In recent years I have found myself moving toward a libertarian political philosophy on the basis of biblical data, moral arguments, and practical concerns. Though I did not argue explicitly for libertarianism in it, my 2018 book Fight the Powers: What the Bible Says About the Relationship Between Spiritual Forces and Human Governments reflects the research I did on how the Bible sees the state as demonically inspired, violently-inclined, and destined to fall when Christ’s kingdom comes in its fullness.
However, as I have spent time reading and listening to arguments for libertarian perspectives, especially from secular thinkers, I have seen how liberty as a political movement can become just as much of an idol as the state often is for non-libertarians. In particular, I have seen libertarians dehumanize those who serve the state as they imagine that a stateless utopia would be a panacea for all of humanity’s woes.
The problem with this naive notion is that government is not the cause of our sorry state but a symptom of it. Restricting its power or even abolishing it altogether would certainly have many positive impacts on our social order, but there would still be violence, cruelty, predation, and self-centeredness. Political liberty is a good, but it cannot straighten out the twistedness of our hearts. That requires Jesus taking residence inside of us.
Though Paul knew that the state was corrupt and opposed to Christ, he never saw its agents as devils for us to slay. Instead, he argued that our battle is spiritual and our weapons are not carnal (Ephesians 6:12, 2 Corinthians 10:4). He did not seek to overthrow the empire with violence but to persuade kings and emperors to bow the knee before Christ. The apostle was confident that Jesus had already conquered the powers on the cross, so if we have no choice but to suffer the oppression of the state a little longer while the conquering Jesus lives inside of us, so be it. We’ve already won.
As for the reparation of the social order, that will not completely take place until Jesus takes residence among us. God will place all dominion under the feet of Jesus and the evil empire will be slain and thrown into the fire (see 1 Corinthians 15:24-28, Psalm 2, Daniel 7, and Revelation 19:20). Then, and only then, will the perfect rule of God cover the earth.
Until that day, let us do what we can to make the world a freer and more peaceful place; but let us also remember that it is the horse which pulls the cart.