Christianity and Politics

For some time now, I've been thinking about the relationship between Christianity and politics. What effect should a Christian politician's faith have on his work as a politician? One thing that I'm hoping this blog will help me with the numerous questions that trouble me. Perhaps every now and then an enlightened reader will shed some light on this or that problem.

I'll begin with the first problem concerning “Christian politics” (horrible word, invites misunderstanding, I know). What can a Christian politician expect to accomplish? Is “utopia on earth” attainable?

There seems to me to be two kinds of “ideal states”. The first kind is the absolutely perfect kind: no crime, perfect equality, etc. In Christian terms, this would be a state that was not invaded by sin and its results. Now, this kind of “ideal state” is utopia, quite literally a place that does not exist and cannot (it seems) be attained on earth.

But there is also another way of interpreting the concept “ideal state”. Given the fact that human nature is fallen, that there is sin and sin’s terrible consequences on earth, it is still true that in some societies it is easier to “be good” that in others. So, sin’s consequences can be minimized to a certain extent. That’s why we have the police force, the education system, law courts and what not. In addition to concrete institutions, there are movements, or “forces” at work in the society, that encourage positive behavior, that help in the cultivation and implementation of virtues. Some societies do this better than others and, it may be that in a certain historical context one system works well, but in another era that system does not work well.

Thus, the second way of interpreting the “ideal state” is: an ideal state with qualifications. We cannot attain perfection due to sin, but we can attain a certain level of perfection, the best possible level. By definition, this level is attainable - and can be called the “ideal state”.

The irony is, it seems to be that this is not utopia, but realism.

Now, of course this logical conclusion - a truth in itself - does not help us in figuring out the details, in understanding what ought to be encouraged and what systems built in a given country at a given time.

However, this realization that an “ideal state” (in the second sense) is in fact attainable, can, for the Christian politician, function as a strong motivation to work out the “how”. (Similarly, in his personal life, knowing that there is a perfect example of “what it is to be man” (and His name is Jesus), he can be encouraged to imitate him.) How this perfection can be attained is another matter. But I think that Christian politicians and educationists could perhaps benefit from this realization in their work.