The title of this category comes from the excellent book by Jonah Goldberg: Liberal Fascism. Goldberg defines fascism as follows:
Fascism is a religion of the state. It assumes the organic unity of the body politic and longs for a national leader attuned to the will of the people. It is totalitarian in that it views everything as political and holds that any action by the state is justified to achieve the common good. It takes responsibility for all aspects of life, including our health and well being, and seeks uniformity of thought and action, whether by force or through regulation and social pressure. Everything, including the economy and religion, must be aligned with the objectives. Any rival identity is part of “the problem” and therefore defined as the enemy.
The reason I’m picking up this theme is that the modern State seems to be asserting itself as an alternative religion to Christianity. In former days, people looked to their religious community, and ultimately to their god, for protection, provision, and happiness. As Christians, we look to the triune God of Scripture to meet our needs, to keep and guard us, and to satisfy the deepest longings of our soul. This is what all human beings are under obligation to do.
But, as Romans 1 so clearly teaches, human beings refuse to honor God as God and give thanks. We exchange the glory of God for idols, and in modern Western society, the State is one of the chief idols. We ought to be praying,
Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name.
Thy kingdom come, thy will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread,
and forgive us our debts
as we forgive our debtors.
Instead, many in this country, including far too many Christians, functionally pray,
Our Government, who art in Washington, hallowed be thy name.
Thy kingdom come, thy politician’s will be done,
in the states as it is in the District of Columbia.
Give us this day our daily bailout (and welfare and subsidy)
and repudiate our debts
as we repudiate the debt of our debtors.
As Christians, this is the idolatrous air that we breathe. We simply assume that the State is supposed to function as our government currently does. And while many of us raise our voices at the more egregious abuses of State power, we are perfectly content to use the State “for the sake of the kingdom” when it serves our purposes. Like sexuality, the relationship of Christians to the State is one of the most pressing questions facing the Church today. And, as we seek answers, it is important that we do so, not merely as Americans or Westerners, but as Christians.
