Infinite Monkeys

Christianity and the State

About ten years ago, I attended a reformed theology conference out in Globe / Miami, Arizona. One of the speakers, a Phoenix-area pastor named Dan Cafesse, spent his session talking about the dangers "moralism" (defined largely as trying to impose Christian moral law through the use of the state, but also generally as the practice of Christians trying to get non-Christians to behave according to Christian moral standards) poses to the effective communication of the gospel. It was a profoundly affecting talk, and I have often found myself reflecting on (and agreeing with) the points that he presented.

I'm certain that I don't need to point out to anyone who reads this blog with any frequency that I'm a libertarian, and I would hope that I don't need to also inform readers that I'm a christian. That said, I think a lot of folks might be under the impression that the two systems are incompatible. Poking around the Reason Online website, I found this article from last month's issue. It's a review of an evangelical law professor's book that appears to delve into much the same territory explored by Rev. Cafesse in that sermon ten years ago. The review is worth a read, and it appears the book is, as well.