Ladwig on Lewis on politics

This is similar to some stuff in the intro of my book, but a good reminder from the IPR's Craig Ladwig, by was of C.S. Lewis, on the gap between the theory and practice of Christianity and government...

It is easy to find observers of Indiana politics, some perhaps in this governor's office, with secular concerns about the number of individual candidates, even party factions, seeking office as "christian."

They might note the obvious problem of single-issue politics; that is, a candidate activates a constituency on issue "A" only to split his party or a campaign on issues "B" and "C" and the rest.

The concern of others, however, is spiritual — especially in recent years as Christian groups have become more adept at political organization and therefore more tempted by it. This concern is reflected in an essay, "Meditation on the Third Commandment," by the Christian apologist, C.S. Lewis.

The essay boils down to this:

• When Christians set about forming a political faction or party they necessarily exclude other Christians who disagree with the means that faction may champion.
  
  
• It is likely that on the full political field this faction or party will find itself a minority of a minority.
  
  
• To be politically successful, then, this minority must form alliances with other minorities, alliances with groups that are at best ambivalent about Christian convictions.

• And even if Christians are particularly skillful at this game, they end up with a political faction that is “christian” only in that it offers its leaders worldly incentives to publicly proclaim themselves to be followers of Christ. Worse, by calling itself a Christian this or a Christian that, the party unavoidably implies that those who disagree with it are un-Christian.

Would Lewis, then, leave Christians sitting around waiting for the lions to get hungry? Not necessarily. He has three coordinated alternatives to modern political parties (“secret societies of murderers and blackmailers,” he calls them).

The first and best, or course, is for Christians to convert their neighbors one-by-one toward the eventual realization of a Christian majority or, in the end, a Christian unanimity.

Another would be to simply provide Christian witness to those persons currently at the head of political factions, parties, nations or even empires (the Constantine strategy).

Yet another would be to form what Lewis described as interdenominational Christian voting societies. Such a society might write letters to the editor such as this one. Another might draw up more formal letters of assurances about political means and ends, assurances that members of the society would vow to extract from office-seekers as a condition of support.

So, Lewis would have Christians merely pester politicians with letters?

“Yes, just that," he answers in his conclusion. "I think such pestering combines the dove and the serpent. I think it means a world where parties have to take care not to alienate Christians instead of a world where Christians have to be ‘loyal’ to infidel parties.”

“Pesterer-in-Chief” has a good sound to it. Nominations are open.