Anniversary Repost #5
As of November 7th, Swap Blog was a year old. To celebrate that fact, between November 7th and November 19th we are going to repost some of our best posts from the last year. This is the fifth post in the series, we selected this one due to the blend of both politics and religion. On the 19th we willl roll out our new blog look.
Our fifth repost comes from October 7th, 2005 and is titled Christian Libertarians (click here to see the comments on the original post)
[H/T to Pink Kitty for this one]
Glen Dean of Nashville Truth argues that Christians conservatives (like himself) should actually call themselves libertarians because they, libertarians, stress individuality - including individual responsibility and self determination - over big government solutions. A quote from Glen’s piece follow -
As the title states, I firmly believe that Christians would be better served to steer clear of big government and become libertarians. That is the only way that churches will ever stay safe from government control and it is the surest way for them to maintain religious freedom.
I agree with Glen to a point as I am completely against big / intrusive government, but at a certain place Glen, and by proxy Pink Kitty, and I part ways. Though I am a Christian, I do NOT consider myself a libertarian, though I do consider myself a classic liberal. I know some would say there is not a difference, but I believe there is. When it comes to modern libertarians I do not sync fully as I believe that Christ does call us to impact society via our faith, thus meaning I think Christians should stand against public policies that impact morals and values within society. That means I think society (aka government) does have a say about what individuals do privately as some acts do directly, and indirectly, impact society even though they are done privately.
The remainder of this post is geared to discussing Christianity and libertarianism. Everyone is welcome to read it, but it is aimed at discussing the issues between the Christian faith and libertarianism, not between all of society and libertarianism. Those that want to debate libertarianism and largely society you are welcome to do so, but this post is probably not the correct forum for that discussion. In other words this post is directed toward the pews and the choir not the world. With that understood, let us continue.
The next section of this post is based on a assumption on my part. I openly admit that, so with that said let us continue. Glen mentions “victimless crimes” in his post. Typically, and I admit this is a assumption on my part, Libertarians point to prostitution as a example of a victimless crime. So I am going to attempt examine the “victimless crime” argument in relationship to prostitution both from societies point of view and from the Christian point of view.
Libertarians argue that with prostitution you have two individuals basically agreeing via a personal contract to exchange services for a fee. Libertarians argue that society should have no impact or say in this at it is deal made between two adults (assumed as well in this situation as even MOST libertarians would argue against child / teen prostitution on either a moral point or one based on the fact that a child can not legally enter into a contract) in a private setting. Even ignoring the issues of public health (disease) and safety (increased drugs and “immoral” behavior is typically also around prostitution), both of which do impact society at large, you still have the core issue of a devaluing the individual that is “hooking”.
I personally think society should and does have a say in minimizing activities that devalue it’s citizens. Devalued people are not beneficial to society, and society should be about preventing the devaluation of individuals within it. In every interview I have ever seen, or read, with a prostitute they talk about the negative aspects of their lifestyle and how tough it is. It is not a career that should be encouraged / tolerated within society, and since the end results are individuals within society that are less then whole. I would contend that prostitution is not a victimless crime because the person that is “working” it damaging themselves and eventually society by their actions. No matter what many libertarians argue about the right of individuals choice on how they use their body, and their right to do with their body as they please I think the societal impact of some things out weigh the benefits of completely free individuals. An additional fly I see in the ointment of many, not all, libertarians is how they shift their view on freedom when it comes to abortion as they argue society should restrict abortion as it impacts unborn citizens. The problem is that the parent is still by choice doing with their body as they choose. So, since most Christians would argue abortion is against God’s will, by proxy I think they would also have to say that the libertarian concept of free use of ones body seems / victimless crimes tends to foul the relationship between Christianity and libertarians.
With the secular view behind us, let us look at prostitution from a Christian perspective understand that though Jesus did not talk about government solutions to problems He did talk about His people in impacting society (i.e. government). The concept of the dual citizenship of the Christian (both earthly and heavenly) is clear via the writings of Paul and we consistently see both Jesus and the apostles working to change society via their actions, not just saying - we will let individuals do whatever without regard to eternity. Christ and the apostles directly confronted moral wrong (read un Christian) activities in the lives of individuals. They did not just let society rot while the saved within the society worked for Heavenly glory for themselves and their kind.
So, I think Christ calls His people to not only call others into personal responsibility, but to also flavor society where people are not as prone to pursue negative things. The libertarian says let them do as they please if it does not impact me, the Christian says I want to stop them from injuring themselves any more. I think those two mind sets that are in conflict at their core. To be compassionate, a call for all Christians, one must first care about the individual and not want to see them hurt themselves anymore. It is not that prostitution, sex outside of marriage, etc hurt God, it is they hurt the person and their future - via unrealistic / unfair views, opinions, and activities.
So, again please understand, this post was not meant to attacking Glen and Pink, in fact, I respect them both greatly. All I am trying to do is advance the discussion with another views along the same lines.
Simply, I think that Christians need to be about impacting society in anyway possible. I believe the individuals should be responsible for themselves, and I do think that government should be smaller and I do not think it (government) should be in the social welfare business (I actually think churches and faith organizations should be). I think the current state of the government is due to the church giving up its duties to the government, not the other way around. I have advanced that argument many times on this blog and on this web site, so I will not recount all of those points again in detail.
A summary of my views would be that I think church failures lead to government growth and expansion. I think the way to solve the size of government problem is to get the church problem solved and the government will begin to shrink itself. Government is always going to be called on to feel gaps that individuals and groups will not. So, as long as the church does not step up government will. Government did not expand overnight, it has taken a lot of time actually, and it will not shrink overnight either. The core issue is that many, again not all, churches / Christians are not willing to do what God calls them to do - serve - and have decided that their taxes are sufficient to meet the demand to morally / socially impact society that God calls them too. Like Christ I would encourage all Christians to give society what it is do, but to also give the Kingdom of God what it is due. If we, Christians, do that then the government size issue, and the current trend for it’s tentacles to be in all parts of life, will be cut.
So overall I do agree with Glen Dean and Pink Kitty. I completely agree that is crazy to encourage faith based organizations to become involved with government funds as the government funds will eventually lead to the decay of the faith within the faith based organziation. I also agree that government should not be in the business of limiting activities that individuals persue within their own lives, the issue I think that arises is that I would draw that line at a different place then Glen Dean or Pink Kitty. I think we have to be a bit more willing to use whatever means are available to effect the direction of society then they do. Hopefully we can all work together though to get Christians to get more involved in changing both their world and their government in the future.
