THE CHURCH AND THE CHRISTIAN IN PUBLIC ARENA

Ever since Biblical times, Christians had a serious preoccupation in trying to understand God‟s call for them in regard with their role in the public arena. More or less, theology was leading the public policies in countries where Christian religion had been dominant over the years. Major events, as Renaissance, Protestant Reform or French Revolution, crashed the public symbiosis, or even dominance, of Church-State construct. Different approaches had been embraced throughout the centuries since then, but the debate on that is still a vivid one. Each democratic government tried to find a way to deal with the latter development and public understanding on the role of Church and Christian thought, or presence, in public arena. Government‟s ideologies played an important role over the decision. Religious groups tried to maximize their influence as well. Political leaders or theorists, church people or theologians, and many other opinion leaders, were all interested to present their own view over the issue. Advantages or disadvantages, costs or benefits, dogmatic doctrines or ethical issues etc., were all included in de debate. From secular fundamentalists that promote excluding religion, or religious influence, from public arena, to religious fundamentalists that promote full control of religion over government, or public arena, a multitude of perspectives were presented as potential options for contemporary societies. What is the best decision? What is the role of the Church in public arena? How should Christians see the public arena? Does the Christian have a divine call for the public arena? Are there ethical, political or theological implications over different perspectives? Throughout this present article I will try to answer some of those questions and many that were not included.