The Campaigning Anarchist?

Question: How can someone who considers themselves to be an Anarchist justify campaigning efforts in which they actively lobby a government and appeal to its officials for the effecting of positive social change?

There isn’t as much of a conflict in interests as might be readily apparent. A Christian is called to take steps (with the help of God, obviously) to remove themselves from the immorality of a sinful world. That doesn’t infer that they must dissociate themselves completely from those who commit such sin. Jesus dined with prostitutes without engaging in prostitution Himself.

In much the same way, it is an unfortunate fact of existence that wordly powers and authorities will continue to exercise their reign on the world until the day of judgement when God will destroy the system of power to instate His own. Until that day, governmental rule is a fact of existence and we Christians are called to live peaceably with them even though their principles are set against our own. Our enemies must be loved.

In loving our enemies, we subsequently wish to witness the love of Christ to them in the hopes that they will find Him and repent of their former ways. Campaigning, quite simply, is a way to call governments to repentance without actively engaging in their rule ourselves. I will not vote or swear allegiance less I become partially responsible for electing an inferior kingdom into power, but that should not and will not stop me from understanding my duty as a Christian to call that government into repentance.

With each successful lobby, this world takes one small step closer to the Kingdom of God.