Foundations: Why Should Christians Be Involved in Government?

THE STREAM

There’s a pretty simple reason Christians should be involved in government. “Because we love God and love our neighbor.”

We could drop the subject there and leave the reader to think through the implications. Because so many of them are obvious. But let’s tease them out, shall we? Then we’ll move to the less straightforward reasons.

Government Is Good

Government is a good thing intended by God. It would have existed even if mankind hadn’t fallen. We see a hint of this in God’s decision to appoint Adam “steward” of Eden, and all the animals. Presumably Adam would have stewarded his descendants, even absent the corruption, death, and darkening of man’s reason and will that sin introduced.

Why do we say this? Because God made man a social, not solitary, animal. Certain reptiles and fish make their way in virtual solitude, coming together only to mate and quickly abandoning their offspring. No higher mammals live that way, least of all the most intelligent, like elephants, whales, dolphins or apes.

And every species of social animal has a hierarchy, to organize the activities of individual groups. We’ve no reason to think that unfallen man would be any different. It seems from our created nature that God meant us to live in society, and that means with leaders. Continue reading…