The subject of government, particularly its misadministration, reveals profound challenges rooted in human nature. Government, at its best, is seen as a necessary evil, and at its worst, intolerable, reflecting a contemptuous view despite God's emphasis on its importance. The carnal mind, as described in Romans 8:7, is enmity against God and not subject to His law, resisting submission due to an inherent unwillingness to discipline oneself and the powerful influence of self-justification. This resistance persists even after conversion, hindering growth and relationship with God. In the world, government often operates through external pressure to gain submission, leading to conflicts, wars, divorces, and workplace disputes. Jesus Christ, in Luke 22:24-26, contrasts this with God's approach, noting that worldly leaders exercise lordship and authority, calling themselves benefactors, while stripping away liberties. Yet, many perceive such rigid rule as providing security and order, despite the loss of freedom. Jesus firmly states that it shall not be so among His followers, indicating that God's government does not rely on terror or control but seeks voluntary subjection. Human nature's desire to control, driven by pride, fear, and covetousness, further complicates government. Pride leads individuals to believe they know better, fear motivates manipulation or intimidation to avoid pain or inconvenience, and covetousness overrides willingness to sacrifice for personal gain. These influences often result in poor choices, as seen in the example of Adam and Eve, who, under Satan's influence, rejected God's counsel to decide their own destiny. Moreover, the misadministration of government can occur even within the church, where authority may be exercised rigidly, based on the notion that the ministry represents the government of God. While the ministry holds authority, it must not go beyond what God has granted, as human nature, even post-conversion, tends to exceed given boundaries, mirroring the overreach of worldly benefactors. True governance, aligned with God's purpose, requires voluntary submission and self-discipline, resisting the pulls of human nature to conform to the image of Christ.

Government misadministration occurs when leaders interpose themselves between people and God, leading others to submit to human authority rather than direct governance by God. This creates idolatry by motivating obedience to the institution instead of truth, even when accompanied by hesitation or regret. Equating church government with God's government compounds the error, as all delegated authority derives from God yet remains subject to human misuse through free moral agency. People justify wrong actions by claiming the church instructed them, mirroring excuses used in other historical contexts of authority abuse. Such misadministration arises not from the structure of government itself, which God ordains as centralized and hierarchical, but from individuals exceeding limits of their delegated power. This leads to incorrect doctrines, confusion, and departure from truth, as seen when leaders draw followers away from direct submission to God. God's government requires voluntary self-governance by each person through faith, without intermediaries, to prevent these failures. When authority is abused, whether in civil or religious spheres, it results in people being led astray until they choose to submit directly to God.

Every form of government has misused or abused its power and authority. The idea that the church alone was fit to govern over men was based on the assumption that religious men were necessarily good men. That kind of careless assumption led to the Catholic Church ruling Europe and bringing upon Europe one of the darkest periods in mankind's history. This also led to the framers of the American Constitution forming the kind of government that exists in the United States, where there are all kinds of checks and balances to keep one part of the government from gaining control or power over the other. God's government and church government are not necessarily synonymous. Just because God installs or allows a person in office does not mean that He endorses or approves of that person's every act. Not always does God set the lowest or basest of men in positions of authority. For whatever His purpose, there are going to be times when the seats of power are held by people who are base and low. God does not endorse or approve of what they are doing, but He wants experience living under those people. Helel was God's government on earth. God did not want the angels who were under Helel's authority to obey Helel when he rebelled. God's government can tell people to do wrong things. The individual's responsibility is to prove all things and to hold fast to that which is good. False teachers had gotten into the congregation. God allows His church to be infiltrated because He wants to see how much individuals love Him. Individuals are to be thinking, discerning, taking advantage of access to Him, studying, praying, understanding, and discerning. The responsibility in God's government falls on the individual.