The Third Alternative: Christian Self-Government

by Bill Burtness, Patrick Butler

The Third Christian Self-Government

Genres: Christianity

200 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2003

Reviews

[Chris Curtis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pleasantly surprised over a book I feared slogging through. Not a big political science fan, but this book discusses much more than civil government. It's really good. Has application to every person, every family, every church, and every government. It's about SELF-government, and how this internal form of government ultimately builds a stronger nation. It's how God intended government to be - built from the strength of individuals able to govern themselves based on their love for God and for their fellow man.

That's the third alternative. It assumes that ultimate authority comes not from any individual nor the state, but from God. The idea is that those who recognize God as the ultimate authority are going to be a self-governing people, and a self-governing people makes liberty stronger because there is less need for any external control from the state. This permeates a country's foundation, and the results can be seen in its economics, education, and of course, politics.

Burtness asserts that America has declined because the character of its individuals has declined. As a result, we are moving from our foundation of a Christian republic to a socialist representative republic. However, this slide is not irreversible. The solution includes for multiple calls to action, including a relationship with the dynamic Jesus Christ, discipleship, and education. Excerpt: "We must turn from living for ourselves as our purpose in life to living for God & others as our purpose in life. We must choose anew to stop living for our own happiness & personal gain to live for God & His purposes for our lives & for our world."

Some pretty interesting ideas. I walked away learning about much more than just government, which I now see in a new & more interesting light. No problem recommending this book.

[Katerina · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Third Alternative has the appearance of being a self-published book because of some quirks in its formatting, but the ideas contained in the book offer much fodder for thought on the state of American government.

The author’s premise is that a third alternative exists between libertarian and totalitarian forms of government. This third alternative requires the individual to govern himself under God's authority. Our tendency has been to lose our freedoms because we either fail to govern ourselves, requiring the civil government to step in, or we give the government more authority than it should rightfully have. Fullest liberty is found when we govern ourselves according to God’s laws and ways.

After introducing and explaining his thesis, the author looks at the history contained in the Bible from a governmental perspective. From this he develops several principles for biblical (not theocratic) government. After briefly addressing the main spheres of government (self, family, church, civil), he offers some examples where America has moved too far toward either libertarian government or totalitarian government such as education, morality, taxes, and economics. He ends with the need to reeducate ourselves and our churches on what biblical government should look like.

This book is well worth reading and considering.

Cautions: none.

[Natalie Weber · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting book loaned to me by some friends following some of our discussions regarding Biblical Law and its application in today’s society. Mr. Burtness asserts that the primary purpose of government is not to control, but to protect the freedoms of the populous. He also points out that the less a nation’s citizens take the responsibility to govern themselves, the more necessary it will become for them to be controlled by external forces.

[Mandi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mr. Burtness has done a fantastic job of explaining the Biblical principles of government. He shows what God's model for government should look like and how our Founding Fathers modeled our government at its beginnings after God's model. Every American should read this book.

[Jared Lovell · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good starting point. Nails the basic truths. Would have like to see the arguments developed further.