Christian Service in the Practice of Law

Abstract

In his much-beloved Mere Christianity, C.S. Lewis observes:

"Morality... seems to be concerned with three things. Firstly, with fair play and harmony between individuals. Secondly, with what might be called tidying up or harmonizing the things inside each individual. Thirdly, with the general purpose of human life as a whole: what man was made for .... You may have noticed that modem people are nearly always thinking about the first thing and forgetting the other two."

With Lewis' powerful insights in mind, the question presents itself: Why do moral individuals choose not to involve themselves in the law? Is their concern rooted in the inescapable fact that lawyers are continually asked to make difficult choices? A person of faith might prefer to avoid controversy or temptation. But the result of withdrawal from the field is an unhappy one. The much-maligned, but insightful Machiavelli argued in his Discourses that tyranny dominated his day because the religious people of his time embraced contemplation, not cultural interaction, as their moral duty.

Thoughtful reflection leads inexorably to the conclusion that society cannot function well without moral individuals willing to serve in positions of authority and influence. Without the moral dimension, as Machiavelli reminded us, government is left in the hands of the criminal. Moral individuals should not abandon the fields of law and government to the amoral, either out of complacence or a fear of facing difficulty. In particular, people of faith have a solemn responsibility to be involved in the nurturing and maintenance of society. At times, this duty is one of proactivity, but at other times simple engagement in a challenging setting helps mitigate the risks of amorality.