Christianity and State Fairs: A Moral and Ethical Dilemma
Christianity, particularly in the Reformed tradition, holds that civil governments are obligated to uphold moral law, which is understood to be rooted in Christian principles [9]. This perspective suggests that while the state should not compel religious belief or practice, it should not act in ways that contradict Christian morality [2].
Charles Hodge, a prominent Reformed theologian, argued that Protestant Christianity has historically been, and ought to remain, the "law of the land" in Christian countries [6]. This does not mean enforcing specific religious doctrines or attendance at services, but rather upholding moral standards derived from Christianity, such as the protection of the Christian Sabbath [2]. Hodge contended that if a government were to disregard the Lord's Day and conduct public business as usual, it would be an act of tyranny that could justify rebellion, as it would effectively exclude Christians from public office [10].
The early Church, as described by patristic writers, often found itself in opposition to the state, particularly when civil authorities demanded actions contrary to Christian faith, such as worshipping idols [3, 8]. Tertullian noted that Christians were sometimes accused of forming secret associations contrary to law, referring to their "love-feasts" [8]. This highlights a historical tension between Christian practice and state authority when the latter's demands conflicted with religious convictions.
From a Wesleyan perspective, a holy priesthood and a righteous ministry are seen as blessings to any state because they positively influence the morals of the community, fostering order, sobriety, and industry [4]. Conversely, profligacy among the clergy or false religious principles can destabilize a kingdom [4]. This view underscores the belief that religious integrity has a direct impact on societal well-being.
The concept of "festivals" in a biblical context primarily refers to religious observances ordained in the Mosaic Law, such as the weekly Sabbath, the Feast of Trumpets, the Sabbatical Year, the Year of Jubilee, Passover, Pentecost, and the Feast of Tabernacles [1]. These were divinely instituted times for worship and remembrance, distinct from secular gatherings.
The Reformed view emphasizes that while the Church is distinct and independent from the State, having its own organization, laws, and officers, the State is still bound by moral obligations derived from Christian principles [5, 9]. Therefore, a Christian citizen, even when participating in secular society, is expected to advocate for policies that align with these moral principles [7].
Sources
- Smith's Bible Dictionary “Smith's Bible Dictionary: Festivals — I. The religious times ordained int he law fall under three heads: + Those formally connected with the institution of the Sabbath; + This historical or great festivals; + The day of atonement. + Immediately connected with the institution of the Sabbath are-- a. The weekly Sabbath itself. b. The seventh new moon, or feast of trumpets. c. The sabbatical year. d. The year of jubilee. + The great feasts are-- a. The passover. b. The feast of pentecost, of weeks, of wheat-harvest or of the first-fruits. c. The feast of tabernacles or of ingathering. On each of ”
- CCEL (Reformed (Old Princeton)) “Charles Hodge, Systematic Theology, Vol. 3, section 46: laws enacted for the protection of the Christian Sabbath. Christianity does not teach that men can be made religious by law; nor does it demand that men should be required by the civil authority to profess any particular form of religious doctrine, or to attend upon religious services; but it does enjoin that men should abstain from all unnecessary worldly avocations on the Lord’s Day. This civil Sabbath, this cessation from worldly business, is what the civil government in Christian countries is called upon to enforce. (1.) Because it is”
- CCEL (Reformed (Old Princeton)) “Charles Hodge, Systematic Theology, Vol. 3, section 39: human laws are in conflict with the law of God we are bound to disobey them. When heathen emperors commanded Christians to worship idols, tne martyrs refused. When popes and councils commanded Protestants to worship the Virgin Mary, and to acknowledge the supremacy of the bishop of Rome, the Protestant martyrs refused. When the Presbyterians of Scotland were required by their rulers in Church and State to submit themselves to the authority of prelatical bishops, they refused. When the Puritans of England were called upon to recognize the ”
- 1 Kings (Methodist/Wesleyan) “Adam Clarke on 1 Kings 13:34: And this thing became sin - These abominations were too glaring, and too insulting to the Divine Majesty, to be permitted to last; therefore his house was cut off, and destroyed from the face of the earth. A Holy priesthood, a righteous ministry, is a blessing to any state, because it has a most powerful effect on the morals of the community; inducing order, sobriety, and habits of industry, among the people: on the contrary, the profligacy of the clergy, and false principles of religion, are the most likely to unsettle a kingdom, and to bring about destructive re”
- CCEL (Reformed (Old Princeton)) “Charles Hodge, Systematic Theology, Vol. 3, section 64: in an enemy’s country. For three centuries it was not only independent and separate from the State, but it was in every way opposed and persecuted by the civil power. It is still the fact that the Christian Church exists in Pagan and Mohammedan countries. (2.) From the necessity of the case it is a body independent of the State. It has its own organization, its own laws, its own officers, and its own conditions of membership. It has the right to administer its own discipline agreeably to the laws of Christ its king and head. (3.) As it wa”
- CCEL (Reformed (Old Princeton)) “Charles Hodge, Systematic Theology, Vol. 3, section 46: basis of the common law of England, and is therefore of the law of this country; and so our courts have repeatedly decided. It is so not merely because of such decisions. Courts cannot reverse facts. Protestant Christianity has been, is, and must be the law of the land, Whatever Protestant Christianity forbids, the law of the land (within its sphere, i.e ., within the sphere in which civil authority may appropriately act) forbids. Christianity forbids polygamy and arbitrary divorce, Se does the civil law. Romanism forbids divorce even on ”
- CCEL (Reformed (Old Princeton)) “Charles Hodge, Systematic Theology, Vol. 3, section 47: that it would be unreasonable and unjust for a man who joined a business association of moral men, to insist that the affairs of the association should be conducted on immoral principles; if he joined a company of Christian manufacturers, it would be unjust for him to require that they should violate the laws of Christianity. So if a Christian should go to Turkey, it would be preposterous for him to insist that the Koran should be banished from the public schools. No less preposterous is it for any man to demand that Christians in this co”
- Schaff ANF/NPNF (Patristic) “ANF Vol 4: Tertullian IV, Minucius Felix, Commodian, Origen — CHAP. I.: The first point which Celsus brings forward, in his desire to throw discredit upon Christianity, is, that the Christians entered into secret associations with each other contrary to law, saying, that "of associations some are public, and that these are in accordance with the laws; others, again, secret, and maintained in violation of the laws." And his wish is to bring into disrepute what are termed the "love-feasts "[3] of the Christians, as if they had their origin in the common danger, and were more binding than any oat”
- CCEL (Reformed (Old Princeton)) “Charles Hodge, Systematic Theology, Vol. 3, section 46: between right and wrong. It cannot legalize theft and murder. No matter how much it might enrich itself by rapine or by the extermination of other nations, it would deserve and receive universal condemnation and execration, should it thus set at nought the bonds of moral obligation. This necessity of obedience to the moral law on the part of civil governments, does not arise from the fact that they are instituted for the protection of the lives, rights, and property of the people. Why have our own and other Christian nations pronounced th”
- CCEL (Reformed (Old Princeton)) “Charles Hodge, Systematic Theology, Vol. 3, section 46: that it had nothing to do with religion, disregard that day, and direct that the custom-houses, the courts of law, and the legislative halls should be open on the Lord’s Day, and public business be transacted as on other days, it would be an act of tyranny, which would justify rebellion. It would be tantamount to enacting that no Christian should hold any office under the government, or have any share in making or administering the laws of the country. The nation would be in complete subjection to a handful of imported atheists and infide”