Answers to Objections #10

Post date: Dec 07, 2016 8:52:17 PM

Jan 22, 2012 by Buddy Hanson

Answers to Common Objections are a regular column on Explicitly Christian Politics. These answers were written by Buddy Hanson and published in the appendix of his book, The Christian Civil Ruler’s Handbook. Buddy has written a number of books on applying God’s Word to culture, civil-government and politics and we are grateful for the answers he gives to common objections we hear all the time. Check out his website here.

Objection #10: “I’ve seen how Moslems persecute non-Moslems in their countries and I don’t want a repeat of that in America, should Christians control civil government. I don’t want us to violate anyone’s liberty of conscience!”

This objection may take the prize for containing the most inaccuracies. First, it presupposes that all religions are at bottom the same, therefore it is imagined that since Moslems tyrannize the folks in their countries, so, too, would a Christian-influenced civil government. Those voicing this objection have obviously not compared the teaching of the Bible with other religions. If they had they would know that Christianity promotes (indeed, invents) personal liberty. A brief comparison of Western civilization (which was founded on biblical principles) with Eastern civilization should be enough to establish this point.

Second, in order for a Christian-influenced civil government to come into being, a majority of the citizens would have to be converted to Christ. Regeneration, not revolution, would be the driving force behind this development. Third, being a non-Christian would not be prohibited. Everyone would have the freedom to live according to his personal beliefs and to worship whatever god he might imagine. Unlike the tyrannical practices other religions impose upon their citizens, a Christian-influenced civil government would allow for personal beliefs and the private practice of non-Christian religions. It should be seen, then, that under a Christian-influenced civil government no one’s liberty of conscience would be violated.