Monday, March 03, 2008

Poltical Space (6) - Hard Questions

Christians need to do some hard thinking about the role and nature of the political space. Here are some of the questions we need to answer. If God’s word relates to the whole of faith and life, we should be able to get Christian answers to these questions.

  1. What should be the shape and nature of the political space? How does the intrusion of the Kingdom of God change this space? Should not the Kingdom of God bring a dramatic shrinking of the political space.

  2. What does biblical theology tell us about the role, size and shape of the political space? If we do not answer these questions before entering the political space, we are likely to be beaten up by politicians who are familiar with their terrain.

  3. What is the relationship between morality and law? Law is enforced morality, but legislation against every sin is impractical and not appropriate.

  4. What can law achieve? The modern approach is to passing a new law as the solution to every problem that emerges. The Bible is quite realistic about the limitations of the law. Moses allowed divorce, despite the seventh commandment forbidding adultery. He knew that when people’s hearts of hard, enforcing a law with a high standard is a waste of time.

  5. Paul spoke of “what the law was powerless to do” (Rom 8:3). Christians must understand the limitations of law and have a clear view of what law should be used to achieve. So we understand what the law is powerless to do.

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