John Locke: Christian or Deist?

The first and most important view of deists is the idea that God is a transcendent being that left the world to its mechanical operation after creation and does not take an interest in the affairs of man. According to James Sire, in The Universe Next Door, ¡§The God who was discovered by the deists was an architect, but not a lover or a judge or personal in any way. He simply left the world alone.¡¨ John Locke makes several interesting statements in The Reasonableness of Christianity, A Discourse of Miracles, and in The Second Treatise of Government. If Locke were to be a true deist, he must accept at least this point. But contrary to popular opinion, Locke does not accept this view of God. Consider this statement by Locke: ¡§But further, this question, Who shall judge? Cannot mean that there is no judge at al

l; for where there is no judicature on earth to decide controversies amongst men, God in heaven is Judge. He alone, it is true, is Judge of the right.¡¨ Recall that deists do not believe that God is a judge of mans affairs. Locke clearly repudiates this idea. Consider also that according to deism, ¡§[God] does not care for his creation; he does not love it.¡¨ In direct contradiction to this statement, Locke does believe that God is personal. He declares that, ¡§The works of nature shew his wisdom and power; but ¡¥tis his peculiar care of mankind, most eminently discovered in his promises to them, that shews his bounty and goodness; and consequently engages their hearts in love and affection to him.¡¨ It only stands to reason that a being who cared nothing for the intricacies of mankind would take no interest in caring for mankind nor in engaging their hearts in love and affection. Locke minces no words when he states that, ¡§. . . we may observe the wonderful providence of God... ¡¨ If Locke were to truly be a deist, he would need to reject his own statements about God.

The final view of deism to be explored is their view of history. They hold a linear view, which simply means that the flow of history was determined at the creation of the universe. Remember, deists believe that, ¡§God is quite uninterested in individual men and women or even whole peoples.¡¨ Again, it is amazing that Locke speaks in direct contrast to deism. He says that God does help and even gives us his assistance in our daily life. He says, ¡§To these I must add one advantage more by Jesus Christ, and that is the promise of assistance. If we do what we can, he will give us his Spirit to help us to do what, and how we should.¡¨ Not only will God help us, but he even places himself in bondage to his perfect promises. Lock explains that ¡§Grants, promises, and oaths are bonds that hold the Almighty;¡¨ If the idea that history was predetermined by God, without the guidance of mankind¡¦s affairs, then there would be no need of Locke to prove that God assists mankind, nor would there be any need for him to once again say that ¡§. . [God is the] righteous Judge of all men.¡¨ Judgment from an impersonal God would be an oxymoron, for he would care nothing about us. It is only because of love that God is the judge, and Locke supports this idea in every way.

Perhaps one of the more interesting ideas springing from the deist camp is the belief that the universe is the only standard of ethics. The logic is simple.

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