Jesus Is a Libertarian - Part 4
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JESUS IS A LIBERTARIAN
by Mike Hurley
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Part IV, A Call to Arms
"The highest glory of the American Revolution was this: it connected in one indissoluble bond, the principles of civil government with the principles of Christianity." (John Quincy Adams)
In these essays, we first explored the natural fit of Christianity, a spiritual faith which informs, guides and directs the life of an individual, and libertarianism, a political philosophy based on the principle of non-coercion or self-government. Then we looked briefly at why authoritarians, especially utopian socialists who dominate the political establishment today, hate Christianity and seek to obscure Christian principles which affirm individual liberty.
The rule of individual conscience is the foundation of a free society. Society begins with individuals. Therefore, it makes sense that government officials, themselves only individuals, would be strictly subservient to the individual citizen. To many folks, this sounds like anarchy.
Not so: the rule of law only works where there is individual liberty. As our government officials become more given to tyranny, conflict in society rises, there is a break down in rule by law, and rule by men reasserts itself.
As a Baptist, I can appreciate this very much. Baptists hold to the "priesthood of all believers." No other's conscience or relationship with God can take precedence over yours. Traditionally, each congregation is free to set their own doctrine, even if it contradicts the Baptist denomination as a whole. Hence the historic defining phrase for Baptists, "a free Christian in a free church in a free country!"
This is a perfect model for our democratic republic, united under a federal government, with ultimate sovereignty residing in the individual. The Baptist church is a descendent of the same frame work of religious principle which gave rise to the War for Independence. In sharp contrast to this tradition, the current political establishment is intent on expanding its oppressive power over individual citizens. This they do in the name of helping or caring for people.
Hence, the continuous creation of new victims and new emergencies. Most importantly, Christian virtue (love and compassion) are replaced by political force (taxation and bureaucratic empire building). Subsequently our resources are consumed by the state, without helping people very much, and we are denied responsibility for ourselves, our families and our communities.
Today's PC ethic, together with the "Bi-partisan Party," stands in direct opposition to the Christian concept of charity as evoked by Abraham Lincoln:
"You cannot bring about prosperity by discouraging thrift. You cannot strengthen the weak by weakening the strong. You cannot help the wage earner by pulling down the wage payer. You cannot further the brotherhood of man by encouraging class hatred. You cannot keep out of trouble by spending more than you earn. You cannot build character and courage by taking away man's initiative and independence. You cannot help men permanently by doing what they could and should do for themselves."
As I pointed out in Part I, Jesus calls us to minister to the oppressed, not farm out the job to government employees. Therefore we must recognize, with C. K. Chesterton, "If there be any value in scaling the mountains, it is only from them that one can behold the plains." In other words, the thinking about the truth is meaningless if we do not act on what we discover.
We live in a real world full of real people who hurt, bleed and suffer under the oppression of anti-Christian utopian socialism. It is up to those who hold the truth to share these tools with their neighbors. Only by relating directly with people in our community can the potency of our ideas be unleashed. The key ingredient is always self-responsibility. As government has gradually assumed our self-responsibility, it has also stolen our freedom and increased tyranny, oppression and injustice in our country.
We may reassert self-responsibility, and so redeem our country, by properly caring for ourselves and our immediate families first. Only then may we share our gifts through direct political action (finding candidates and supporting them for elected office, educating jurors, circulating petitions, lobbying), in business (providing goods and services people want and/or need, creating jobs, etc.), by helping other voluntary organizations (City Union Mission, Habitat for Humanity, The Lighthouse, etc.), or simply lending a helping hand to a neighbor, friend or relative.
Isn't it time Christians, together with other freedom loving people, put a stop to the growing injustice caused by the uncontrolled growth of government institutions and government power? It is time to renew the original freedom coalition which built this country and can still preserve it for our posterity. It is time for Christians to assume their rightful place (again) as leaders in this coalition. It is time for Christians to join the libertarian movement, support (or be) Libertarian candidates, and vote Libertarian!
Let us return full circle to the observation of Mr. Franklin: "Whoever will introduce into public affairs the principles of Christianity will change the face of the world."
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Mike has been active in the Missouri Libertarian Party since 1984. He has served as representative to the state committee, state chair, national convention delegate, county comittee chariman, and candidate to Congress and the state legislature. Mike is an evangelical Christian and member of Lee's Summit Baptist Temple, a Bible-based, soul-winning, discipling body of Christ.
Permission is hereby granted to freely publish or otherwise reproduce, as is and with attribution, this four part essay "Jesus is a Libertarian" in any manner deemed espedient by the user.
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posted by Job @ 9:56 PM
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