laws will not grow as the Roman type of Laws.

No court fees nor lawyer fees.

Moreover, elders as well as ordinary people may be judges ! see the "Book of Judges" where even one female was judge.

Country-wide Moral Education.

Who are to be the civil-servants ?

(A) At that time, one whole tribe, the tribe of Levites, out of the 12 tribes of Israel, was responsible for Moral Education and justice. They are to receive "tithe" (1/10 of people's income, voluntary donation) as wages. They were called "priests/Levites", and they are full-time civil-servants.

(B) Moses (or "Prince", or "chief-servant") and his commanders of 10, of 100, of 1000 were responsible for the food/water/justice. They were set up because Moses' father-in-law, Jethro, advised him,

Jethro to Moses : "... You shall represent the people before GOD, and bring their cases to GOD; and you shall teach them the statutes and the decisions, and make them know the way in which they must walk and what they must do. Moreover choose able men from all the people, such as fear GOD, men who are trustworthy and who hate a bribe; and place such men over the people as rulers of thousands, of hundreds, of fifties, and of tens. And let them judge the people at all times; every great matter they shall bring to you, but any small matter they shall decide themselves; so it will be easier for you, and they will bear the burden with you." [Exodus 18:17-23]

(Note : "ruler of 10" should be understood as "civil-servant of 10", etc.)

They are mostly part-time workers, and they have their own land besides the Priests' Portions (see Diagram below), and they are to receive 1/60 wheat (or barley), 1/100 oil, 1/200 sheep from the people [Ezekiel 45:13-17]. Again taxation is voluntary.

The "chief-servant" should have good understanding with the "chief-priest". They are the two most important persons in LORD's system. During Moses' time, Moses was the "chief-servant", and Aaron his brother, was the "chief-priest".

Their jobs are to ensure a very good environment for people to pursue their own activities, by administering free justice and providing moral education to people.

Main Features of This System

All people must be willing to observe LORD's Laws (in Moses' five books, Old Testament, Bible). All are welcome to sojourn in the land, whether they be Buddhist, Muslim, Atheist, ... as long as they pledge to keep LORD's Laws.

COMPLETE FREEDOM to a person if he does not break LORD's Laws. LORD's Laws are enforced with mercy, no fault-finding, no condemnation of the guiltless.

All people should pay attention to cleanliness, both environmental cleanliness as well as bodily cleanness.

Unclean environment is the main cause of infectious diseases, apart from polluting drinking water.

Free Allocation of Land. Totally multi-racial.

Please see diagram for the allocation of Land prescribed by LORD in the

"Book of Ezekiel". We may adopt it, e.g. "Chinese Land", "Japanese Land", "India Land", "English Land", ....

Every one is to be given a piece of land where he may grow grain/vegetable/fruit or keep sheep/cattle ...

Moreover, he is given another but smaller piece of land in the city.

Death Penalty is carried out by all people. After the witnesses lay their hands on the head of the guilty, each pick up a stone to stone the guilty to death.

As trial is open trial before all congregation, therefore, if people think the person is not guilty, he should voice his opposition. If everyone is satisfied that the person should be put to death according to LORD's Laws, then they each pick up a stone and stone the guilty, to signify that they will bear the responsibility of shedding the man's blood.

Shedding innocent blood is an extremely serious offence in the sight of LORD.

For other crimes, Moses suggested whipping by cane. Lee Kuan-Yew, in his "Singapore Story, 1965-2000", said that whipping is more effective than imprisonment for many crimes.

No Taxation

People are urged to donate 1/10 of their income to the Levites/Priests, roughly 1/100 to the Chief-servants and those under him. But donation is entirely voluntary. This should be good news for the hard-working entrepreneurs.

Employment is usually contract labour for 6 years, but all forms of employment are acceptable (daily, monthly, contract, ...) as long as it does not break LORD's Laws.

Festivals. There are two festivals, "Feast of Passover, 14th - 21st January (Lunar Calendar)", and "Feast of Booth, 15th - 22nd July". People should observe rest 1 day every 7 days, 1 week every 6 months, 1 year every 7 years. During the two feasts, people should donate part of their income to buy food for the poor/orphan/widow so that they may enjoy the festivals.

High Respect for Private Properties. This may be seen in LORD's Laws,

LORD : When a man causes a field or vineyard to be grazed over, or lets his beast loose and it feeds in another man's field, he shall make restitution from the best in his own field and in his own vineyard.

When fire breaks out and catches in thorns so that the stacked grain or the standing grain or the field is consumed, he that kindled the fire shall make full restitution. [Exodus 22:5-6]

Welfare is undertaken by the people themselves

LORD: "When you reap the harvest of your land, you shall not reap your field to its very border, neither shall you gather the gleanings after your harvest. And you shall not strip your vineyard bare, neither shall you gather the fallen grapes of your vineyard; you shall leave them for the poor and for the sojourner.." [Lev 19:9-10]

LORD: "And if your brother becomes poor, and cannot maintain himself with you, you shall maintain him; as a stranger and a sojourner he shall live with you. Take no interest from him or increase, but fear your God; that your brother may live beside you. You shall not lend him your money at interest, nor give him your food for profit." [Lev 25:35-37]

Public Utilities

Those infra-structure projects - roads, railways, communication, electricity, water, airport, ... were not in Moses' time, and I could not find LORD's answers to these in the Bible. Personally, I favour voluntary work of 1 month per year by every citizen, and let them take up whatever work they like - water work, telecommunication work, bus driving, railroad, ...

I think neither "privatization" nor "government-undertaking" are long term solutions.

Defense

When Moses led the Israelites out of Egypt, "the people of Israel went up out of the land of Egypt equipped for battle [Ex 13:18]", therefore, I favour everyone equips himself with his own weapon.

When King Saul fought against David, many Israelites deflected from Saul, and joined David. They each brought their weapons of war with them [1 Chronicles 12].

As there will be many entrepreneurs each hiring many "slaves" (contract workers for 6 years or for life), they may provide for their own defence.

Should those entrepreneurs, hiring hundreds or thousands of workers, and equipped with weapons, become warlords and shelter law-breakers, the congregation must reason with them and stop such behaviour. If they do not listen, the congregation must do as the ancient Israelites did - they killed all Benjaminites who sheltered gang-rapers [Judges 19, 20, 21].

Money, banking

LORD only taught us that money should be "silver".

As "silver" comes from mining of all sort (all mineral deposits contain some silver), the "supply of money, or silver" is closely tied to economic activities. There will be economic cycles, but the ups and downs will be smooth and painless.

"Limited Liability" is not allowed. Every debt must be settled. If a joint-stock company fails, every shareholder must be responsible for the debts.

Education

Internet is becoming more powerful as bandwidth is increased. Video, sound, music, pictures, will be transmitted much faster in the future.

Though there will not be state-sponsored schools, I think people will set up all sorts of educational institutes.

Nowadays, governments would impose many rules on schools, and this will not be under LORD's system. People may set up whatever form of schools they like, as long as they do not break LORD's Laws. Also, parents have to assume more responsibility towards the education of their children (homeschool + attending specialized courses ??)

Moreover, the Chief-servant and the Chief-priest should invite people of exceptional ability to set up classes to teach others, and they may assist those able persons in such endeavours.

No political parties. All matters are to be decided by the Congregation

It is much like referendum on all important matters. As the Chief-servant has, under him,

servants of 1000, servants of 100, servants of 10, it is very easy to gather ideas and opinions.

LORD : "Make two silver trumpets; of hammered work you shall make them; and you shall use them for summoning the congregation, and for breaking camp. And when both are blown, all the congregation shall gather themselves to you at the entrance of the tent of meeting. But if they blow only once, then the leaders, the heads of tribes of Israel, shall gather themselves to you." [Num 10:1-4]

There are many problems facing our world today. I think it is mainly due to the defects in political system - a political system inherited from the Romans, which was a hybrid of king system and Greek democratic system.

Therefore we see all sorts of evils arising : girl-trafficking on a mass scale all over the world, with the police doing practically nothing (what can the police do under such legal system ?)

The reason cited for girls being tricked and exported as prostitutes is no job opportunities.

The need of people are few : what is most important is food. Given a favorable political climate, people can easily grow enough vegetable and grain. Chicken, duck, sheep, cattle, ... also provide additional food. As for Industrial products, if everyone practices thrift, these should not be a problem (either through trade or cottage-industry). Jobless should never happen.

Moses, using LORD's system, could cope with 600000 people in a semi-desert environment for 40 years. I am sure, many can do the same too, provided they are firm in keeping the Law of GOD, and seek the help of LORD.

Wu Siu Yan

30th November, 2001