Sphere Sovereignty - Applications

Applications

The doctrine of sphere sovereignty has many applications. The institution of the family, for example, does not come not from the State, the Church, or from contingent social factors, but derives from the original creative act of God (it is a creational institution). It is the task of neither the State nor the Church to define the family or to promulgate laws upon it. This duty is reserved to of the Word of God, held by Protestantism to be sovereign, i.e., beyond the control of either Church or State. The family (defined as the covenantal commitment of one man and one woman to each other and to their offspring) is not instituted by the State nor by any other external power, but proceeds naturally from the heads of households, who are directly responsible to God. However, when a particular family fails for some reason, the State is authorized to serve as substitute.

Neither the State nor the Church can dictate predetermined conclusions to a scientific organization, school or university. Applicable laws are those relative to that sphere only, so that the administration of schools should rest with those who are legitimately in charge of them, according to their specific competences and skills. Similarly, in a trade organization, the rules of trade only should be applied, and their leaders should be drawn from their own ranks of expertise. Similarly agriculture does not derive its laws from the government but from the laws of nature. Whenever a government presumes to regulate outside its sovereignty, those serving within the affected sphere should protest that the State is interfering in their internal affairs. The question is how far the state can act without interfering.