Christianity And Libertarianism Want The Same Thing…Really!
I’ve recently read an interesting exchange within Libertarian circles about the role Christians should or should not play in the libertarian movement. While I see merits on both sides of the issue, this is definitely an important conversation libertarians need to be open to as our base continues to grow and include more Christian folks.
Robert Murphy got things started with, “How Do You Reconcile Your Christianity and Libertarianism?”, in which he argued for Christian involvement in the libertarian movement. In his words, “they are so naturally complementary that it’s hard for me to understand where the confusion comes in.”
Murphy sees a Christianity that should pragmatically have no issue walking hand-in-hand with Libertarianism.
However, Carlos Morales offered a counter-point when he penned, “Christianity and Libertarianism are Incompatible”, as a response to Murphy’s column. In his work, Morales contends that the apparent contradiction found in the Christian Bible and the authority the Christian God has on the life of the Christian combine to disqualify the Christian from full libertarian brotherhood.
“Sorry Bob, there’s just no way to make these two opposite worldviews compatible without ignoring nearly all the bible and rationalizing the rest. The golden rule is compatible with libertarianism but is not the summation of Christian beliefs,” wrote Morales, “According to the bible god owns you, and according to the state the government owns you. Both act in opposition to reason, evidence, and individual autonomy. Both are tyrannical and humans will not be free until they are both cast aside.”
How do libertarians balance two seemingly diametric opposites without compromising the liberty we champion?
We can begin by appreciating the effort in positing a framework for such a relationship that Murphy builds in his article. The principles laid out in the Sermon on the Mount that he references are a portrait of an unselfish society. Now, we can’t take the Sermon on the Mount literally as he suggests or we’d run out of eyes to gouge and hands to cut off for just the thought of sinful behavior.
However, I believe we need to balance the dictate of Romans 13 with the commendation of 1 Timothy 2:1-4 which reads (in the Holman Christian Standard version):
“First of all, then, I urge that petitions, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for everyone, for kings and all those who are in authority, so that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity. This is good, and it pleases God our Savior, who wants everyone to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.”
First, we must recognize that the same author penned both letters, one to the church in Rome and the other to his protégé. So in both we can get a more copious understanding of his fleshed out view for the role of the believer in regard to government.
Second, in the submission that is commanded in Romans 13, we must recognize the “why” of submission that Paul wrote in the text. If my history is right, Christians who read that letter were living under Roman rule that was dominated at that time by Caesar-worship.
Yet, in verse 3 he wrote, “For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad.” Either Paul was crazy, or he understood the role government should play when and where it exists. Christians were to submit either way which is a little scary but is the way our Savior modeled when He died by Roman crucifixion.
Third, the government of the United States of America is dramatically different than the Roman government of Paul’s era…well…to an extent. Paul commanded believers to remain in the life situation they were in unless they were slaves.
What did he say to slaves? In 1 Corinthians 7:21 he wrote, “Were you called while a slave? It should not be a concern to you. But if you can become free, by all means take the opportunity.”
The question for us then becomes, “Are we slaves?” Honestly, from a purely libertarian perspective I would argue that we are. Otherwise we wouldn’t be paying property taxes or even more so income taxes which, in essence, are nothing more than a tax on us individually.
What do I mean? As individual people we have worth. That worth includes the fruits of our labor. What the income tax essentially says is that our labor has no worth to us for ourselves but is instead the property of the state that is taxing us on every penny.
So the Christian should be motivated to change his slavery if possible, especially in the American system in which this is not only possible, but entirely doable through libertarian principles. And in my opinion, the libertarian philosophy is the only one that allows the Christian the opportunity to enjoy that freedom.
The Christian isn’t commanded in Scripture to set up a theocracy but instead, “by the mercies of God … present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God; this is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this age, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may discern what is the good, pleasing, and perfect will of God.” – Romans 12:1-2
So we see scripturally that the Christian should pray for and submit to their leaders in order to live a tranquil life with the freedom to pursue the will of God. Why doesn’t this line up with the freedom that is championed by the libertarian movement? Isn’t the common precipice in libertarian thought that we want to take over the world, only to give it back and allow individuals the freedom to pursue whatever they please?
Christians live for a kingdom that is and is coming. A kingdom that already has King who sits in heaven at God’s right hand. A kingdom that is in this world, but not of this world. A kingdom that is more threatened by human government than it is by human liberty.
Now, I do understand Morales argument that libertarian philosophy essentially attempts to free the individual from “ownership” by any authority higher than oneself. However, Christian thought is dominated by the concept that no man, or government, has the right to “own” another in any form. All of our rights are extinguished in our relationship to Christ.
Christians can’t be libertarians in a robust sense because they are “owned” by Christ. Yet this doesn’t preclude their right to assess that libertarian philosophy is the only philosophy that most closely fits what we find in the teachings of Jesus Christ and the New Testament authors on how we should dwell under government among our fellow man.
Christians driven by New Testament teaching will want the liberty to worship Christ and share His gospel while simultaneously giving mankind the autonomy to chart their own religious trail. Christians are indeed “owned” by Christ, as Morales asserts, but find more liberty in that ownership than they ever found in “slavery” to our own autonomy.
Christians driven by New Testament teaching desire the liberty to hear their Master’s voice and obey and will respect those who are listening to a different master. Practically, the Bible clearly lays out the family as the most authoritative civil organism under God. The Bible doesn’t lay out any particular government model for the Christian and in reality the Christian is more hindered by human government from worship than vice versa. In order to live the Christian ideal a true society of Libertarianism is almost a prerequisite.
Christians driven by the New Testament belong in the libertarian movement and shouldn’t be repudiated as they attempt to help build the liberty-loving brand that our nation desperately needs.
Imagine the power the libertarian movement would have if it could capture the “religious right” of the American political spectrum by selling the commonality both groups have in loving liberty! Both groups, Christians and Libertarians, want the same thing…a government that relinquishes it’s authority and allows them each to live freely and autonomously. The only difference is that the Christian wants the freedom to obey it’s “owner”, Jesus Christ.
Christians driven by New Testament teaching desire the liberty to hear their Master’s voice and obey and will respect those who are listening to a different master.
Christians driven by the New Testament belong in the libertarian movement and shouldn’t be repudiated as they attempt to help build the liberty-loving brand that our nation desperately needs.
Imagine the power the libertarian movement would have if it could capture the “religious right” of the American political spectrum by selling the commonality both groups have in loving liberty!
Christians and Libertarians want the same thing…really…we both want a government non-existent enough that we have the freedom to pursue our individual autonomy. The only difference: Christians want to use their autonomy to worship their “owner”, Jesus Christ!