A Christian View of Politics, Government, and Social ActionKerby AndersonIntroduction In the last two decades, evangelical Christians have become more involved in government and social action. In the nineteenth century, Christians were involved in a vast array of social concerns, but the rise of the social gospel among ecumenical denominations turned evangelicals away from social involvement. With renewed evangelical activity in the 1980s and 1990s, Christians need to think biblically about politics, government, and social action.
The Bible describes two different elements of human nature. This viewpoint is helpful in judging government systems. Because we are created in the image of God (Genesis 1), we are able to exercise such noble human traits as courage, judgment, compassion, and rationality. However, we are also fallen creatures (Genesis 3). This human sinfulness (Romans 3:23) has therefore created a need to control evil and sinful human behavior through civil government.
Notice how a Christian view of human nature gives us a basis by which to judge political philosophies. For example, Christians must reject political philosophies which ignore human sinfulness. Many utopian political theories are guilty of this. Plato postulated in The Republic that the ideal government would be one in which enlightened philosopher-kings would lead the country. The Bible, however, teaches that all are sinful (Romans 3:23); therefore, Plato's proposed leaders would also be affected by the sinful effects of the Fall (Genesis 3). They would lack the benevolent and enlightened disposition necessary for Plato's republic to work. Another example is the Marxist scheme of government. Karl Marx had a naive view of human nature.{2} He felt that society, and in particular, the capitalistic economy, was the reason for human failing. His solution was to overthrow the capitalistic economy and replace it with a communistic society in which human potential would be liberated. He located the problem in an economic system and believed that the solution would emerge by the destruction of capitalism. Marx felt that people are only the innocent victims of this menace. Christians should reject the utopian vision of Marxism. Although the Bible does talk of believers becoming new creatures (2 Corinthians 5:17) through spiritual conversion, even in this case, the effects of sin are not completely overcome in this life. The new birth is just the beginning of the growth process that continues throughout our earthly existence. Furthermore, the Bible teaches that we will always live in a world tainted by sin. Karl Marx's view of the New Man in a New Society therefore contradicts biblical teaching because it teaches human perfectibility on earth by man's own efforts.
A Christian view of government is based upon a balanced view of human nature. It recognizes both human dignity (we are created in God's image) and human depravity (we are sinful individuals). Because both grace and sin operate in government, we should neither be too optimistic nor too pessimistic. We should view governmental affairs with a deep sense of biblical realism. Most political theorists in Britain and the United States accepted this balanced view of human nature. Edmund Burke, an English Christian, developed his description of what government should be in his Reflections on the French Revolution based upon a balanced view of human nature. So did the founders of the American form of government. Even though many were not Christians, they were frequently influenced by the Christian milieu. James Madison believed in this balanced view of human nature. He asked the following question in the Federalist Papers: But what is government itself, but the greatest of all reflections on human nature? If men were angels, no government would be necessary. If angels were to govern men, neither external nor internal controls on government would be necessary. In framing a government which is to be administered by men over men, the great difficulty lies in this: you must first enable the government to control the governed; and in the next place oblige it to control itself.{3} Framing a republic requires a balance of power that liberates human dignity and rationality and controls human sin and depravity. As there is a degree of depravity in mankind which requires a certain degree of circumspection and distrust, so there are other qualities in human nature, which justify a certain portion of esteem and confidence. Republican government presupposes the existence of these qualities in a higher degree than any other form.{4} This does not mean that Christians must support every aspect of the American governmental system. The Constitution represents a compromise of Christian principles and humanistic principles from the Enlightenment. And evangelicals have often been guilty of substituting a civil religion for biblical principles. The American political experiment has nevertheless been successful because it is based upon a balanced view of human nature which avoids the dangers of utopian experiments in human government.
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