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Good government and the vocation of citizenship: A Lutheran perspective
Author(s) -
Kleinhans Kathryn A.
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
dialog
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.114
H-Index - 5
eISSN - 1540-6385
pISSN - 0012-2033
DOI - 10.1111/dial.12392
Subject(s) - citizenship , perspective (graphical) , faith , economic justice , government (linguistics) , sociology , social justice , work (physics) , public life , public administration , law , political science , environmental ethics , law and economics , epistemology , philosophy , politics , mechanical engineering , linguistics , artificial intelligence , computer science , engineering
Abstract Martin Luther considered governmental authority to be one of the structures through which God exercises providential care of the created world. Consequently, government and civil society are dimensions of life in which one lives out the divine calling to serve one's neighbors. This theological perspective offers a distinct contribution to discussions of the appropriate role of religion in the public square. God's desire for justice for all is the criterion by which to evaluate specific governments, policies, and officials. The goal of justice provides a common framework within which Christians can work for the common good with those of other faiths and no faith.