A Christian libertarian friend of mine passed this article on to me today. It’s outstanding:
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/columnists/matthew_parris/article5400568.ece
The whole article is worth reading, but this paragraph was particularly excellent:
“Now a confirmed atheist, I’ve become convinced of the enormous contribution that Christian evangelism makes in Africa: sharply distinct from the work of secular NGOs, government projects and international aid efforts. These alone will not do. Education and training alone will not do. In Africa Christianity changes people’s hearts. It brings a spiritual transformation. The rebirth is real. The change is good.”
It’s not a long leap to apply the underlying concept to all cultures in all times in all places, too. Matthew Parris describes a passivity governed by tribal customs wherein people are lorded over by the culture and, ultimately, tribal leader. In contrast, he says, “Christianity, post-Reformation and post-Luther, with its teaching of a direct, personal, two-way link between the individual and God, unmediated by the collective, and unsubordinate to any other human being, smashes straight through the philosphical/spiritual framework I’ve just described.”
It’s probably harder to identify the theologically similar slavery (and passivity) in submission to government, alcohol, money, work, or any number of other gods with a mission different than loving God and loving people. Unfortunately, it’s pervasive even in our own culture, especially in the form of worship of government (a “kinder, gentler tribe”). I submit that we, too, need Christ as we’ve already fallen prey to the “malign fusion of Nike, the witch doctor, the mobile phone and the machete.”
Thank you, Matthew.
V-