--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Christian political theory does not…" description: "\"“Christian political theory does not adhere to a passive conservatism. nor is it enamored of progress. It is conservative in principles, but progressiv..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b78/heinrich-a-rommen-71857_absolute-power_christian-political-theory-does-not-adhe_1816430.jpg" --- # Christian political theory does not adhere to a passive… ![“Christian political theory does not adhere to a passive conservatism. nor is it enamored of progress. It is conservative in principles, but progressive in application of these principles to the ever-changing circumstances. In the struggle between the passionate urge for limitless freedom and…” quote by Heinrich A. Rommen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b78/heinrich-a-rommen-71857_absolute-power_christian-political-theory-does-not-adhe_1816430.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b78/heinrich-a-rommen-71857_absolute-power_christian-political-theory-does-not-adhe_1816430.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b78/heinrich-a-rommen-71857_absolute-power_christian-political-theory-does-not-adhe_1816430.jpg) > ““Christian political theory does not adhere to a passive conservatism. nor is it enamored of progress. It is conservative in principles, but progressive in application of these principles to the ever-changing circumstances. In the struggle between the passionate urge for limitless freedom and conservative order, Christian political theory stands on the side of order. In the struggle between man's longing for freedom and dehumanizing absolute power, it will fight for freedom. In the struggle between social justice and reactionary defense of the vested interests of selfish classes, it will unite with justice. Faced by the choice between the dignity of the human person and political expediency, it will defend the dignity of the human person.”” [Heinrich A. Rommen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heinrich-a-rommen/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Christian politics blends timeless principles with adaptive application, seeking order, freedom, and justice while defending human dignity. **In simple terms:** Faith‑based politics balances tradition and change. Key Takeaway Uphold dignity, pursue justice. Themes theology politics ethics social justice Mood thoughtful serious Type philosophical theological When to use this quote - policy debates - church leadership - social movements Key Concepts conservatism progressivism human rights Questions to Reflect On - What limits should be set on change? - How to reconcile tradition with modern needs? A Different Perspective Balancing order and liberty can be contentious. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Absolute power](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/absolute-power/) [Christian Political](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/christian-political-487153/) [Conservative](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conservative/) [Conservative Order](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conservative-order-2157966/) [Conservative Principles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conservative-principles-386466/) [Freedom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/freedom/) [Political theory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/political-theory/) [Politics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politics/) [Progress Conservative](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/progress-conservative-2157967/) [Social justice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/social-justice/) [Vested interest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/vested-interest/) ## Related quotes > [If a conservative order is indeed to return, we ought to know the tradition which is attached to it, so that we may rebuild…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-kirk/if-a-conservative-order-is-indeed-to-return-we-ought-to-know-the/) [Russell Kirk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-kirk/) > [“If Christians today understood this distinction between the role of the private Christian citizen and the Christian in government, they might sound less like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-w-colson/if-christians-today-understood-this-distinction-between-the-role-of/) [Charles W. Colson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-w-colson/) > [“With a few exceptions, conservative Christian political activists are as ineffective as White Russian exiles, drinking tea from samovars in their Paris drawing rooms,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rod-dreher/with-a-few-exceptions-conservative-christian-political-activists-are/) [Rod Dreher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rod-dreher/) > [“Following the Lord's authority, one of the distinctives of Christian cultural understanding is that it also is minimally concerned with politics. The restoration of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-wilson/following-the-lord-s-authority-one-of-the-distinctives-of-christian/) [Douglas Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-wilson/) > [Being a Christian is not a political orientation for the president, but he is a centrist.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cornel-west/being-a-christian-is-not-a-political-orientation-for-the-president/) [Cornel West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cornel-west/) > [“The John Locke Foundation also sponsored the North Carolina History Project, which aimed to reorient the state’s teaching of its history by providing online…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-mayer/the-john-locke-foundation-also-sponsored-the-north-carolina-history/) [Jane Mayer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-mayer/) > [If you apply conservative principles and you stick with it, and you have the leadership skills to bring people toward the cause, you can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeb-bush/if-you-apply-conservative-principles-and-you-stick-with-it-and-you/) [Jeb Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeb-bush/) > [I've got the courage to apply our conservative principles. I can't do it alone. With your help, with God's grace, we can save the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bobby-jindal/i-ve-got-the-courage-to-apply-our-conservative-principles-i-can-t-do/) [Bobby Jindal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bobby-jindal/) > [Indiana is a state that works because conservative principles work every time you put them into practice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-pence/indiana-is-a-state-that-works-because-conservative-principles-work/) [Mike Pence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-pence/) > [Renewable energy fits well into the conservative mindset by allowing competition into the energy markets so that consumers have choice. The system as it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-ruffalo/renewable-energy-fits-well-into-the-conservative-mindset-by-allowing/) [Mark Ruffalo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-ruffalo/) > [The most basic of conservative principles is that if you reward bad behavior you get more of it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-steyn/the-most-basic-of-conservative-principles-is-that-if-you-reward-bad/) [Mark Steyn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-steyn/) > [We should not just talk about conservative principles, but we should actually advance them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/todd-young/we-should-not-just-talk-about-conservative-principles-but-we-should/) [Todd Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/todd-young/) > [The Tory party is at is strongest when it is in tune with the hopes and aspirations of Britain's hard-working, law-abiding majority, and when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/priti-patel/the-tory-party-is-at-is-strongest-when-it-is-in-tune-with-the-hopes/) [Priti Patel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/priti-patel/) > [When candidates run on conservative principles, they win. But when we legislate conservative policies, the American people win.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauren-boebert/when-candidates-run-on-conservative-principles-they-win-but-when-we/) [Lauren Boebert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauren-boebert/) > [I think that conservative principles have a broad appeal, and you should state them boldly, and the point of a Conservative election is to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacob-rees-mogg/i-think-that-conservative-principles-have-a-broad-appeal-and-you/) [Jacob Rees-Mogg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacob-rees-mogg/) ## More by Heinrich A. Rommen > [“Active and passive resistance against the usurper is not only a right, but a duty for all citizens. For the usurper is an invader…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heinrich-a-rommen/active-and-passive-resistance-against-the-usurper-is-not-only-a-right/) [Heinrich A. Rommen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heinrich-a-rommen/) > [“First of all, the people has a right to passive resistance. The tyrannical law that is a law against reason, a law not directed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heinrich-a-rommen/first-of-all-the-people-has-a-right-to-passive-resistance-the/) [Heinrich A. Rommen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heinrich-a-rommen/) > [“When one of the relativist theories is made the basis of a totalitarian state, man is stirred to free himself from the pessimistic resignation…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heinrich-a-rommen/when-one-of-the-relativist-theories-is-made-the-basis-of-a/) [Heinrich A. Rommen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heinrich-a-rommen/) [Explore all 4 Heinrich A. Rommen quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heinrich-a-rommen/) ## More Absolute power quotes > [“Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely. Great men are almost always bad men, even when they exercise influence and not authority,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-emerich-edward-dalberg-acton/power-tends-to-corrupt-and-absolute-power-corrupts-absolutely-great/) [John Emerich Edward Dalberg-Acton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-emerich-edward-dalberg-acton/) > [Anarchy is the stepping stone to absolute power.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-bonaparte/anarchy-is-the-stepping-stone-to-absolute-power/) [Napoleon Bonaparte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-bonaparte/) > [“As Israel made the wants of his national existence the law of the world, as under the dominance of these wants he deified even…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ludwig-feuerbach/as-israel-made-the-wants-of-his-national-existence-the-law-of-the/) [Ludwig Feuerbach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ludwig-feuerbach/) > [Sometimes we like to think if we had power, that we would be different, and we would be omnipotent, but the truth is absolute…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naomi-ackie/sometimes-we-like-to-think-if-we-had-power-that-we-would-be-different/) [Naomi Ackie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naomi-ackie/) > [Absolute power, as we have always known, corrupts absolutely; it corrupts because it does not do the trick for the individual. Reality always creeps…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irvin-d-yalom/absolute-power-as-we-have-always-known-corrupts-absolutely-it/) [Irvin D. Yalom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irvin-d-yalom/) > [A nation of slaves is always prepared to applaud the clemency of their master who, in the abuse of absolute power, does not proceed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-gibbon/a-nation-of-slaves-is-always-prepared-to-applaud-the-clemency-of/) [Edward Gibbon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-gibbon/) > [Unlimited power is apt to corrupt the minds of those who possess it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-pitt-1st-earl-of-chatham/unlimited-power-is-apt-to-corrupt-the-minds-of-those-who-possess-it/) [William Pitt, 1st Earl of Chatham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-pitt-1st-earl-of-chatham/) > [The Book of Job is advice on how to live in terms of the absolute power of nature. Leviathan is advice on how to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-phillip-verene/the-book-of-job-is-advice-on-how-to-live-in-terms-of-the-absolute/) [Donald Phillip Verene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-phillip-verene/) > [God cannot approve of a system of servitude, in which the master is guilty of assuming absolute power - of assuming God's place and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerrit-smith/god-cannot-approve-of-a-system-of-servitude-in-which-the-master-is/) [Gerrit Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerrit-smith/) > [“With absolute power, corruption and evil seep in humanity, and that evil continues to flourish as the good of humankind lies idle in darkness,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/with-absolute-power-corruption-and-evil-seep-in-humanity-and-that/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [If you are an eighteen or nineteen-year-old with little education, as is often the case, and you're put in charge of many, many people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yaroslav-trofimov/if-you-are-an-eighteen-or-nineteen-year-old-with-little-education-as/) [Yaroslav Trofimov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yaroslav-trofimov/) > [“As history has also shown, especially in the twentieth century, one of the first things an ideologue will do after achieving absolute power is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-sowell/as-history-has-also-shown-especially-in-the-twentieth-century-one-of/) [Thomas Sowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-sowell/) > [We're taught Lord Acton's axiom: all power corrupts, absolute power corrupts absolutely. I believed that when I started these books, but I don't believe…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-caro/we-re-taught-lord-acton-s-axiom-all-power-corrupts-absolute-power/) [Robert Caro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-caro/) > [Absolute power can only be supported by error, ignorance and prejudice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/absolute-power-can-only-be-supported-by-error-ignorance-and-prejudice/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Has justice ever grown in the soil of absolute power? Has not justice always come from the ... heart and spirit of men who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woodrow-wilson/has-justice-ever-grown-in-the-soil-of-absolute-power-has-not-justice/) [Woodrow Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woodrow-wilson/) [Browse all 180 Absolute power quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/absolute-power/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Christian political theory does not adhere to a passive conservatism. nor is it enamored of progress. It is conservative in principles, but progressive in application of these principles to the ever-changing circumstances. In the struggle between the passionate urge for limitless freedom and conservative order, Christian political theory stands on the side of order. In the struggle between man's longing for freedom and dehumanizing absolute power, it will fight for freedom. In the struggle between social justice and reactionary defense of the vested interests of selfish classes, it will unite with justice. Faced by the choice between the dignity of the human person and political expediency, it will defend the dignity of the human person.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Heinrich A. Rommen" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heinrich-a-rommen/christian-political-theory-does-not-adhere-to-a-passive-conservatism/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Absolute power" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heinrich-a-rommen/christian-political-theory-does-not-adhere-to-a-passive-conservatism/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b78/heinrich-a-rommen-71857_absolute-power_christian-political-theory-does-not-adhe_1816430.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b78/heinrich-a-rommen-71857_absolute-power_christian-political-theory-does-not-adhe_1816430.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b78/heinrich-a-rommen-71857_absolute-power_christian-political-theory-does-not-adhe_1816430.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Christian political theory does not adhere to a passive conservatism. nor is it enamored of progress. It is…” — Heinrich A. Rommen", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Heinrich A. Rommen", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heinrich-a-rommen/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“Christian political theory does not adhere...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heinrich-a-rommen/christian-political-theory-does-not-adhere-to-a-passive-conservatism/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heinrich-a-rommen/christian-political-theory-does-not-adhere-to-a-passive-conservatism/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```