| Ah, autumn; the season for brilliant colors, football | | | | reveals that none of the principal institutions is |
| games and political skulduggery. As Christians we | | | | chief over the others. We are instructed to give |
| should praise God for the beauty of his creation | | | | honor where honor is due but we are also taught |
| and the joy of athletic excellence but how should | | | | that the Family, Church and State are |
| we deal with the realm of politics? | | | | complimentary and each has its particular sphere |
| To begin with it is important to accept the fact | | | | of influence. This is an aspect of what is known |
| that there is no area of life that is exempt from | | | | as the "anti-sovereignty" doctrine. In other words, |
| the rule of God. Christians are called to engage | | | | none of the basic institutions is sovereign over the |
| every part of creation as they bring their sphere | | | | others. Instead, each derives its authority from |
| of influence under the authority of Jesus Christ. | | | | the Sovereign ruler of the universe and is thereby |
| Believers must work to provide examples of how | | | | answerable to God. |
| the kingdom of God is realized in every legitimate | | | | These things were understood by our nation's |
| and moral pursuit. And yes, this includes the realm | | | | Founding Fathers and so the constitutional |
| of politics with participation as candidates and | | | | government they bequeathed us rejected the |
| voters alike. | | | | idea of a sovereign state at any level. Indeed as |
| Yet, how shall we define "Christian politics?" What | | | | R.J Rushdooney once wrote, |
| are the issues that must guide us as players in | | | | This anti-sovereignty doctrine, medieval in origin |
| the game of government - again, as voters and | | | | and Puritan in development, was transplanted |
| candidates? | | | | from England to America. The Boston Tea Party |
| Certainly there are the obvious issues that | | | | was the burial of the sovereignty of the State as |
| Christians may not ignore. No Christian can ever | | | | far as America was concerned. The English Middle |
| support a "pro-choice" (pro-death), position. | | | | Ages had no political sovereignty and Americans |
| Believers must always stand in defense of life | | | | moved in terms of that tradition; medieval English |
| from conception to natural death. Moreover, God | | | | history is more theirs than the periods in which |
| fearing folk must affirm the sanctity of marriage | | | | they had a separate history of their own; and |
| - a covenant relationship between one man and | | | | instinctive memory has much to do with political |
| one woman. We cannot support candidates who | | | | thought and the writing of history. The colonists, |
| believe otherwise and we cannot run for office | | | | with regard to taxation, law, and constitution |
| without these planks as part of our platform. | | | | wanted a mediaeval restoration in which each |
| However, when we move beyond these matters | | | | estate or state made its own grant and was |
| and begin to discuss the overall role of | | | | bound by that alone. |
| government we enter a realm where there is | | | | As a Christian and citizen of this nation, I want to |
| much disagreement among conservative | | | | encourage my fellow Believers to carefully |
| Christians. Specifically there is disagreement | | | | consider their political participation this election |
| concerning the size and scope of government. | | | | season. No doubt you must vote pro-life and |
| Although the Bible does not say exactly how far | | | | pro-family; I humbly suggest to you that you |
| the reach of the civil authority should extend, it | | | | must also vote to restore the idea of separate |
| does teach us that the best government is self | | | | and equal institutional spheres. I believe that failure |
| government under God. The whole of the Bible | | | | to do so is to ignore the Bible, betray our national |
| teaches us that each individual is responsible for | | | | heritage and encourage the current slide into |
| his own actions and for the oversight of those | | | | tyranny. |
| under his immediate care. The Scripture also | | | | |