Faith and Politics Part One : Creation and Stewardship What does the Bible say about politics? In one sense, very little. There’s no prescription for a good transport policy, no advice as to whether health care should be provided by the State or the market, no suggestion as to what the best way to set interest rates might be… But politics has been defined as the ‘art of living together in community’ and the Bible is precisely about what it means to be part of God’s people living in God’s world. It sets out His vision for His creation – and for the beings that inhabit it. For our first study we need to look no further than Genesis1 to discover that God’s ‘creation mandate’ demands that we get involved with the world around us and that humankind exercises authority over His creation. This has many implications for the practicalities of politics today.
Read Genesis 1
1. 1: 26, 27 Humans, male and female, are created ‘in the image of God’. We are made in the very image of our mighty Creator – bearing the family likeness. We represent the pinnacle of God’s creation. It is not our size (insignificant) that determines our status but our relationship with Him. As humans we are all significant to God, no matter what value society places on us. Human dignity is conferred on us by God – regardless of our age, health or abilities. Look at Psalm 139 for an indication of His care for us.
2. 1: 26-30
Humans are given dominion over every living creature.
Man and woman are created to be God’s representatives, His stewards over His creation. He gives us the role of dominion that is, in the first place, His own. God’s creation is ordered and we are placed at the head of that order, as His stewards, to look after it. God creates stage by stage and separately. He sees that each individual part of creation is good, and the whole is also good (1:31). Even before sin entered the world, government and order were important parts of God’s world. The universe – including mankind – is intrinsically good (before sin), and not ethically neutral. Even after the Fall, and the entry of sin into the world, creation is good, even though marred, and should be respected and looked after as such.
Discussions and questions Every culture organises itself around an understanding of what it is to be human. Our entire society is based on our assumptions about who we are, why we are here and what we are supposed to be doing here. Consider the views of philosopher Peter Singer. He