The Differences Between Political Parties and Civil Governments

Political parties and governments keeps changing with the times and events of history. But the political institution of civil governments is a permanent and unchanging institution. The differences between the ever changing political parties and the never changing political institution of civil governments are as follows:

Political Parties.
Political parties are established by man, based on the political ideologies of different political thoughts.

Such political parties, after getting elected through the political process of voting, establish governments that normally functions for a period of five years.

Any such governments however have to follow the norms and principles of governance that civil government have already laid down through divine laws.

Civil Governments.
1. Civil governments and its governing laws are divinely established by God.
2. These divine laws are eternal and will last as long as the world exists.
3. These divine laws are also independent of any political party’s ideologies and it is the political governments that must bow down to the dictates of divine laws laid down by God.

The theological basis (or Biblical foundations), upon which the above statements have been made are as follows:

Man has been given the domination of the planet earth and all its inhabitants (Gen.1:28).

Man has been given the responsibility of civil governance even to the extent of taking a life for a life. Genesis 9:16 says: “Whosoever shedeth man’s blood, by man shall his blood be shed; for in the image of God made he man.”

These civil administrative laws were given to Moses through the Ten Commandments (Exodus 20) and many other laws. In fact, the first five books of the Bible-Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy- incorporates all these laws of God. The other books of the Bible collaborate with these laws. (In fact, Jesus died on the cross to fulfil the just demands of this laws-Rom.8:3&4).

Romans chapter 13:1-7 states that civil governments are divinely instituted by God himself and that man should honour and obey these civil governing laws. These divinely instituted civil government laws apply to every government of every nation on earth. After all, no government on earth can allow a murderer or a thief to go unpunished. Punishment for these crimes has been stated in the first five books of the Bible. As for honouring these laws of God, Romans 13: 1 says: “Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities (Civil governments)…for the authorities that exist have been established by God.” This in fact is how the kingdom of God rules in the kingdoms of man as stated in Daniel 4:17.

Even Jesus recognised this authority when he said: “Render unto Caesar the things that are Caesar’s (Mat.22:21).

Coming to the practical application of these facts in the context of India and Nagaland, India is today ruled by a political party called the BJP. The BJP’s political ideology has been shaped by the RSS’s religious and political ideology called Hindutva. However, the founding fathers of India’s democracy, established a secular democracy which is based on the western Judeo Christian principle of the rule of law. This rule of divine laws is totally different from the rule of the Hindu caste system. This system of the rule of law has held India together for all these post independence period despite India’s multifarious religions and cultures. If the BJP however tries to impose its Hindudva agendas by imposing a Hindu based common civil code for all Indian citizens, withdraw the special provisions for Kashmir, impose the Citizens Amendment Bill etc; then they could tear India apart right in front of our eyes. If the present BJP government, or for that matter, any other governments, choose to defy the divine principles of civil governments, than any such governments will only create chaos in human societies and communities.

As for Nagaland and her national government; the Naga National Council (NNC), is not a political party but simply a political institution. The Federal Government of Nagaland (FGN) is also not a political party that has won a multi party general election and come to power. On the contrary, both the political institution and the executive government of the Naga people have been established through the popular mandate of the Naga people. The Central Executive Council members of the NNC are elected by the members of the respective Regional Councils. As for the Executive Council of Kilonsers (Ministers) of the FGN, they are selected (rather than elected) by the Tatars (MP’s) of the NagaTatar Hoho (Naga Parliament). Therefore, both the NNC and the FGN are not political parties. As for the members of both the NNC and FGN who are running the civil government of Nagaland, they are simply serving the Naga nation through their voluntary sacrifices and services.

Kaka D Iralu