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Christianity and politics: Is it about justice or liberty?
In a divergence from my typical musings on science and philosophy, and in response to questions by a couple of Medium readers, I give my thoughts on the large question of Christians and politics.
On February 2, 2025, the New York Times published an interview with prominent Christian philosopher and theologian Nicholas Wolterstorff. Peter Wehner, an opinion writer for the Times, asked some important questions on the nature of evil, the incarnation, and the resurrection. Wehner also asked the philosopher about his view of Christianity and politics, a subject Wolterstorff addressed in one of his books, The Mighty and the Almighty, published in 2012.
Mr. Wehner posed this question:
“What do you imagine Jesus would say in response to how American evangelicals practice politics today?”
Wolterstorff begins his answer by expressing the view that the Biblical view of government is a good thing:
“… it’s something to be thankful for — when it doesn’t become a raging beast, of course, when it does what it’s supposed to do.”
Then he explains that the fundamental role of government as presented in the Bible is to secure justice. He contrasts this understanding with those within the Christian nationalist movement who believe that the…
