In continuing the political nature of my blog lately, I thought I might raise another question that I feel possibly is the underlying question in all the political discussions I have been having – Should Christians advocate for the legislation of Christianity? Now, beware, I will probably make generalisations in this post based on ‘my’ experience. I apologise if it offends you. Please, point out where my generalisations are wrong, I am happy to be corrected:)

In my experience, Christians who hold to more right wing ideals see this as a non-issue, of COURSE Christians should advocate for the legislation of Christianity. If we are in a position where Christian ideals are law…why would we willingly allow those laws to disappear? Why would Christians NOT stand up and fight to maintain the Christian status-quo? It just makes sense. God desires for all people to follow him. God’s ways are what are important. Therefore, societal law that has been based on a Christian culture should be fought for and maintained.

Also in my experience, Christians who generally hold to more left wing ideals advocate for a strictt seperation between church and state. The question is asked why people who choose NOT to accept God, choose NOT to accept Christianity, should be forced to live Christian ideals. It is mostly argued by this side of the Christian political spectrum that societal law should be based upon societies majority view. If the majority view is anti-abortion, then the law should be anti-abortion. As soon as society becomes generally prob-abortion, then the laws should change to being pro-abortion. There are no absolutes in this, how society feels now may be different in 100 years time and therefore the laws should ebb and flow as society ebbs and flows, and one group that may fluctuate from majority to minority (in this case Christianity) should not have the final say on societal law.

Both sides of this argument argue for the biblical nature of their position. I have also had discussions with people who represent both sides of the argument who use the bible to argue against the others biblical support! It is quite a minefield.

So I ask the question…where do you stand and why? SHOULD Christians fight for and advocate for Christianity to be legislated? Now in this I realise, what some people call Christian viewpoints others argue are not. The rights position of anti-abortion, anti-prostitution, anti-homosexuality being ‘God’s view’ is often argued by other Christians. Whatever your position on SPECIFIC idea’s, the general question remains, IF Christian views could be categorically defined, should we fight for their legislation?

I myself, as I have said in previous posts, ‘lean’ left. On this argument in particular I definately question ‘why’ we should spend so much time fighting for the ‘laws’ when we could just LIVE it? I think about the first 300 years of Christianity, where in NO way, shape or form did societal law reflect a Christian viewpoint, and where Christians had no real means to influence the law…and yet Christianity exploded to the point where, eventually (and some people argue unfortunately) society adopted an ENTIRELY Christian way of living.

I also think about China today, and many other Christian growth hot spots. Most of these places exist in cultures where Christianity is often actively legislated AGAINST and yet, as Christians stand up and LIVE the lifestyle God calls us to, people can’t help but respond to his message.

The place where we often get caught up when using ‘this’ argument is in the line I mentioned, the early church had no power to influence law…where as in some ways in the 21st century Western world we do. That is the key difference and where the argument lies IMO. BECAUSE we have SOME power and SOME position, should we use that to try and maintain a Christian way of life? OR, should we allow society’s law to slip away from  Christianity, continue to live it ourselves and hope in the DIFFERENCE the way of Christ shines through?

You probably know which way i lean but I’d be interested to hear which way you lean and why?