Thoughts on Government

A conservative friend of mine sent around an article written by Joseph Sobran, a former columnist for the National Review, in which he describes his transition from conservative, to libertarian, to philosophical anarchist. His main conclusion was that government might be restrained by Christian principles in the short or medium term, but that in the long run, as those forces waned, “we can expect the state to show its nature nakedly”.  In these uncertain times, more people will give credence to that assertion.  My friend asked for our thoughts, and I—ever the reluctant one—forced a reply:  J

 

I found Sobran’s thoughts very interesting; but not at all revolutionary.  James Madison said:

 

“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. A dependence on the people is, no doubt, the primary control on the government; but experience has taught mankind the necessity of auxiliary precautions.”

 

That is in Federalist #51.  A key problem is that a constitution is often a better reflection of it’s framer’s ideals than the actual practice of their power.  The Alien and Sedition Acts of the Adams administration made it clear that the first amendment was no protection against one party rule. Jefferson and Madison became the chief critics of this expansion of federal powers, and their new party won the next election. Yet, one of the first things James Madison (the father of the constitution) did upon becoming president in 1809 was to confirm the power of the Congress to charter a national bank (something long considered to be unconstitutional by Madison and Jefferson’s supporters.)  It would seem they scrapped their ideological scruples for what “worked”. 

 

The author of the article discussed his transition from blind belief in the “intent of the framers” to disillusionment in government altogether.  The truth is that there was no “intent of the framers”.  There were only the “intents” of each individual framer, given strength through coalition and realized only through compromise.  The arguments, fears, motivations, and even strategies are little–if any–different than those of today. 

 

The Civil War was not the death of the Constitution; it was the reshaping of its application in simply another (albeit more radical) departure from those practices that no longer worked–at least to the standards of contemporary policy makers.  The author’s argument has been made about Nullification in the 1830s, The Progressive movement of the 1900s, and the desegregation of the 1950s and 60s, to name a few.  The intents of many framers would have us living in a state run only by landed aristocracy and devoid of any rights for those who are not white men. 

 

Still, he makes a valid point.  Government, as an institution of man, is a failure.  Unfortunately, the purpose of our lives is not to overcome all the failures of man-made institutions, but rather to deal with them the best we can while recognizing that in a fallen world, there are no ultimate solutions outside of the second coming of Christ. 

 

This fact, however, does not make me disillusioned about government; rather it avoids any illusions about it in the first place.  I will, as a citizen of a representative democracy, be thankful for my political freedoms but realize they are not guaranteed by God.  (The Declaration of Independence is a fine document but devoid of true Christian principles).  Therefore, as a participant in our political process, I will vote and act in ways that I believe will leave the most people open to conversion to true faith.  For me, that means giving people opportunity along with freedom, choice along with education, and the message of Christ along with the protection of traditional institutions.  I may disagree with conservatives, libertarians, anarchists, and other liberals, but I will not see those disagreements as fundamental to my expression of faith or practice of mission.  Instead, I will seek to encourage others to view no human institution as a solution to the problems of mankind.  Government is a tool, like money, that can be an asset or a liability for Christians as they seek to do the will of God. I hope people of faith will have the wisdom to discern whether it is a tool they want to train themselves to use.   

 

Agape—or at least the best I can do,

 

Chris

Standing Firm in the Truth

At this point in my life, I refuse to blog about politics.  I would certainly alienate many of my friends no matter what I said; and any message of ultimate truth would be lost in the fray.  So, I will instead blog about not blogging about politics. 

 

I am currently addicted to the news.  I fall asleep in front of cable news and wake up in the middle of the night watching reruns of the major commentators’ shows.  I watch along with the nation as investments wither and debt continues to soar.  I think of my own financial mistakes and become disgusted—first with myself, and then with those who expect the government to divest them of any risk.  I think of those who are losing jobs and those who are hopelessly underwater and realize how blessed I am.  Today I bought a bottle of hope (overpriced lemon cleaner) from an inner city “salesman in training” who is trying to escape the cycle of poverty and most likely is being exploited by the company to whom I wrote the check.  I can’t help but wonder what the current economic outlook means for him.

 

The political season is in hyper drive; and both candidates purport to have our best interest at heart.  Followers on both sides present their version of the truth.  Sound byte solutions and personal attacks fill the airwaves.  I have my own view of that truth; but—again—I refuse to blog about politics. J 

 

Then I think about my day.  Opportunities abound to witness to the students and friends I have at school.  I have limits on what I may say, but no limits on the way I live.  Where are my energies spent?  How do I convey the relevance of the issues of today in my social studies classes while demonstrating that the real solutions are not political? 

 

On Wednesday night, we looked at I Timothy 6:3-21.  This passage addresses the issues of my world of today.   Our focus is so often on “controversies and quarrels” that may be of importance in the world, but that stir up malice and discontent that can jeopardize our eternal future.  We have not learned to be content with food and clothing.  Instead, we demand a healthy 401k.  How we need to heed the words of Paul in vs. 17-19: 

 

Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life.

 

We indeed are all rich if we have “the life that is truly life”.  No politician can endanger that wealth, and no risk is involved if we continue to invest our faith.  

 

Yet, if this is truly the case, then why do I get so angry when I get a political e-mail?  Why do I yell at the TV when they refuse to address the real causes of the economic crisis as I see them?  Perhaps it because I stay up too late watching the world grapple with its problems instead of recognizing that Christ solved the most important ones already.  Perhaps it is because I don’t feel as comfortable talking salvation as I do talking politics.  Or maybe I am just so caught up in the world that I can’t stand it when God makes it clear we can’t serve two masters. 

 

Agape—or at least the best I can do,

 

Chris

Sabbatarianism

Sabbatarianism- a reform movement of the Second Great Awakening, it sought to criminalize business on Sunday, the “Christian Sabbath”.  “Blue laws”, as they are now called, still exist throughout much of the South and Midwest.  They pertain almost exclusively to the sale of liquor. 

 

A couple of things surprised me during the lecture on reform last Thursday.  One was that only a few students knew that the Jewish Sabbath was Saturday.  The other was that many of my students seemed to think the Sabbath requirement of a day of rest was still in force, as given in the Ten Commandments (see Genesis 20).  I would like to offer a different understanding for you to ponder. 

 

All of the Ten Commandments are discussed in the New Testament, but there is no requirement restated for Christians to observe the Sabbath.  We have examples both from scripture (I Cor. 16:2, Acts 20:7), and from church tradition as to Sunday being the day set aside for the assembling of the church.  In fact, they often worshiped after having worked the whole day, as many were slaves.  Christ made a point of healing on the Sabbath and pronouncing himself as “Lord of the Sabbath” (Luke 6:5).

 

So what does the New Testament say about the Sabbath for Christians?  Read Hebrews 4.  In it the writer calls us to an understanding of what the Sabbath represented.  It is a shadow of the rest that we all enter when we obey the gospel.  It is not a rest from work, so much as a rest from works.  We are under grace, free from the bondage to sin as it was shown to us by the law (Romans 6:1-18).  Our works now are not a result of that struggle to be justified; but rather are the result of transformed lives freed from the power of sin.  That is our Sabbath rest.  TODAY is our Sabbath, and so is tomorrow, and yesterday, provided that we have entered into that rest by obeying the gospel. 

So do I work on Sunday?  Not usually.  I am not in danger of starvation or bankruptcy if I set aside working in order to focus on God, his church, and my family.  I admire those that set the day aside as a personal rule for themselves, consecrating it as a day they dedicate to the Lord.  Still, I have no biblical basis for telling anyone else not to work on Sunday; and God forbid that I use any excuse to avoid helping others on that day in His name—even if it involves physical labor. 

Agape—or at least the best I can do,

Chris