Central Planning and Decentralization

"Centralization was the prevailing political structure in the history of the world. Egypt used the people to construct a society, using the energies of the masses to implement the goals of the State, governed by the Pharaohs. The pyramid, the tower, and Nebuchdnezzar's colossus are visible manifestations of centralized political planning. God works to disestablish centralized political regimes. His blueprint for life is decentralization, with the individual working and having freedom in the family, church, business, and civil government. No one man or institution is to rule over all other aspects of society. The way to a just order is not found in anarchy where man is a law unto himself, in socialism where the State owns the means of production, in an oligarchy where a planning elite rules and overrules, or in a democracy where the people can change the direction of a nation by whim and fancy. God has established a decentralized society best described as a Constitutional Republic where the best are elected to office and yet are still responsible to the vote of the people."

Source: Gary DeMar, Ruler of the Nations, 1987, pp. 37-38

Statism or Anarchism

“The balance of earthly sovereignties between the one (the State or church) and the many (individuals, voluntary associations) is mandatory if we are to preserve both freedom and order. The Bible tells us that God is both one and many, one Being yet three Persons. His creation reflects this unity and diversity. Our social and political institutions are to reflect this. We are to seek neither total unity (statism) nor total diversity (anarchism). Biblical law provides us with guidelines by which we may achieve a balanced social order. We must take biblical law seriously” (Gary North, Wealth and Poverty: Four Christian Views of Economics, 1984, p. 57).

Note: It was originally posted and mirrored in Acts of the New Commonwealth last March 27, 2013.