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Politics is about community
governance: polity. Because we are citizens in a
democracy, Christians in America are entitled
to participate extensively in the political process. This
can cause conflict with fellow-citizens, and it often produces backlash
on the Church. On the Ethics Page are a number of articles
on theonomy. Those address the proper extent of Christian
participation and control in the community. This Politics Page is more about
the relation between the State and the Individual, the interaction
between our public and private spheres. Give to Caesar what is
Caesar's, and to God what is God's. But don't give Caesar more
than his due.
For the record, America is not a Christian nation; it was not intended to be a Christian nation; and theologically speaking, it cannot be a Christian nation. Nations cannot place their faith in Jesus Christ unto salvation; only individuals can do that. But America has
been a nation of Christians; and that has helped to influence America's
politics, culture, laws, and education, often for the better. Even so, the presence of
Christians cannot make a nation "Christian."
The late James Montgomery Boice wrote that Augustine (in City of God)
"distinguished between two entirely different societies: the city of
man, which is characterized by self-love, and the City of God, composed
of those who love God and want to serve him. The city of man will never
be God's city. It has a different origin, progresses along a separate
path, and is moving to a radically different end. Yet those who are
members of God's city are nevertheless in the world and need to conduct
themselves as a renewing force within it." That's what Christians did in America for nearly two centuries; they were its salt and light. But the light is now dim, and the salt isn't as salty...
How can I say that? Well, consider the evidence:
A moral people will
not tolerate immoral leadership; and an immoral people will not tolerate moral
leadership. Thus we always have the government we deserve. If we have
immoral leaders, then we have become an immoral or an indifferent people; and
Christianity will become increasingly intolerable...
Classics
Federalist/Anti-Federalist Papers During the
formation of the United States government,
and preceding the adoption of its Constitution, a series of letters
were sent by three men in support of the proposed Constitution to
the editors of a number of prominent newspapers, from October of
1787 to April of 1788. These men were John Jay, James Madison, and
Alexander Hamilton. The composite of what they wrote is arguably the
finest treatise ever written on political philosophy. It reflects
the heart and soul of the American system of government, and the
intent of its founders. Forty-six of the letters advocate a strong
central government under which certain rights were reserved to the
states – this shared system of state and federal control,
emphasizing central control, is called federalism; and its adherents
were known as federalists. Hence, the collective title of these
papers. To encourage a fair reading on the merits of the case
presented, they each signed their letter “Publius.”
In our
current era, the Executive branch is striving to reassert
its independence. It wants to be acknowledged as a
"separate but equal" federal branch, rather than being a mere agent
of the Legislative Branch; it believes it has been kept on a short
leash by the Judicial Branch far too long. Meanwhile, the Judicial
Branch continues to exercise legislative and executive
powers which the Founders never intended. They understood that
the federal Judiciary would be tempted to abuse its
power because it is unelected, and therefore unaccountable. The
Constitution thus restricts the Judicial domain to judging
the laws and their enforcement against a strictly
constructed Consititution. The NSA lawsuit of 2006 reflects
this ongoing struggle for power and control between the three
branches that I described 30 years ago. The Leviathan grows
because the American people have been convinced that government is
somehow a force for good rather than a necessary evil. I
believe our Founders would be appalled at the thought.
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