BEYOND “CONSERVATIVE” & “LIBERAL”

NOTES ON DIVINE PRINCIPLES

OF GOVERNMENT

Is there such a thing as a “Christian” philosophy of government or a “Christian” political ideology, and if so, what is it?

Someone has said that the word “Christian” works much better as a noun than as an adjective. The point is well-taken.  It is more important in our world that we think like Christians than that we try to construct a “Christian” opinion.  (How to think like a Christian is the subject of another essay, but in short it means first to think Theistically—i.e., beginning with the presupposition that there is one triune God, and that he is actively engaged in the affairs of the universe, and that his is a moral government; second, that Jesus Christ is Lord, and that his lordship is universal; and third, that the Bible is our final authority for understanding how the government of God and the Lordship of Christ operates.  See also my essay on Serious Christianity.)

The world presses us into categories that emerged not from serious Christians applying the Bible to their culture, but from the French Revolution and from Marxism/Leninism: conservative vs. liberal, left vs. right, the individual vs. the collective, the bourgeoisie vs. the working class.

In order to think like Christians about government and politics we must go beyond the stereotyped categories. We may not be able to escape them, but we must not let them dominate our thinking.  As serious Christians it is our task, not to redefine biblical truth in contemporary terms, but to redefine contemporary terms according to biblical truth.

I propose that we go back to the Bible as our starting point, and critique our culture through the lens of Scripture.  I further suggest that it is past the time we do so. Some in the religious left and some in the religious right would have us enter the political fray to set society right, to save men’s souls, or to establish some vision of the kingdom of God.  We must question whether that be the proper function of either the church or the state to make such a use of politics.  We must return to the source of true doctrine to learn, not just what we should think on this question, but how we must think about this and all related questions.  What are the principles we may derive from the Word?

This is not actually a fully developed essay, but rather a set of notes from which I have delivered lectures and conducted seminars.  Here are the topics:

We have one word, “power,” to describe two different realities.  Much confusion comes from failing to distinguish them. 

The early chapters of Genesis offer a surprising analysis of the two extremes of human social interaction.

10 Indispensable Principles of Government.

The commandments aren’t just about personal morality.  They define the indispensable principles of human government—but that does not mean we’re advocating a new theocracy!

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*An Important Note about Intent* 

I recognize that what I present here draws up short of translating these principles into concepts that can be applied in a pluralistic society.  I also recognize that the task is not done until such application is made.

I certainly do not presume that unbelievers and secularists will be persuaded by arguments based on Scripture.  I rather assume that they will not.  I do have some hope, though, that Christians might be persuaded by Scripture.  It is to serious Christians that these notes are addressed.

It is not my point or intention to speak here to the issue of how to address a secular culture with biblical truth, or how to frame arguments that will be persuasive in a world ruled and populated mostly by unbelievers.

My point and intention, rather, is more basic.  It is the oft skipped first step.  The purpose of this Bible study is to get serious Christians to think more deeply about these issues, and to apply a scriptural critique to their own beliefs about government, politics, citizenship, and civil life.  I think we ourselves need to understand the Bible better before we try to reframe and rephrase biblical principles so as to make them more palatable to those who do not recognize biblical authority.

First we need to insure that our own thinking conforms to revealed truth, and let the truths of God’s Word shape and strengthen our convictions.  Then we will be ready to live our lives as the salt of the earth and the lights of the world.