Here I’m going to summarize theologian John Frame’s views on Christianity and government.

It’s helpful to recognize that a respected theologian shares the basics of the view I’m advocating and to see how he derives his view from Scripture. His discussion makes a good starting point to orient us to what Scripture says on the issue.

“It’s the government’s place to help people.” That is the common assumption behind most of modern American political thought.

What does such a view mean in practice?

The forcing of one person to work on behalf of another. And this, not for the sake of defending the country against an invader or a criminal, but for the sake of giving to a man those positive comforts he has not attained for himself. “If a person is unable to take care of himself, it is proper to force others to take care of him,” this view holds.

If the United States was truly exceptional, what has happened to it?

How did the U.S. fall from its place as the world’s beacon of freedom and individual rights? How did the nation of achievers and owners become the “entitlement state” of looters and moochers?

Over the next several posts I’m going to answer: “What is my exact position on government?”

These posts focus on my conclusions. Later I’ll explain the reasons behind them, but right now I want you to see where I’m going.

In broadest terms, the government’s role is twofold:

To judge between people who claim wrong has been done and to marshal the people in times of war.

It’s a tall claim to say that the Bible supports laissez faire capitalism. Important (even conservative) Christian voices would reject the idea. But it’s the claim I’m making. Over the next several posts I’ll support it.