The proper role of government, the central concern of political theory, has long been a controversial issue within Christendom. For two millennia, Christian political activities have varied from tyrannical to anarchical. Others simply declare opposition to their preferred policies, like government welfare, to be un-Christian. But holy Scripture and church tradition give us only general principles, not a detailed blueprint, for godly government. In making the prudential judgments necessary in contemporary political life, however, Christians can learn much from secular philosophies.
None are Christian per se.
Nevertheless, believers should search for a political framework that is consistent with Christian doctrine and accurately describes the way the world works. The dominant message of Scripture is man's relationship to God and his neighbors. The Bible gives much more guidance on how we should treat people than when we should coerce them, which is the defining characteristic of government. Scripture does set boundaries for the proper political debate. The state's most fundamental role is to protect citizens from the sinful conduct of their neighbors.