Podcast Summary: Jack Hibbs Podcast — "The Government of God"
Host: Jack Hibbs
Date: November 24, 2025
Source: jackhibbs.com

Episode Overview

In this episode, Jack Hibbs explores the biblical foundations of government, emphasizing the concept of God's ordained authority over earthly institutions and the role Christians should play in civic life. Drawing from both Old and New Testament passages, Hibbs unpacks the theological roots of governance, addresses the misconception that faith and politics don’t mix, and calls believers to engage with secular leadership according to biblical standards.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Biblical Roots of Governance

• Jesus as King:
  Hibbs begins by highlighting scriptural evidence of Jesus' royal and governmental status — notably the angelic proclamation to Mary in Luke 1 and the wise men's search for the "King of the Jews" in Matthew 2.
  • "Is royalty dealing with government? … The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David. Is a throne government folks? Absolutely." (03:03)
• Prophetic Fulfillment:
  • References Psalm 110 and Revelation to illustrate Christ’s future reign:
    • "Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet. This is not only an issue of governance and of politics. It is also of the kingdom that is to come." (05:00)
  • Emphasizes Christ as the "King of Kings and Lord of Lords" (Revelation 17 & 19).

2. Christian Engagement with Politics

• Hibbs repeatedly acknowledges the distasteful nature of politics but affirms God’s implementation of government for order and justice.
  • "I understand how disgusting politics is. It's horrible. But you and I live in a world where God has implemented governments among the nations. ...We are to hold elected people in power accountable to God's law, to God's truth, not man's." (00:39 & 13:33)
• Cautions against Christian withdrawal from civic engagement.

3. Divine Sovereignty Over Earthly Authority

• Romans 13:1:
  Explains all earthly authority is ultimately subject to God's sovereignty.
  • "Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God... Meaning wherever you live, whatever country you live in, that government is under God's watchful eye." (09:28)
• The idea that God’s providence extends to all earthly governments, and believers are called to civil responsibility (submission, accountability, participation).

4. The Ten Commandments as Foundational Law

• Reviews the Ten Commandments as God’s direct government for His people, foundational to Western legal and moral codes.
• Hibbs expounds each commandment, interweaving doctrine and practical application:
  • No Other Gods, No Idols: Warns against modern idolatry, including material possessions.
    • "When you get your first car... I knew it was an idol because God began to speak into my heart... If it got scratched, proof. If you get all flustered about it, then it is a carved image that holds a place in your heart." (12:48)
  • Sabbath Rest and Holiness: Notes the Christian Sabbath is fulfilled in Christ—calls for regular spiritual rest and focus.
    • "The Christian should be in a perpetual state of Sabbath. I hope you are." (16:10)
  • Honoring Parents, Prohibition of Murder, Adultery, Stealing, Lying, and Coveting: Unpacks each, drawing practical and sometimes humorous parallels.
    • On Murder:
      "If you are a law enforcement officer and you are in a gun battle and you take the bad guy out, the Bible says you exercised righteousness and you were God's instrument for good. Same is true for our United States Armed Forces." (17:28)
    • On Adultery:
      "I've had people say, listen, I'm a good husband. I've never committed adultery. You don't get any points for that. God says, don't do it. Why? It destroys the family, destroys people." (19:00)
    • On Stealing (Workplace Examples):
      "You're not supposed to take home the company's pencils, pens, and erasers... our justifiable thought is, well, they've got 10,000 pens and pencils... it's not yours, right?" (20:07)

5. The Call to Righteous Leadership & Civic Involvement

• Proverbs 29:2 emphasized:
  • "When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice. But when a wicked man rules, the people groan. God didn't say stay out of leadership or politics. He said for good people to get involved. See what's dirty? Yeah, it's dirty. It's cutthroat. Brutal. Just where Christians ought to be." (22:45)
• Encourages Christians to pursue leadership and political engagement as an expression of righteousness, not to shy away from the challenges or corruption inherent in the current systems.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On the Intersection of Faith & Politics:
  "Every time you hear that and say that, that is a kingdom declaration of the politics of the Christ. But we don't want to talk about politics..." (06:30)
• On God’s Sovereignty:
  "In other words, God's in control. The sovereign God over all the nations belongs to Christ. Belongs to God." (10:18)
• On Modern Idolatry:
  "If it gets scratched or dented, does it affect your mood? If it does, it's an idol." (13:41)
• On Work Integrity:
  "You're stealing from the company. I can tell by your response there'll be no parking problem next week." (20:34)

Timestamps for Important Segments

| Timestamp | Segment/Event | |-------------|---------------------------------------------------------------------| | 00:39 | Introduction to politics and government as a biblical concept | | 03:03 | Christ’s kingship and royal declarations in Scripture | | 05:00 | Psalm 110 & the prophecy of Jesus’ reign | | 09:28 | Romans 13:1 and the principle of divine sovereignty over authority | | 12:48 | Commandments as basis of God’s government—modern idolatry discussed | | 13:41 | Practical test for idolatry—personal anecdotes | | 16:10 | Sabbath rest, Christian fulfillment | | 17:28 | Ethics of war, law enforcement, and killing vs. murder | | 19:00 | Marriage, adultery, and cultural excuses | | 20:07 | Stealing in the workplace—Christian integrity | | 22:45 | Proverbs 29:2 & call for righteous engagement in politics |

Tone & Language

Jack Hibbs uses a conversational, sometimes humorous and always direct tone. He grounds abstract theology in everyday examples, offers personal anecdotes, and doesn’t shy from challenging cultural or religious complacency.

For Listeners

Whether or not you’re familiar with the biblical texts, this episode serves as both an apologetic for Christian civic engagement and a practical guide to seeing God’s sovereignty and standards operative in all forms of human government. Hibbs’ message is clear: Politics may be messy, but Christian withdrawal is not an option—believers must advocate for, and where possible become, righteous leaders, holding governance to God’s standards for the good of society and the glory of Christ.