To change or to preserve

In the first chapter of his book Values in a Time of Upheaval, Benedict XVI begins by explaining that the ancient Romans believed that the most important role for politicians to play was to preserve the Empire, and keep it from decay. By contrast, the early Christians chose to refer to Christ our Redeemer, not as conservator mundi (conserver of the world) but rather as Messiah or Savior.

As such, the importance of the faith of Israel, is not merely to concerve something that exists and to keep it from decay, but rather to look to a tomorrow which has not yet arrived. Jesus himself encouraged the disciples to nurture this vision of anticipating the kingdom, and Christians of all ages maintain this focus even today.

The early Christian community was clear in its understanding that Christ did not call for us to live lives of anarchy or revolution, but rather to submit to existing (politicial) authority since there is no authority which does not come from God (Romans 13:1-6). Christians must therefore submit to legitimate authority for the sake of the Lord (1 Peter 2:13-17). These principles, first established in the very early years of the Church, still exist in modern times. The Holy Father explains:

The Christian is obligated to the legal order of the state, since this is an ethical ordering. To suffer 'as a Christian' is a different matter: where the state imposes penalties on the Christian simply for being a Christian, it rules no longer as a preserver of the law but as its destroyer. And then it is no disgrace to be punished, but rather an honor. One who suffers in this manner is following Christ precisely in his suffering. The crucified Christ indicates the boundaries to the power of the state and shows where its rights terminate and resistance in the form of suffering becomes a necessity. The faith of the New Testament acknowledges not the revolutionary but the martyr who recognizes both the authority of the state and also its limits. His resistance consists in doing everything that serves to promote law and an ordered life in society, even when this means obeying authorities who are indifferent or hostile to his faith; but he will not obey when he is commanded to do what is evil, that is, to oppose the will of God. His is not the resistance of active force, but the resistance of the one who is willing to suffer for the will of God.

The Holy Father has spoken before about the importance of faith and reason being accorded equal weight as moral compases for decision making. Indeed, at times, the Church's insistance on the connection of faith and reason as guiding principles for all dicision making has been the source of much contention. However, it is of extreme importance that we take the time to examine faith in the light of reason, and to seek the guidance of faith when confronted with major decisions which all have repercussions for the life of humanity. This is the basis upon which any value system must rest if it is to withstand the test of time.