What does it mean that our Christian faith is historic? Our Christian faith is historic in that it refers to real historical events of the gospel, but also that our evangelical faith is of the same essence as the early church. Michael Reeves states, “Evangelicalism is historic, uneccentric, catholic Christianity.” The evangelical faith is grounded in the historic early church; it’s not foreign to the disciples’ faith, and it ultimately unites us with all who have placed their faith in Christ.
But how does our historic Christian faith influence our politics?
1. Historic Christianity is Grounded in Reality
Historic Christianity is grounded in reality. Meaning that our Christian faith isn’t extrinsic in this world but is reality itself. This is an essential difference between Christianity and Islam, Buddhism, Hinduism, Atheism, and other religious beliefs. Christianity is the only foundation that cannot be shaken because its abode is reality itself. Although you don’t need Christianity to know “what is a woman,” life begins at conception, or what is evil. Christianity is the only belief system that upholds all that is obvious in this world and much more. It is in this reality where ultimately God is found, as Augustine writes, “For where I found truth, there found I my God, who is the Truth itself.” Thus, as Christians engage in the public square, our biblical foundation isn’t novel to the reality of this world, but it’s actually of the same foundation.
2. Historic Christianity Recognizes the Human Condition
Every world religion recognizes the obviousness of parts of humanity’s corrupt nature. However, only Christianity is able to recognize the totality of the human condition. While eastern religions utilize mysticism, where humans are able to reach a level of “enlightenment” or union with some “deity.” Christianity reveals that humanity is totally corrupt.
Jeremiah 17:9 – “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it?”
Romans 3:10–18 – “None is righteous, no, not one; no one understands; no one seeks after God… no one does good, not even one… There is no fear of God before their eyes.”
Humans are totally corrupt. How might we ever govern ourselves? It is my conviction that only through a constitutional republic will man be most successful in governing corrupt humanity. Whether the founders of our nation fully understood all the great doctrines of Christianity, they did seem to understand man’s corrupt nature.
Federalist No. 51 (James Madison) – “If men were angels, no government would be necessary.”
Federalist No. 6 (Alexander Hamilton) – ”Men are ambitious, vindictive, and rapacious.”
From John Adams to Massachusetts Militia, 11 October 1798 – “We have no government armed with power capable of contending with human passions unbridled by morality and Religion… Our constitution was made only for a moral and religious People. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other.”
Our founding fathers understood that mankind was corrupt and needed order for human flourishing. Therefore, as our nation has drifted away from our Christian foundation, our rights, liberties, and prosperity have drifted with it. In order for our nation to flourish once again, we must once again recognize the human condition. Praise God that we have checks and balances that have allowed our nation to endure, but time is running short. We must graciously respond to our fellow citizens and fellow man that our human condition apart from the grace of God will only breed death.
3. Historic Christianity and Human Flourishing
It is fitting to move from the bad news of the human condition to the good news for humanity. God has created man to “work” and keep” creation. And although mankind has fallen, we still have the dominion mandate to steward what the Lord has entrusted us with. Historic Christianity produces the human flourishing that every man desires.
First, the very foundation of Christianity is the gospel of Christ. We have received the ultimate good news that our sins have been dealt with and we have eternal life with our Creator. The foundation of human flourishing is the gospel of Jesus Christ, for without it, mankind is left for its own devices.
Second, historic Christianity desires the common good. We know the stories from the early Church that our brothers and sisters from the early centuries A.D. sought to protect the most vulnerable: the poor, women, and children. Their desires for human flourishing were derived from the heart of Christ to meet the needs of others. We must have the very same desire for others in our nation. This is in large part one of the main goals of this project: Truth in the Public Square. It is my desire that our nation will stop its evergrowing decadence and its farcical governmental spending. Thus, when the nation is in need of discipleship in righteous living and in financial need, the Church is able to be the Church by meeting their needs and sharing the gospel.
Third, human flourishing is only possible in a moral nation. A nation can’t flourish as they live contrary to the Creator of the universe. This does not mean that immoral nations will not reach levels of “greatness” through ungodly policies. Nazi Germany, USSR, China, etc., have all proven that an ungodly nation may achieve the highest national powers in this world. However, they will never produce true human flourishing. True human flourishing is complete and holistic. Human flourishing isn’t merely GDP, record low unemployment, superior healthcare, and top-tier education; it’s all in all for all. The foundation for a nation that promotes human flourishing is found in the people, not merely in their policies. Thus, we must stand equipped as the people of God in our nation to produce human flourishing. We are able to achieve this through our own moral character and getting involved in our communities, whether opening businesses or running for elected office.
4. Historic Christianity’s Public Theology
Our historic Christian faith begins with a simple but profound truth: Christians live between two cities, the heavenly and the earthly. These two cities couldn’t be more divided, especially in what controls them. Augustine writes that these “two cities have been formed by two loves: the earthly by the love of self, even to the contempt of God; the heavenly by the love of God, even to the contempt of self.” This is the foundation of any meaningful Christian public theology, that it is out of love of God and neighbor. We want lower taxes not merely for capital production in the economy but to meet the needs of others. Basil the Great states, “The bread you hold back belongs to the hungry; the coat… belongs to the naked; the footwear… belongs to those without shoes.”
As Christians, our public theology has two primary functions.
First, our public theology is ontological (relating to God). Everything in our lives is subjected to the reality of God. Thus, our public theology must submit itself to the Lordship of Jesus Christ. That does not necessarily mean that our nation must be a Christian nation. Many well-meaning Christians may disagree, but we all must agree that our politics must be aligned with the Scriptures. Our politics relates to God primarily our own moral character. Every Christian must be seeking to live a life in accordance with the Scriptures, but I believe just as pastors are held to higher standards, so should our politicians.
Second, our public theology is anthropological (relating to Man). Out of an outgrowth of our love for God, we must love our fellow image-bearer. Thus, our public theology desires not only our own flourishing and our families but also for those around us, especially those of our own country. What policies produce human flourishing around us? Any policy that upholds the Christian ethic and allows the people of God to freely serve others.
In the coming months, I plan to flesh out these policies that will help our nation flourish, but for this article, I’ve decided to be brief.
