Christianity: Conservative or Socialist?

Dr. Brian Lee, pastor of Christ Reformed Church in Washington D.C., and occasional White Horse Inn guest blogger, has an opinion piece up at The Daily Caller (which some call a conservative alternative to The Huffington Post). The article is titled, “Christianity is neither conservative nor socialist,” and serves as an excellent introduction to the Two Kingdom approach to the relationship between Christianity and civil government. Here are the first few paragraphs of Dr. Lee’s article:

Both the Christian Right and the Christian Left get the question of Christianity and politics wrong. Christianity is not politically conservative or politically liberal — though Christians may be either. Christianity is not political at all. It is in a sense politically agnostic. But in another sense it calls into question the basis of every earthly power, including politics.

Those looking to dig into the Bible and find a political platform are going to be sorely disappointed. It’s not there. That is for the simple reason that it is not a book about politics, but about God, and how He is saving His people through Jesus Christ. This distinguishes Christianity from Old Testament Judaism and modern day Islam, both of which contain detailed political agendas. Well-meaning Christians that want to outline a detailed “Christian” agenda of their own, however, will simply not find one.

When opponents tried to trap Jesus between his fidelity to oppressed Israel or oppressor Rome, he asked whose picture was on the coin, and taught us to render unto Caesar what belongs to Caesar (Matt 22:15-22). When on trial before Caesar, he admitted to being the King of the Jews, but in the same breath asserted “My kingdom is not of this world” (John 18:33-37).

Click here to read the full article at The Daily Caller