Table of Contents
- Systematic Theology : Good Governance
- Preconditions for Systematically thinking about Good Governance
- 1. God: Metaphysical Precondition
- 2. Miracles: Supernatural Precondition
- 3. Revelation: Revelational Precondition
- 4. Exclusivism: The oppositional Precondition
- 5.
- Constraint
- 1. Truth: Epistemlogical Precondition
- 2. Language: Linguistic Precondition
- 3. Meaning: Semantical Precondition
- 4. Interpretation: Hermenutical Precondition
- 5. Logical: Rational Precondition
- 6. Method: Methodological Precondition
- 7. History: Historical Precondition
- 2. Meaning: Semantical Precondition
- 3. Interpretation: Hermenutical Precondition
- Good Governance vs Poor Governance
Systematic Theology : Good Governance
Q: What does YHWH say about Good Governance?
Systematic theology is the organized, rational study that gathers and arranges all biblical teachings about a specific topic.
The topic of study shall be called "Good Governance" GG for short.
This wiki, is the publication and sharing of information concerning the findings for discussions, improvements and greater alignment back to scriptures.
- Q: What does the Bible have to say about Good Governance?
- Q: What is purpose of GG?
- Q: What are the means to implement GG?
- Q: What are the patterns and standards of GG?
DISCLAIMER: Reading the bible from "Biblical Theology" lens is the preferred method & priority for the born-again believers in being able to see the glorious work of salvation of YHWH through Jesus. Biblical theology is what every born again believer needs to hear on every Sunday from the pulpit. If the preacher is not expositionally preaching and exposing the flock to the supremacy of Christ from every text and the relevance of the mercy and grace of God in the Gospel, they are not feeding the sheep of God.
For the mature and grounded in the reformed faith of believers of Christ Alone, Faith Alone, Bible Alone, Grace Alone, God's Glory Alone, systematic theology, is another method of studying the bible. It is an approach to grow an mature further still, ultimately being able to discern and distinguish good from evil.
But solid food is for the mature, for those who have their powers of discernment trained by constant practice to distinguish good from evil.
Hebrews 5:14
For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.
Ephesians 6:12 (LSB)
If our current system is under the "rulers, authorities, forces of darkness", which will now conceptually be placed under the "poor governance", then what is biblical "good governance"?
Preconditions for Systematically thinking about Good Governance
GG as a field of science and as a knowledge domain, as with all knowledge domains, there are preconditions for thinking about them. Below identified 7 Primative Preconditions which applies to all knowledge domains. They are as follows.
7 Primitive Preconditions to GG
- Truth: Epistemlogical Precondition
- Language: Linguistic Precondition
- Meaning: Semantical Precondition
- Interpretation: Hermenutical Precondition
- Logical: Rational Precondition
- Method: Methodological Precondition
- History: Historical Precondition
When one thinks about God and GG, there are 5 additional Preconditions.
5 Additional Preconditions when thinking about God and GG
- God: Metaphysical Precondition
- Miracles: Supernatural Precondition
- Revelation: Revelational Precondition
- Exclusivism: The oppositional Precondition
1. God: Metaphysical Precondition
- The Most High God YHWH exists.
- He created the world. [ world = entirety of creation,
- God is the initial singular efficient cause, i.e. by which he created the world.
- God is has created all the fundamental material(s) of creation, i.e. out of which he created the world.
- God is the]
- He created mankind. [ mankind = institution. Institutions have roles. Individuals fill roles. Individual is term for man or woman ]
- He created mankind with purpose to oversee His creation [ govern = to rule, subdue, overcome, conquer essentially oversee His creation.]
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- He does not need any help. He wants Man to rule for their greatest good, fun, challenge and in doing so see the magnificence of his creation and give Him praise and glory.
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- He speaks to mankind. He
2. Miracles: Supernatural Precondition
3. Revelation: Revelational Precondition
4. Exclusivism: The oppositional Precondition
5.
Constraint
- All communication and information transmission has 3 components.
- sender
- intermediary-medium
- receiver
- Sender sends the coded information through an intermediary-medium, [ language, words, notes, letter, computer, etc.] and the receiver receives and de-codes the information to understand the message
1. Truth: Epistemlogical Precondition
Assumption: Truth is what corresponds to the objects of it's affirmation
Assumption: All coherent statements are making truth claims.
2. Language: Linguistic Precondition
Assumption: Language is capable of making truth claims and the truth claim is objective.
Assumption: Language is the intermediary means to communicate-deliver truth claims
Assumption: All truth claims made using language are objective to the receiver
3. Meaning: Semantical Precondition
Assumption: Words (lexeme) and component of words (morpheme) used by the language has meaning and the meaning is objective.
4. Interpretation: Hermenutical Precondition
Assumption: The receiver of the message [ truth claims about objects affirmed ] is able to be translate and understand the truth claims using logic and the principles of causality, consistency, uniformity, teleology are applied correctly.
5. Logical: Rational Precondition
Logic deals with the methods of valid thinking. It reveals how to draw proper conclusions from premise. Assumption: Fundamental laws of rational thinking are all true
- The law of noncontradiction (A is not non-A)
- The law of identity (A is A)
- The law of excluded middle (either A or non-A)
6. Method: Methodological Precondition
Assumption: Methods transparently known can be objective
7. History: Historical Precondition
Assumption: History transparently capture can be objective
Languages of man are limited, but is capable of making true claims about God and His relation to creation. Particularly, who is to govern, how to govern, what to govern, when to govern, why to govern, where to govern. Language is often a representation of something in the external physical world, conceptualized in our minds. Hence, language will always be analogous, as in similar to what things actually are.
Hence, language is used to make coherent statements about God and creation to communicate concepts. Therefore all coherent statements are claiming to be true. Even when one seeks to deceive, it is claiming to be true.
Statements is either coherent or non-coherent. Cohereant statements are either true or false.
2. Meaning: Semantical Precondition
The writing provides the objectivity of meaning.
Languages are leveraged to make truth claims. Truth claims are dependent on the objectivity of meaning.
YHWH has spoken. YHWH used language to communicate concerning himself and creation. Statement are made with words. Each word / lexicon has meaning conceptually pointing to an objective reality. The lexicon, the words and their morphemes, minimal units of language that represent meaning, all have meaningful concepts it communicates. The writing in totality is what provides the meaning.
As a born again believer, I reject "Conventionalism" theory that "all meaning is relative". If true, then every statement is relative, that it has no objective meaning, since it can mean anything relation to the one making the truth claim.
Writing of Ludwig Wittgenstein takes the equivocal position [ language is totally different from way god actually is ], non-analogous position to language. Similar to many demonically influenced PIM arguments, his writing are sophistry decoupled from the fundamental primitives of objectivity and makes the case at the higher social construct for language and meaning. Decoupled, his logic lays the semantical groundwork for more social manipulation.
3. Interpretation: Hermenutical Precondition
Objectivity of meaning on a concept, can be express in many ways. Objectivity of meaning can be found in the writing.
###3. Interpretation: Hermenutical Precondition
Good Governance vs Poor Governance
Good governance is a system built on principles like accountability, transparency, and the rule of law, which generally leads to positive societal outcomes. Poor governance, characterized by the absence of these elements, fosters corruption, distrust, and instability
Good Governance
Pros:
- Economic Growth and Development: Good governance promotes an enabling environment for efficient private sector activity, effective regulation, and sustainable economic development, which helps reduce poverty.
- Public Trust and Legitimacy: Transparency and accountability inspire trust and pride among the populace, encouraging public involvement and strengthening the nexus between the state and civic society.
- Effective Public Services: It ensures efficient management of public resources, leading to better delivery of essential services like healthcare, education, and infrastructure maintenance at a fair tax rate.
- Rule of Law and Human Rights: Good governance ensures the legal system enforces laws impartially and protects human rights, promoting fairness and equity.
- Risk Mitigation: Adhering to strong ethical standards and clear processes helps organizations (corporate or government) mitigate downside financial, legal, and reputational risks.
Cons (Potential Criticisms/Challenges):
- Implementation Costs: Establishing and maintaining robust governance systems can be expensive, involving significant financial and non-financial costs, such as the time spent preparing for oversight.
- Potential for Myopia/Inhibition: An overly rigid focus on specific governance parameters or risk aversion might stifle innovation, entrepreneurship, or the capacity to address complex, evolving problems in creative ways.
- Complexity: The "good governance" agenda can be complex and its implementation may be difficult to navigate in diverse local conditions, sometimes leading to general, rather than outcome-driven, political action.
Poor Governance
Pros:
There are no widely accepted "pros" for poor governance; it is generally viewed as a negative condition. Its only potential (and highly subjective) short-term "advantage" might be a lack of bureaucracy that a narrow interest group can exploit for private gain, but this quickly leads to significant overall harm.
Cons:
- Widespread Corruption and Abuse of Power: The most marked features of poor governance are increased corruption, abuse of power, and a lack of accountability.
- Economic Stagnation and Inequality: Poor governance is linked to slow poverty reduction rates, unequal income distribution, and a failure to address socioeconomic losses equitably.
- Distrust and Instability: A lack of transparency and ethical conduct fosters deep distrust throughout society, leading to social and political instability and the potential for conflict.
- Ineffectiveness and Inefficiency: Decisions and public programs are often ineffective because they are not implemented following clear rules and regulations, leading to a waste of resources.
- Vulnerability and Exclusion: It downplays the need to account for the needs of all groups, leaving vulnerable individuals and minorities exposed and excluded from social protection.