Christian, Writer, Scholar
Adopting either position just to fit into whatever political group I tend to favor means that I've done nothing more than sell out my faith as just one more interest group to be courted and won by the reigning political elites.
Daring to be a Daniel is not, necessarily, as the classic retelling of chapter 6 as a morality play would have it, resisting the powers that be.
It is all too common today, and I speak mainly of the United States, for Christians to assume that a lack of political power means a lack of cultural and moral influence. However, it is more biblical--and more historical--to think the opposite: political power equates to a diminished influence.
Jesus does not endorse any human political ideology or system of government. Period.
Someone trying to convince a Christian that socialism is good or desirable will cite these verses and say, "Doesn't that sound like socialism or communism? Common property given to all who might have a need?" Yes. Yes it does sound like socialism or communism, except for one crucial element: violent, state-sponsored coercion.
I wanted to be a faithful Christian without anyone in the academic world outside my own university knowing that I was a faithful Christian. It turns out that this is not being a faithful Christian at all.
