Salvation through Government

Joe Carter has another provocative post on Katrina addressing the rising belief in "Gnostic governance":

[O]ne of the most consistent, though often unstated, themes in the discussion about the disaster in New Orleans is that the government could have saved everyone. Some blame the local government, which had hundreds of unused buses at their disposal. Most others place the blame on the Federal government which is believed to have almost unlimited resources at its disposal.

Either one or both of these allegations could very well be true. But undergirding every claim is the foundational assumption that someone somewhere could have done enough to ensure almost universal salvation after the disaster. Nearly everyone could have been spared if only the government had responded in the right way. . . .

As becomes apparent, the Gnostic deification of governance resembles the Roman god Zeus more than it does Jehovah or Allah. The Gnostic government is omnipotent, but not omniscient; transcendent and also immanent; impersonal and yet represented in various human forms (i.e., President Bush). The god is also arbitrary and showers blessings on those it loves (the rich, welfare recipients, white men) and ignores those who it despises (the poor, minorities, white men); able to save all and yet arbitrarily chooses limited atonement. It is a fickle god that commands our succor but is unworthy of adoration.

Over the next few weeks, the primary question will be “Which part of the government is to blame?” and will be hashed over by the various Gnostic sects the way Lutherans and Presbyterians argue over baptism. A few heretics (like me) may step forward to claim that maybe -- just maybe -- the government really can’t save us all. After an audible gasp, we apostates will be shouted down and ushered to the door by a stern deacon. We’ll stand outside the gates of the public square, shrugging and casting bemused looks at one another. As we walk away, with the din of “Bush!”, “Class!”, “Race!”, and “FEMA!” echoing behind us, we’ll reflect on the nature of government and remember where our true salvation lies.

Carter once again raises some good points, but remembering where our true salvation lies should not be an obstacle to recognizing the impact human action can have on real-world suffering.  FEMA could not have stopped the hurricane, but it could have responded to the resulting disaster more quickly and effectively.  Demanding as much is not idolatrous; it is good citizenship.

Rob