How Do We Integrate Faith and Politics?

I am reading with great interest these days how significant numbers of “evangelical” Christians, admittedly mostly of the younger set, are supporting Barack Obama in the Presidential race. Many, of course, would think it not at all out of the ordinary.

At the least, I guess it reflects changing views among youthful evangelical Christians who may desire a more nuanced faith application, rather than swallowing without question the faith of their fathers. There’s sure nothing suspect about that.

What does make this trend noteworthy is that for almost a generation, evangelical beliefs have been intertwined with political conservatism (a la James Dobson’s denouncing yesterday of Obama’s “theology”). But, apparently, the times, "they are a changing".

How, then, DO we blend faith and politics? One thing is for sure: it can’t be answered here. We can, however, glance at some smatterings of thoughts.

Prior to the Reformation, Thomas Aquinas’ ideas (greatly over-simplified here) that man-made law can gain a sort of validity if it is embedded in the moral order of creation, had great appreciation.

After the Reformation, three “new” ribbons of thought developed on this concern: Luther’s “dual kingdoms” concept, Calvin’s separate “church” and “secular” governments, and the Anabaptist idea that God “uses” the state to punish evil and protect good but that church and state are separate.

Again, these are greatly over-simplified here, but what is maybe most interesting of all, is that all four of the mentioned convictions continue to influence our thinking today.

One predominant theme survives all four, however, and that is the assertion that God’s decrees supersede the laws of mankind. At the same time, Christ himself told us to “render unto Caesar (man’s civility) that which is Caesar’s and unto God that which is God’s.”

It looks to me like a great deal of nuance is going to be required for all of us, if we are going to be well-informed, faith-valued voters in November.