Why do we need a civil state, with laws and leaders to be obeyed?

The Church Father Lactantius (third-fourth centuries A. D.) considers the formation of political states, in which people can live their lives, to be a natural consequence of the social nature of humanity. The state is a necessary means to control violence by enforcing submission to a certain code in a lawful manner, thus constraining those who wish to do evil. Such laws are necessary because of ancestral sin, and the entry of evil into human life.

St. Ambrose observes that when we study the organized societies of birds, bees, and fish, we see that we too need social organization and laws through which the state manages the affairs of society. In his view, had it not been for the Fall, the state would have exercised its authority in a spirit of cooperation for the general good. But the Fall produced a lust for domination and greed, which motivates some rulers of the state to strive for power and their own personal interests at the expense of the public interest. In his view, the state is established with the aim of curbing and deterring evil; but unfortunately, rather than fighting evil, evil can become a feature of the state (when its leaders are evil). However, no authority is evil in itself.⁷⁷⁵ The king (or the leader) is a representative of God if he uses his authority well.⁷⁷⁶

St. Augustine believes that, had humanity not fallen into sin, there would have been no need for laws to restrict their behavior or for the authority of the state to maintain peace for all people. The state maintains earthly or external peace. Augustine calls this the “peace of Babylon,” which is not comparable to the true peace of the city of God, or the heavenly peace. Earthly peace is based on compulsion and oppression with punishment; and this is achieved through political power, which is in the hands of people that are prone to making mistakes. But the people must not rebel against the ruler, but rather accept the punishment which they suffer because of their rebellion, just as it is fitting for them to pray that He will forgive those who wronged them.⁷⁷⁷