The Basis and Function of a Political Authority in the Reformed Tradition with Reference to Scripture and federal Calvinism
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Author(s)
Primary Supervisor
Watson, Gordon
Other Supervisors
Rankin, David
Year published
2011
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Show full item recordAbstract
Bonhoeffer1 holds the departure point for Christian ethics:
“is not the reality of one‟s own self, or the reality of the world; nor is it the reality of standards and values. It is the reality of God as he reveals Himself in Jesus Christ. It is fair to begin by demanding assent to this proposition for anyone who wishes to concern himself with the problem of a Christian ethic.”
The Reformed tradition asserts that the vicarious and substitutionary self-sacrifice offered once for all by the incarnate Son, regenerated, redeemed, reconciled and sanctified creation, but that we are freed and empowered in the Spirit to respond to ...
View more >Bonhoeffer1 holds the departure point for Christian ethics: “is not the reality of one‟s own self, or the reality of the world; nor is it the reality of standards and values. It is the reality of God as he reveals Himself in Jesus Christ. It is fair to begin by demanding assent to this proposition for anyone who wishes to concern himself with the problem of a Christian ethic.” The Reformed tradition asserts that the vicarious and substitutionary self-sacrifice offered once for all by the incarnate Son, regenerated, redeemed, reconciled and sanctified creation, but that we are freed and empowered in the Spirit to respond to God‟s command in conformity to Christ through love of God and neighbour.2 The command to salvation, sanctification and response is addressed to all people in every aspect of their lives and is relevant because “authority” is exercised by people: rulers, not by the impersonal entity of political theory called the “state”. In the exercise of “authority”, those rulers are subject to the example of Christ and the guidance of the Spirit. “Authority” is a subset of our loving response to God, for “authority” is “from” and “instituted by” God as a ministry of God‟s purpose for our good,3 a ministry of order never subordinated to the church‟s ministry of proclamation of the gospel, and so directly responsible to God for the exercise of delegated authority: for the trust accorded it. Church and “state” both build the kingdom, church by proclamation of the gospel – the means by which the Spirit creates faith and induces obedience: “state” by establishing and maintaining the order necessary for the church to perform its function. This is the basis of the unique Reformed view of political authority, which has largely shaped Western political life.
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View more >Bonhoeffer1 holds the departure point for Christian ethics: “is not the reality of one‟s own self, or the reality of the world; nor is it the reality of standards and values. It is the reality of God as he reveals Himself in Jesus Christ. It is fair to begin by demanding assent to this proposition for anyone who wishes to concern himself with the problem of a Christian ethic.” The Reformed tradition asserts that the vicarious and substitutionary self-sacrifice offered once for all by the incarnate Son, regenerated, redeemed, reconciled and sanctified creation, but that we are freed and empowered in the Spirit to respond to God‟s command in conformity to Christ through love of God and neighbour.2 The command to salvation, sanctification and response is addressed to all people in every aspect of their lives and is relevant because “authority” is exercised by people: rulers, not by the impersonal entity of political theory called the “state”. In the exercise of “authority”, those rulers are subject to the example of Christ and the guidance of the Spirit. “Authority” is a subset of our loving response to God, for “authority” is “from” and “instituted by” God as a ministry of God‟s purpose for our good,3 a ministry of order never subordinated to the church‟s ministry of proclamation of the gospel, and so directly responsible to God for the exercise of delegated authority: for the trust accorded it. Church and “state” both build the kingdom, church by proclamation of the gospel – the means by which the Spirit creates faith and induces obedience: “state” by establishing and maintaining the order necessary for the church to perform its function. This is the basis of the unique Reformed view of political authority, which has largely shaped Western political life.
View less >
Thesis Type
Thesis (PhD Doctorate)
Degree Program
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
School
School of Humanities
Copyright Statement
The author owns the copyright in this thesis, unless stated otherwise.
Item Access Status
Public
Subject
Political autority
Federal Calvinism
Reformed tradition
Western politics