The Christian Century

Recently some friends were debating the role of government. Before long, a version of libertarianism, that degenerate form of liberalism now so popular in American politics, reared its head. "Govern­ment," said one of the disputants, "has an important place, but it is a necessary evil. Without sin, we would need no government."

At this point I left the sidelines to join the game. That human societies need—or want—government only be­cause of sin is a common assumption. A terribly wrong assumption.