Christian government
WorldViews has an interesting entry which caught my eye, mostly because of the phrase about homeschooling, but then I read the actual article.
Since the late 70s, Evangelicals have been hollering to "take back America", or something like that, and to do it through government, culture, everything. I've often thought I understood what that meant, but I'm not sure. If Evangelicals got their wish in ten years and every elected official were a confessing believer, what kind of country would we make? What would we outlaw? What would we do?
He outlines three views taken from The Naked Public Square, by Richard John Neuhaus. I haven't read this book, but the entry categorizes us (Evangelical Christians) into three camps:

Sectarians, who withdraw from the world.

But scripture tells us,
Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hid.
--Matthew 5:14
Triumphalists, who equate the US with the Kingdom of God and want to take over every aspect of government. I think the other word I've heard for this is "dominionist."

But scripture tells us,
My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is my kingdom not from hence.
--John 18:36
Compromisers, who are the most realistic. They understand that no one is perfect, and we aren't living in heaven.

But scripture tells us,
He that is not with me is against me; and he that gathereth not with me scattereth abroad.
--Matthew 12:30
I'm left scratching my head. I certainly can think of groups who fit into each of these categories, but none of them describe me. This is a perfect summation of my beliefs, taken from A Guide to American Christian Education For the Home and School, by James Rose (p.24):

Christian Idea of Man
INTERNAL
(Causative)

(Note that these points reflect a relationship between God and man...not human relationships or civil government.)

1) By the law of God, all mortal men have sinned and need a Savior: man's nature is corrupted.

2) God created individuals with an independent, distinct and special value; man is equal before God's law and love.

3) Liberty is first internal and spiritual as God governs man by the Holy Spirit through the "perfect law of liberty." (James 1:25)

4) Christian self-government is God governing by the consent or supernatural response of the governed.

5) As Christ represents saved man before God, so man is God's representative on earth. Christianity is representative in its doctrine and essence.

6) Man exercises all three God-ordained functions of self-government and "shall be judged by the law of liberty." (James 2:12)

7) God's government is by covenant with Christ and man's supernatural voluntary consent. Divine authority is delegated and flows from God to man under God's law.

Christian Idea of Government
EXTERNAL
(Effect)

(Note that each of these correspond directly to the appropriately numbered cause above. This is a picture of civil government as conceived by this view of the world.)

1) Civil government is ordained of God to restrain sinful man and to "praise" or value those that do good.

2) Man is superior to the state he constructs to protect his God-give value. Men are equal before the laws they make.

3) Christian (spiritual) liberty of conscience gave rise to religious, civil and economic freedom protected by law.

4) Christian civil government is a reflection of Christian self-government and local self-governing homes, churches and communities.

5) Christian civil government is representative of the governmental spirit and form of its constituent homes, churches and schools.

6) The three functions of civil government are separated and limited by "settled, known and established laws" consistent with God's moral law.

7) Christian civil government is a voluntary compact between consenting citizens; political power flows from self-governing men to elected representatives limited by law.

Please note that the system protects the atheist and the Muslim as well as the Christian. It is not the role of civil government to change the heart of man and no law will bring salvation to the individual or the nation. It exists because we are sinful and will lie, cheat, steal and even murder to further our own interests.

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