Thorne 10
. . I will demand an accounting from every animal. And from each man, too, I will demand an
accounting for the life of his fellow man."
45
Solomon prayed for all peoples and recognized that
they are under God's rule. "As for the foreigner who does not belong to your people Israel but has
come from a distant land because of your name . . . do whatever the foreigner asks of you, so that
all the peoples of the earth may know your name and fear you, as do your own people Israel, and
may know that this house I have built bears your Name."
46
The wisdom of God does not limit
itself to personal righteousness and individual accountability as shown with these powerful words,
"Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a disgrace to any people."
47
The great prophet Isaiah
reflects upon the cultural mandate when he says "In that day the Root of Jesse will stand as a
banner for the peoples; the nations will rally to him, and his place of rest will be glorious."
48
The
Psalmist insists about man "You made him ruler over the works of your hands; you put
everything under his feet."
49
Peter placed Christians under obligation to society with his words of exhortation, "Live
such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see
your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us."
50
The writer to the Hebrews repeats the
Old Testament truth: "In putting everything under him [man], God left nothing that is not subject
to him."
51
Paul supported society in general and certainly with the Gospel obligation in view
when he said "Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities"
52
and urged prayer
"for kings and all those in authority."
53
Jesus said this about the cultural mandate: "Give to Caesar
what is Caesar's, and to God what is God's."
54
We cannot limit the message of Jesus "Repent for
the Kingdom of God is at hand."
55
to the nation of Israel and the concept of individual salvation.