Can a Christian be an anarchist?
Before that question is investigated is it fair to ask if a Christian should support a government and political system that violates the laws that have been written to contain it?

After all, the U.S. Constitution places very strict limits on the powers of the federal government and empowers the legislatures of its member states to keep the federal government within that constitutional framework. That system has clearly been abandoned for one in which two political parties dominate the elected offices of government and use those offices to usurp power for the benefit of very narrow causes. Supporting the current political system holding the access to elected office is, in this opinion, supporting lies and megalomania.

So is anarchism a reasonable alternative for Christians who wish to live with integrity to scriptural admonitions? Much has to do with the definition of “anarchy”. Dictionary.com, has four definitions of “anarchy”, of these, “a theory that regards the absence of all direct or coercive government as a political ideal and that proposes the cooperative and voluntary association of individuals and groups as the principal mode of organized society,” is the one that is accepted here. This definition also seems to characterize the relationship God has with us as Christians. God neither directs or coerces us and our devotion to His standards and plan for our lives is thoroughly voluntary.

Can Paul’s details of the “Fruits of the Spirit” from Galatians 5:22 (“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.”) allow a Christian to pursue a life without unconstitutional government coercion or avoid involvement in a political system based on lies and illegitimate power with a clear conscience? How are we going to most affect the world around us; by living out Paul’s model, or through giving support or criticism to whatever political official or idea of what is conservative or liberal that is presented for public consumption? One is a call to action to use our lives to serve our neighbors, the other is too frequently dogma that demands us to wait for the power of government to be exercised by the “right” people.

During this election year everyone of voting age will be encouraged to exercise their civic duty to select candidates for public office. Upon examining the records and campaigns of those candidates, though, few, if any, actually attempt to inform voters of the responsibilities and limits on the jobs for which they are asking electoral support. Furthermore, the record of elected officials in honoring the limits of their offices for more than the last 150 years is poor. The abuses of government, on all levels and by both parties, have brought the U.S. to the point of economic, political, and social collapse.

The question then becomes, “How can anyone with a right mind and moral conscience make any actions to support a system of fraud that has become the American Government and political system?”

Please note, this is not an admonition to actively rebel against the government or its authority, it is only an appeal to begin ignoring its expectations that we support its devices that are taking control of our lives. As Christians who seek to apply the standards of Paul as they are listed above, we have a responsibility of contemplating what is more important to our mission of reaching our neighbors; is it personal freedom to nurture and care for our families and neighbors or political engagement in support of those who claim to be liberal or conservative?

The position here is that as Christians we have the freedom to abandon the political and electoral system that has done so much to corrupt the government and abandon the constitutional law restricting the usurpation of freedom and individual sovereignty. We have the power to use our intellectual ability and talents to investigate the perils facing all of us and how the American political system has brought us to this place. Finally we have the privilege of showing those around us the way of leaving that system of politics and government behind for lives that are based upon the principles that Paul so aptly articulated so long ago.

If we begin showing people how to live and exist without the demands, regulations, and expectations of government, how is the government going to justify prosecuting us for not needing them?
To be sure, our government and political system will find a way to do so, but then our neighbors will know that our government has long since stopped working to defend our freedom.

“Published originally at EtherZone.com”: republication allowed with this notice and hyperlink intact.”

~ The Author ~
Cal Augustine hopes to be considered a Christian Anarchist by living according to the understanding that the best form of government is self government and seeking free markets as the best forum through which talents can be used to contribute to an economic system that helps its participants provide for their needs. He is a new columnist for Ether Zone.

You can contact Augustine at augustinec1215@yahoo.com

Published in the September 22, 2010 issue of Ether Zone.
Copyright © 1997 – 2010 Ether Zone.

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