Christian Democracy Part III: Christian Faith and Democracy as the “Two Swords”

The Gospel of Luke contains a perplexing line that has fascinated scholars for centuries. During the Last Supper, Christ is preparing the Apostles for life after His Resurrection and return to heaven. He says to them: “But now, let him who has a purse take it, and likewise a bag. And let him who has no sword sell his mantle and buy one” (Luke 22:36). The Apostles reply that there are two swords in the room, to which Jesus replies: “It is enough” (Luke 22:38). Scholars have suggested that the “two swords” is a reference to Church and State: two groups, two organizations, two modes of authority that can and should work together for the common good. This represents the balance of both the physical world (represented by the state) and the spiritual world (represented by the Church). Both are good, and both have a place and a purpose. Where the state focuses on the secular realm, the Church focuses on the spiritual. Jesus famously says, “Render therefore to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s” (Matthew 22:21), showing the goodness of obeying both secular and spiritual authority. Both Peter and Paul explain the goodness of rightful authority in their Letters in the New Testament. Peter writes:

Be subject for the Lord’s sake to every human institution,[b] whether it be to the emperor as supreme, or to governors as sent by him to punish those who do wrong and to praise those who do right. For it is God’s will that by doing right you should put to silence the ignorance of foolish men. Live as free men, yet without using your freedom as a pretext for evil; but live as servants of God. Honor all men. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the emperor. (1 Peter 2:13-17)

Honor the emperor! This is all the more amazing considering that Peter himself is the first leader of the Church. Paul likewise explains: 

Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. Therefore he who resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment. For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. Would you have no fear of him who is in authority? Then do what is good, and you will receive his approval, for he is God’s servant for your good.   (Romans 13:1-7)

Finally, Jesus even explains to Pontius Pilate - the Roman governor of Judea - that his authority as governor comes from God:  “You would have no power over me unless it had been given you from above” (John 19:11).

If Church and State ought to work together, how is it that Christianity can work with democracy, and what is it about democracy that makes it the most suitable form of government? Let’s start with why democracy is the most ideal form of government. 

Democracy guarantees a balance of power between separate branches of government. Most democratic states—both republican and parliamentary—have a separation of three branches of government into the legislative (Congress in the United States, Parliament in the United Kingdom, for example), the executive (the President, Prime Minister, or Chancellor, for example), and the judicial. This is exactly what the Founding Fathers aimed for: a three-fold system of government that would prevent one branch from becoming too authoritative. 

Democracy tends to be more peaceful. A look at democratic nations throughout history certainly demonstrates this. It is true that democracies have engaged in wars - the World Wars and many others - but it is also true that democracies tend to not engage in war against each other. This is the democratic peace theory. An example is the former Axis powers of the Second World War: Germany, Italy, and Japan all became democratic following the end of the war, and now enjoy a close alliance with the former Allied powers. Why do democratic nations tend not to engage in war against each other? One reason may be because democratic governments are more prone to listen to their people. Elected leaders will be less likely to bring their country to war - especially against a fellow democracy - that would upset their constituents and hence, lose them votes. Another possible reason is the balance of power. Many wars in history have been started by authoritative leaders without accountability from their people or from other branches of government. 

Democracy more often guarantees freedom of religion. Freedom of religion is a natural human right. Possibly the greatest accomplishment of the American Revolution and the United States Constitution is the First Amendment - the universal promise of religious freedom. If humans are naturally religious beings, then freedom of religion is an essential right. 

In my previous article, I discussed an example from the Bible about the dangers of an overreaching monarchy. The Prophet Samuel warns the People of Israel against desiring to have a King.  The People reject his warning, and the result is exactly what he predicted: the King eventually becomes overbearing, leading to the division of the Kingdom. This leads me to the final reason why democracy is ideal.

Democracy has systems by which to replace repressive leaders. Whether it’s through a written Constitution (like in the United States) or an unwritten constitution (as in the United Kingdom), democratic governments have systems by which a corrupt or repressive leader can be held accountable and replaced. A dictatorship or unconstitutional monarchy does not have such systems in place. 

If democracy is the ideal form of government, then how can it work effectively with Christian thinking? Let’s talk about some of the core principles of the Christian faith. 

Christianity is all about the dignity of the human person. Judeo-Christian tradition insists on the dignity of a human being: a unique soul made in the image and likeness of God, with inherent rights.

Christianity demands both inner conversion and outer responsibilities. The “interior life” is a major tradition in Christianity, where a person focuses on growing closer to God through prayer and the conversion of the heart. And yet it also demands participation in the outside world. Think of some of the greatest Christian minds who have altered history - Catherine of Siena, William Wilberforce, among others - who underwent inner transformations while also changing the world around them. Christianity is a religion of the inner life as well as the public life. 

Christianity encourages peaceful submission to government, but also an insistence on righteous government. Christianity is a faith of both morality and reason.  It does not recognize laws which are unjust.  Civil law ought to be rooted in natural law - that innate sense of goodness present in all human beings.  The Prophet Isaiah recognizes the evil of unjust law:  

Woe to those who decree iniquitous decrees, and the writers who keep writing oppression, to turn aside the needy from justice    and to rob the poor of my people of their right, that widows may be their spoil,   and that they may make the fatherless their prey! (Isaiah 10:1-2)

While submitting to legitimate government, Christians also have the responsibility to speak out against that which violates the natural law.  The Hebrews, after all, ultimately resisted and escaped from the tyranny of Egypt.  The early Christians honored and prayed for the emperor and the Roman government, but also refused to submit to unjust decrees. Government is good in so far as it is rooted in the natural law. Christianity has the faith and knowledge to ensure that it remains so.

The Christian religion and democratic government together can work wonders for the world. They represent both Church and State, both the spiritual realm and the physical realm. Both are inherently good, and both aim to serve humanity. The American Solidarity Party is undoubtedly best suited to achieve this goal of Christian Democracy. I will discuss why the ASP is the best party for America in my next article.