The thoughts of Dr. Wayne Grudem: (research professor of theology and biblical studies at Phoenix Seminary as quoted in the book,
“True Courage: Emboldened by God in a Disheartening World” by Steve Farrar).
“According to the teachings of the Bible, government should both document and protect the ownership of private property in a nation. The Bible regularly assumes and reinforces a system in which property belongs to individuals, not to the government or to society as a whole.”
My thoughts:
I believe Dr. Grudem is correct. I also believe that with private ownership comes responsibility; to be a good steward, to share wisely and to not covet the private ownership of others. I wish I was better at all three.
My hope and prayer, as we continue in this seasonal celebration of thankfulness, giving and receiving, is that we focus more upon that which Christ had and was willing to give away than upon that which we don’t have and want to get.
May your Christ-mas celebration be blessed.
Michael Rueffert
Michael Rueffert...In the Freedom of Forgiveness... 
I read the section on private property in Grudem’s book this weekend, about 6 pages, and it was focused almost entirely on the government taking, in different ways, the private property of citizens. He compared this to communism and discussed taking by regulations whether on business or individuals and takings by those regulations as well as court decisions. You and I would agree with him on this.
He didn’t make any mention of anything regarding government owning land for the benefit of the public for recreational use or other public enjoyment, which is what I was focused on when I read your blog. That focus is because of thirty years in Fish and Game and the privatization of wildlife and locking up of public land behind private land that I saw grow exponentially.
Of course, in focusing on that I missed that the primary focus (even though I did get it and agreed) of your writing was your last statement “that we focus more upon that which Christ had and was willing to give away than upon that which we don’t have and want to get.”
Thanks again for sharing!
LikeLike
Have to get the book the quote by Grudem was taken from to see the full context. Trying to get it now by interlibrary loan.
On Sat, Nov 25, 2017 at 11:29 AM, Michael Rueffert…In the Freedom of Forgiveness… wrote:
> Michael Rueffert posted: “The thoughts of Dr. Wayne Grudem: (research > professor of theology and biblical studies at Phoenix Seminary as quoted in > the book, “True Courage: Emboldened by God in a Disheartening World” by > Steve Farrar). “According to the teachings of the Bible, gover” >
LikeLike
Interesting, my initial reaction is to disagree on the basis that He ordains govt, and we are so fallen and selfish as part of that fallenness, that we can’t be relied on in ourselves to do what is right. We are in the Tetons right now and I can say without question that if the land were not protected in public ownership, none but the richest would be enjoying it. At the same time, I have all kind of respect for Grudem, agree with your thoughts, hopes and prayers, and I want to be teachable, so you have peaked my interest to look into this!
In God’s perfectness, and all of us following that, I would completely agree. At the same time, if we had that perfectness in this world, would we need government?
LikeLike