Archive for Christianity
LCC is in the Washington Post
Posted by: |A few weeks ago, the Washington Post’s highly-trafficked blog “On Faith” asked me to write an article about Christianity, libertarianism, and Ron Paul. The article was published today and is currently featured on the site in the “Guest Voices” section. Check it out!
A quick excerpt:
“Through libertarianism, many Christians have found a way to move past their previous beliefs about politics and embrace a more consistent, more biblical political philosophy. The message of abolishing government power is powerful on its own. In Ron Paul, many Christian libertarians see a leader who points to principles that conservatives and liberals have long forgotten… Libertarianism is not going away, and it surely will take an increasingly prominent place in the political discussion of Christians for years to come.”
Many thanks to the Washington Post for this great opportunity.
Tags: christian libertarian, Christianity, libertarianism, politics, Ron Paul
Are You an Imperial Christian?
Posted by: |The tenets of imperial Christianity include things like blind nationalism, belief in American exceptionalism, willful ignorance of U.S. foreign policy, childish devotion to the military, cheerleading for the Republican Party, acceptance of the U.S. empire, and support for a perpetual war on terror – all, of course, with a Christian twist for effect. In other words, the views of Mike Huckabee, Sarah Palin, Michele Bachmann or Rick Perry.
I have some simple yet pointed questions for Christians who subscribe to, or can be characterized by, the above things:
- Is the president of the United States God?
- Is America the nation of Israel?
- Is the United States the client state of God?
- Is the U.S. military the Lord’s army?
- Does the United States enjoy a special relationship with God that other nations don’t have?
- Is the Christian’s sword anything but the word of God?
- Does the Bible command any Christian to kill any adherent of a false religion?
- Does the Bible command any Christian to go on a crusade against Muslims?
- Does "obeying the powers that be" mean that Christians should always do anything and everything the government says?
- Does the Bible say that anyone other than God should receive unconditional obedience?
- Is it okay for Christians to participate in U.S. government wars just because God commanded the Jews in the Old Testament to go to war?
- Does the Lord approve of everything the U.S. government does?
- Does the Lord approve of everything the government of Israel does?
- Is being patriotic more important than being biblical?
- Is the Republican Party the party of God?
- Is it more scriptural for a Christian to be in the military than in the ministry?
- Does God need America’s help to protect Israel?
- Does God need the U.S. military to maintain order throughout the world?
- Is the U.S. military a godly institution?
- Is the CIA a godly institution?
- Did God command the United States to build over 1,000 foreign military bases?
- Did God command the United States to station troops in over 150 countries?
- Does God always approve of U.S. foreign policy?
- Is it biblical that churches send more soldiers to the Middle East than missionaries?
- Did God appoint the United States to be the world’s policeman?
- Does the New Testament command churches to hold special military appreciation days?
- Does the New Testament command churches to glorify the military on the Sunday before national holidays?
- Have U.S. wars always been just, right, and good?
- Are all Muslims terrorists?
- Was every Iraqi and Afghan killed by the U.S. military a terrorist?
- Does the New Testament encourage Christians to wage war against anyone or anything but the world, the flesh, and the devil?
If you are a Christian and answered in the affirmative to one or more of these questions, then I understand why you are an imperial Christian. Repent.
But if you are a Christian and answered in the negative to all of these questions, then why are you an imperial Christian? Why do you make apologies for the state, its leaders, its military, its wars, its imperialism, and its interventionism? Why are you so devoted to the Republican Party? Why do you sing songs to the state in church on the Sunday before national holidays? Why do you encourage Christian young people to join the military? Why do you recite meaningless prayers for God to bless U.S. troops engaged in unjust wars?
Think about these things. Pray about them. Meditate on them. Just don’t be an imperial Christian.
Originally published on LewRockwell.com on September 28, 2011
Tags: christian libertarian, Christianity, civil religion, ethics, libertarian christian, theology, war
How to start learning about Christian libertarianism
Posted by: |I recently met with a candidate for public office in Texas who had a number of questions about how to think about the connections between Christianity and libertarianism. We had a great conversation, and by the end of it I had recommended at least seven or eight books for more information. I said I would put together the list with links and send it via email, and then I realized that this was actually a pretty nice reading list in general. Here’s what I recommend reading to start one’s education in Christian theology and libertarian political theory. Some I will explain in detail, some I won’t, but any of these are worth having on your bookshelf.
Christian Libertarian Books
Christian Theology of Public Policy, by John Cobin – A great way to start is to read John Cobin’s short course here on LCC, but his book is a must-have for Christian libertarian thinkers. His other book, Bible and Government (read the LCC review here), overlaps some material bust is worth reading as well.
On Civil Government, by David Lipscomb – Few people in the 19th century had a radical vision like David Lipscomb. His critique of statism from a Christian standpoint is classic. This book is a bit difficult to find sometimes but you can get the text for free here. Laurence Vance has it in stock in his classic reprints series, look for number 117.
Religion and Capitalism: Allies, Not Enemies, by Edmund Opitz – Another great book to help back up your defense of the free market from a Christian perspective. Also a bit difficult to find. (I managed to purchase a SIGNED copy on eBay once, though…)
The Libertarian Theology of Freedom, by Edmund Opitz – Read the review here.
Disciple of Liberty, by Jason Rink – Read the review here.
Christianity and War, by Laurence Vance – War is the health of the state, and the enemy of mankind. Laurence demolishes every “Christian” argument for war you’ll ever hear.
Foundations of Economics: A Christian View, by Shawn Ritenour – Every Christian ought to understand some economics, and Shawn’s book is a great way to get a thorough understanding. This one is not for the uninitiated.
The Church and the Market: A Catholic Defense of the Free Economy, by Thomas Woods – This book is especially useful for Catholics, obviously, and I highly recommend it.
General “Must-Read” Libertarian Books
For a New Liberty, by Murray Rothbard
Our Enemy, the State, by Albert Jay Nock
Healing Our World, by Mary Ruwart
The Politically Incorrect Guide to American History, by Thomas Woods
The Politically Incorrect Guide to Capitalism, by Robert Murphy – I really like these aforementioned Politically Incorrect Guides because of how they serve as a jumping off point for so many super things to learn and consider.
Rollback, by Thomas Woods
The Law, by Frederic Bastiat
Bonus Material (for those who want extra challenges)
The Kingdom of God is Within You, by Leo Tolstoy – Read the review here.
Anarchy and Christianity, by Jacques Ellul – Read the review here.
Still looking for more? Check out the brand new-and-improved LCC Amazon Bookstore! Find all of these books and more, and a portion of the sale will go to support LibertarianChristians.com!
Tags: Book Reviews, christian libertarianism, Christianity, ethics, libertarianism, recommended books, theology, war
Christians cannot be nationalists
Posted by: |This essay continues the Christian Theology and Public Policy Course by John Cobin, author of the books Bible and Government and Christian Theology of Public Policy. This column concludes the a five-part series dealing with Christian perspectives on nations and nationalism.
If the Christian “nation” is comprised of every nation, how can it be right for Christians to be nationalists in the common sense of the term? Regrettably, modern cultural dynamics have led many Christians to embrace the sin of nationalism. The dictionary defines nationalism as “a sense of national consciousness exalting one nation above all others and placing primary emphasis on promotion of its culture and interests as opposed to those of other nations”.(1) Absent a theocracy, the New Testament clearly stands out against nationalism. Christians are “strangers and pilgrims” in this world and are comprised of brethren from “every tribe and tongue and people and nation” (Hebrews 11:13; Revelation 5:9b).
The Christian’s King is Jesus and his “country” is a heavenly one where ethnicity is not important and all speak the same, delightful language of “Beulah” (Hebrews 11:16b; Isaiah 62:4b). That fact implies, in short, that nationalism is a prideful sin that is deleterious to Christian thinking, to missionary endeavors, and to personal sanctification. Indeed, the tightest loyalty a Christian should have in this world is to other believers—no matter what political realm they belong to. The moment a believer is more American, British, Argentine, Peruvian, Chilean, Czech, etc. than he is Christian, he is guilty of nationalism. At any time a Christian favors the people of “his country” (e.g., fellow Americans) more than Christians in other countries he is guilty of the sin of nationalism. Are we loyal to Jesus and His church first and to our fellow citizens only secondarily? Or have we succumbed to nationalism?
Tags: Bible, christian libertarianism, Christianity, nationalism, theology
Christianity, War, and Ron Paul
Posted by: |This talk was given on August 20 at the Florida Liberty Summit 2011 in Orlando, Florida.
Thank you Campaign for Liberty for the opportunity to speak about a subject I feel so passionate about. I would like to speak to you today about Christianity and War. Although I am a Bible-believing Christian and a theological and cultural conservative, I write extensively about the biblical, economic, and political fallacies of religious people, and especially on the topic of Christianity and war. This is a subject where ignorance abounds in both pulpit and pew, and most of it willful ignorance. This is a subject that exposes Bible scholars as Bible illiterates. This is a subject that turns Christians into disgraceful apologists of the state, its leaders, its military, and its wars. This is a subject that reveals pro-life Christians to be two-faced supporters of wholesale murder.
If there is any group of people that should be opposed to war, torture, militarism, the warfare state, state worship, suppression of civil liberties, an imperial presidency, blind nationalism, government propaganda, and an aggressive foreign policy it is Christians, and especially conservative, evangelical, and fundamentalist Christians who claim to strictly follow the dictates of Scripture and worship the Prince of Peace. It is indeed strange that Christian people should be so accepting of war. War is the greatest suppressor of civil liberties. War is the greatest destroyer of religion, morality, and decency. War is the greatest creator of fertile ground for genocides and atrocities. War is the greatest destroyer of families and young lives. War is the greatest creator of famine, disease, and homelessness. War is the health of the state.
Tags: Afghanistan, christian libertarian, Christianity, ethics, iraq, war
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