The Siren Allure of Political Activism

There are Christians on both sides of the political spectrum who are actively engaged in the political process.  On the modern liberal and progressive side, many espouse political activity as the means to enact “social justice” in our society. (1) “John Dewey, the most thoughtful of the Progressives, wrote that freedom is not "something that individuals have as a ready-made possession.  It is "something to be achieved." In this view, freedom is not a gift of God or nature. It is a product of human making, a gift of the state.”   … "The state has the responsibility for creating institutions under which individuals can effectively realize the potentialities that are theirs." (2) (3)On the conservative side, the means to a just society and economic well being is through exercising the liberties guaranteed in the U.S. Constitution and in free market capitalism.  “Free-market capitalism is not perfect. But it remains the single most efficient and powerful system for creating wealth, reducing poverty and developing less wasteful ways of organizing output and consuming resources.” (4). Both of these views have profound ideas about man and his relationship to the state.  What both views have is common is: a) a reliance on the how man is governed to enhance economic well being and liberty and b) active participation by each of us in bringing about a more just and equal society—though the definitions of these two terms might be different.

I submit the siren allure of political activity to further the state of man has inherent dangers for the Christian participant.  It is not that participation in the political process is to be denied or discouraged.  It is not a belief that any participation in civil government is wrong.  Some Christians believe with David Libscomb “that government is not a force for good: It is a force for bad, and Christians should attempt to persuade people to follow the laws of God rather than using force. He argued that Christians should not participate in politics, should not vote, and should not fight in wars.” (5) (6).   I am not of that persuasion.   On the contrary, I am a member of a political party, of political action groups, have served as a delegate to our convention at the state level, and attend various political activities.  So what then is the problem?  The problems are threefold: 1) Confusing the state and its functions with the mission of the church  2) Confusing participation in political activism with personal Christian responsibilities and 3) Letting the allure of political activism become your personal idol.

The United States had as its founding principles the Declaration statement that we are “endowed by God with life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.”   In addition, the Founders consistently stated its implementation in our Constitution was only suitable for a moral and religious people.    Along with the philosophy of the Enlightenment, these foundations are paramount for those of the conservative persuasion in particular.  It is a small step to believe that the United States is the favored Christian nation and in some sense is like the nation of Israel,-- God’s light to the world.  In short, it is a small step to confuse the mission of the church as the mission of the state.  But, the United States is not the church.  Our true citizenship is in the Kingdom.   This confusion can easily lead one to believe the actions you might take as a citizen activist serves the responsibility you have as a servant of Christ.  In fact, the allure can be so great you pursue and give your entire allegiance to the state not to the Kingdom.

It is true that God favored Israel when it kept its covenant and punished it as well as other nations when they became evil.  But he also blessed nations when they acknowledge Him as Lord.

 Jeremiah 12:14–17 (NIV)

¹⁴ This is what the Lord says: “As for all my wicked neighbors who seize the inheritance I gave my people Israel, I will uproot them from their lands and I will uproot the people of Judah from among them. ¹⁵ But after I uproot them, I will again have compassion and will bring each of them back to their own inheritance and their own country. ¹⁶ And if they learn well the ways of my people and swear by my name, saying, ‘As surely as the Lord lives’—even as they once taught my people to swear by Baal—then they will be established among my people. ¹⁷ But if any nation does not listen, I will completely uproot and destroy it,” declares the Lord.

There is no reason not to believe that nations are indeed blessed by God when they acknowledge him as Lord.  And, from Revelation 6 we know that God punishes nations for the evil that transpires.  As in the Old Testament he punishes those who are evil so that they may repent.  Revelation clearly depicts a difference between those who “dwell on the earth” and those who are sealed with God’s name (Rev. 6;10).  In other words it is the difference between those whose citizenship is in heaven and those whose allegiance and citizenship is on the earth.   In the words of John Mark Hicks in his comments on Revelation:   “They are part of the socio-political, anti-Christian powers (cf. Revelation 6:10; 11:10). They look to the powers rather than to one who sits on the throne in heaven for their guidance and life. This is the essence of idolatry.” (7)

But in no sense is being a citizen of a state the same as being a citizen of heaven.  Neither should one confuse “the church” with “the state”.  This confusion is not a problem for progressives who insist that all aspects of religion should be banished from the public square.   Christian progressives, however, have a different but similar attraction to the state.  In the progressive case transformation of society through the state is a prime objective.  The state is to provide salvation of man from injustice and should bring about equality and economic justice.  But, it is not the mission of the church to transform the forms of government.  If it was, Paul would not have sent the slave Philemon back to his master.  This is a telling case in that slavery is the epitome of injustice to Americans.  But, progressives “look to the powers” of the state for resolution rather than “the one who sits on heaven”.   In fact for them the purpose of the state is to “create individuals”. (3).  Our danger as Christians is we too would look to the state for individual transformation and put all of their energies into this effort...  As John Mark Hicks stated this is the essence of idolatry.

Conservatives believe that all human beings are by their nature “free” with society being a voluntary association of individuals.  They create a social compact and laws for the common good.   It is the duty of the state to protect individuals so that they can “be all they can be” or in the words of the Declaration be protected in their “pursuit of happiness.” The particular political form of society that our Constitution has enshrined is a republic that divides powers in order to ensure the protection of individuals.  The economic structure has also been named “democratic capitalism” –for it is far from a complete “free market” system where anything goes. (8).  One of the most cogent interpreters of our system has stated our democracy has three principles for success (9):

1)    Democracy defines the political part

2)     Capitalism defines the economic part

3)    The Moral Culture that defines the virtues that must be present

The voluntary association of individuals means not only individuals themselves but the free components of a civil society including families, churches, clubs, political groups, social groups, etc.  A free polity must first, as individuals, govern themselves. “A corrupt, lazy, dishonest, and decadent society cannot preserve human liberty. “  

With moral underpinnings required for our system to work, it is very easy to confuse our mission as Christians with our obligations as citizens.  We can rationalize our actions in pursuit of furthering the moral underpinnings of our political system with our personal obligations as citizens to our fellowman.  After all, we all have limited time.

As a citizen of heaven we have the obligation to use our God given gifts for “works of service” to our fellowman—Christian and non-Christian.  The depiction of the judgment in Matt 25 clearly indicates our obligation to the poor and the outcasts of society. It is quite easy for progressives to be seduced into believing their personal Christian duty for service is achieved through their political activism for social justice through the state.   For conservatives, the thought would be “we pay taxes for that.”  After all, the state takes my hard earned money for these social programs to provide for the poor and disadvantaged.

Since our political system requires a moral and religious underpinning  we are thus easily lead to believe that our mission as Christians is to transform that system. That is not our mission as Christians.  Likewise, since the “state” has taken over many Christian obligations for society at large (taking care of the poor, etc) it is easy to say this satisfies my individual responsibility.  Can you picture standing before Christ at judgment and in your defense saying “I gave him a cup of water through my taxes to the state?”  Can a progressive who believes transformation is accomplished through the state defend this  before Christ by saying “ I transformed lives through my actions for the state?”

When then, does the allure of political activism become an idol?  It becomes an idol when you place your allegiance to transformation of lives in the actions of the state. It becomes an idol when you transfer your obligation as a Christian for service to other individuals to service to and allegiance to the state. The siren call of political activism is a alluring seductress. 

Bibliography

1. About the Center for American Progress. Center for American Progress. [Online] [Cited: Aug 13, 2013.] http://www.americanprogress.org/.

2. Schambra, Thomas G. West and William A. The Progressive Movement and the Transfomation of American Politices. First Principles on Political Thought. [Online] July 18, 2007. [Cited: Aug 13, 2013.] http://www.heritage.org/research/reports/2007/07/the-progressive-movement-and-the-transformation-of-american-politics.

3. Leadership for America: First Principles. The Heritage Foundation. [Online] 2013. [Cited: Aug 13, 2013.] http://www.heritage.org/initiatives/first-principles.

4. Wesbury, Brian S. A Protrait of the Economy. The Wall Street Journal. [Online] Feb 14, 2007. [Cited: Aug 13, 2013.] http://online.wsj.com/article/SB117142605260108183.html.

5. Stringham, Edward. Foreward to On Civil Government. Foreward. [Online] Vance Publications, May 2006. [Cited: Aug 13, 2013.] http://www.vancepublications.com/cr/cr117f.pdf.

6. Libscomb, David. Civil Government: Its Origin, Mission, and Destiny, and the Christian's Relationship to It. Nashville : McQuiddy Printing Co. , 1913.

7. Hicks, John Mark. Revelation 9: Imagine Your Work Nightmare. John Mark Hick's Ministries. [Online] Aug 10, 2013. [Cited: Aug 13, 2013.]

8. Novak, Michael. The Spirit of Free Market Capitalism. Lanham : Madison, 1991. 978--0-8191-7823-7.

9. —. Democratic Capitalism. National Review Online. [Online] Sept 24, 2013. [Cited: Sept 24, 2013.] www.nationalreview.com/node/359306/print.