When I was young in my anarchist "faith", I was doing a lot of reading from sources both Christian and non. I had been selected to lead a discussion with my church small group on government and the Christian worldview. While I was doing research on this subject, I came across a book by Norman Geisler called Christian Ethics. In one chapter, Geisler examines different forms of government, including monarchy, democracy and anarchy. I was very interested to see what this writer whom I had great respect for might have to say about this subject. I quickly found myself disappointed and discouraged. 

I'm paraphrasing, but he basically said that the subject need not even be addressed because it is so far removed from the Christian perspective.

Was he right?

Is Christianity Incompatible With Anarchy?

Giesler treated anarchy - man's natural state, as something we should strive to rise above. 

The state makes one's very birth more than barbaric: it is a birth into a state of civilization rather than into anarchy. Just as parents spend months in preparation and anticipation for a child, many years have likewise been spent in maintaining the state, which makes a civilized birth possible...

He also says:

An unjust law is bad, but no law is even worse. Even a bad monarchy is to be preferred to anarchy. Any government is better than no government at all."

My heart sank when I read these things. Is this the view I must subscribe to if I want to remain a Christian? Was my newfound philosophy incompatible with my faith? 

The short answer is a resounding NO. The long answer is too complicated to cover in one blog entry.

Some Necessary Premises

Every argument has to begin with premises that are assumed. The most basic logical argument is constructed this way:

Premise A + Premise B

\/

Therefore C

Here are the premises that I will be working off of. I will not spend my time arguing whether or not these are true, since they are necessary truths for this series.

1. The Bible is the word of God

2. The Bible is inerrant

3. God has authority over all things

Of course I understand that most people will not agree with these premises. But I am not here to argue the truth of Christianity. I am here to argue that anarchist philosophy is consistent with Christianity and in order to do that I must play by Christianity's rules.

I'm primarily writing to Christians who are interested in this subject but I hope non-Christians can find something of value here as well, if only as an intellectual exercise. 

Over the next week, I will release several articles on the subject of Christianity. If you're interested, I hope you'll follow me @sethlinson and read through this series. 

~Seth