The good folks over at Relevant Magazine invited me to chip in my thoughts on a series they've been doing on Christians and politics.
You should read the whole thing. But to whet your appetite, here's a teaser that didn't make the cut because I had gone on too long already:
In its pursuit of justice, then, the government’s primary responsibility is to judge against wrongs and protect against threats to society’s welfare--rather than to provide goods directly. Given the diversity and complexity of society, we ought to retain a robust and healthy modesty about our government’s (or our own!) ability to determine “the common good,” and an even stronger skepticism about the government’s ability to promote it. Best to let it simply emerge from each sphere working at its best in its own area, and allow a nimble but strong government to judge the wrongs it uncovers accordingly.
But go on now. Read the whole thing. And then let me know what you make of it all in the comments.