The political rallying cry is founded on the understanding that all men are sinners.
The apostle Paul stated this most clearly when he said "... for all have sinned [in the past] and [continue moment by moment in the present to] fall short of the glory of God" (Romans 3:23, NIV). Similarly, it is recorded in Genesis 6:5-6. "The Lord saw how great man's wickedness on the earth had become, and that every inclination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil all the time" (NIV) [emphasis mine].
The depth and comprehensiveness of man's rebellion against God was known to the Reformers as "total depravity." Sin touches every area of every life. This however does not imply that man is nothing or that he is worthless or insignificant. On the contrary, man is still the "prince" of all creation, and he still bears the image of God.
Because of the understanding of the depravity of man, the Reformers saw that it was imperative to protect against the opportunity for one man to have unlimited power in the church or society. As the English historian-philosopher Lord Acton (1834 - 1902) has so succinctly stated, "Power tends to corrupt and absolute power corrupts absolutely."[1]
To counter this tendency, the Reformers emphasized the "priesthood of believers" in the Church and developed a system of "checks and balances" in political life. In the Church, every member is a minister. Two key passages illustrate the importance of the diversity of individuals within the larger unity of the Church. Peter speaks of the temple of which we are individually "living stones" while Paul speaks of us as distinct parts of the body of which Christ is the head.
I Peter 2:4-5, 9-10 As you come to him, the living Stone -- rejected by men but chosen by God and precious to him -- you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ ... But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. (NIV)
Ephesians 1:22, 4:11-13 And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church ... It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, to prepare God's people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ. (NIV)
With emphasis on this teaching, the Reformers stressed the importance of the "laity" within the Church to be a ministering body. There was to be plural leadership under the lordship or headship of Christ. The pastor-teachers are "enablers" of the membership to be a congregation of ministers.
In the larger society, the Reformers wanted to protect against one man gaining too much political power so a system of checks and balances, or democratic-pluralism, was established. Typically three branches of government (the executive, the legislative and the judicial) were formed: Each had their own role and each was to act as an anchor against the abuses of the other. The Swiss were so concerned about the propensity of sinful men to corruption that they placed each branch of government in a separate city so that not only would these men not work together but they also would not fraternize together.
The
pattern of the Reformation stands in contrast to that of modern, optimistic
humanism. In humanism, man is good and
structures are corrupt. Man's problem is
"outside" himself. A utopia is
possible as man evolves and creates more and better human structures. This is the failed dream of the communist
system. It failed because it was based upon faulty premises. Thus, the political rallying cry of "all
men are sinners" recognizes the need to protect man from himself in
practical ways in church polity and national governance.
Conclusion
The
world and the Church are at a crossroads. The world is in the midst of
unprecedented change. Post-communistic
Eastern Europe and the dissolved
The Church has a vital message to bring to this hurting world. It begins with "Christ and Him crucified." But it does not end there. We are to articulate a biblical world and life view to challenge both ancient, animistic ones and modern, atheistic ones. We are to proclaim vital biblical principles that will create a solid foundation upon which to build societies of unprecedented freedom and opportunity.
Will the Church challenge existing models and call for reformation of minds, hearts, and lives? Or will we succumb to humanistic models that view the problems of our world only in material terms? Worse yet, will the Church abandon the world, stick her head in the sand, and live in the Greek world of a spiritualized dichotomy?
Hope
springs from the transformation of the heart and mind and the corresponding
revolution of life and culture. The foundation upon which the new reformer in
the
Will the Church lead or follow? The choice is ours!
Credit: Scott Allen and Darrow Miller | Disciple Nations Alliance
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[1] Quoted in "Push, Pull and the Body Politic" by Page
Smith,
