What are the distinctive marks of Christianity? They stem not from the social side but from the spiritual side of our lives. I would identify three beliefs in particular:

First, that man must choose between good and evil. Second, that we were made in God’s own image. And third, that our Lord Jesus Christ the Son of God chose to lay down his life that our sins may be forgiven.

We must not profess the Christian faith and go to church simply because we want social reforms and benefits, or a better standard of behavior – but because we accept the sanctity of life, the responsibility that comes with freedom and the supreme sacrifice of Christ.

Biblical Public Policy

I believe in the relevance of Christianity to public policy – to the things that are "Caesar’s."

The Old Testament lays down in Exodus the Ten Commandments as given to Moses, the injunction to love our neighbor as ourselves, and generally the importance of observing a strict code of law.

The New Testament is a record of the Incarnation, the teachings of Christ and the establishment of the Kingdom of God.

I believe that by taking together those key elements from the Old and New Testaments, we gain: (1) a view of the universe, (2) a proper attitude toward work, and (3) principals to shape economic and social life.

Creation of Wealth

We are told that we must work and use our talents to create wealth. "If a man will not work he shall not eat," wrote St. Paul to the Thessalonians. Indeed, abundance rather than poverty has a legitimacy which derives from the very nature of creation.

Nevertheless, the Tenth Commandment – "Thou shalt not covet" – recognizes that making money and owning things could become selfish activities. But it is not the creation of wealth that is wrong but the love of money for its own sake.

The spiritual dimension comes in deciding what to do with the wealth. Remember the woman with the alabaster jar.

Any set of social and economic arrangements which is not founded on the acceptance of individual responsibility will do nothing but harm. We are all responsible for our own actions. We cannot blame society if we disobey the law.

We simply cannot delegate the exercise of mercy and generosity to others. Intervention by the state should never become so great that it effectively removes personal responsibility.

Democracy and Liberty

Nowhere in the Bible is the word democracy mentioned. Nevertheless, I am enthusiastic for democracy; not because I believe majority opinion is inevitably right or true.

Indeed, no majority can take away God-given human rights. I believe democracy most effectively safeguards the value of the individual, and more than any other system, restrains the abuse of power by the few. And that is a Christian principle.

But there is little hope for democracy if the hearts of men and women in democratic societies cannot be touched by a call to something greater than themselves. Political structures, state institutions, collective ideals are not enough.

Secular patriotism is a noble thing. But there is "another country" whose King cannot be seen and whose armies cannot be counted. Not group by group or party by party – or even church by church – but soul by soul each one counts.

Source: Excerpts from Leader To Leader, June 1999, Covenant Theological Seminary (www.covenantseminary.edu)

"Standing in the middle of the road is very dangerous; you get knocked down by the traffic from both sides."
--Margaret Thatcher