Does being a libertarian mean joining a political party?

Question 10 in Faith Seeking Freedom: Updated & Expanded

This question is from Faith Seeking Freedom: Updated & Expanded, available in paperback, PDF, and Kindle.

Plato and Aristotle described the existence of political factions in classical Athens, and this dynamic is still characteristic of politics today. Modern political parties as we know them first began emerging in the 18th and 19th centuries. These parties sprang from political ideologies and existing—often pragmatic—political coalitions. In some countries, third parties play a substantial role in government. However, in the United States, there are two dominant political parties, and third parties are limited by ballot access rules, debate participation, and other constraints that drastically limit both their success in electoral politics and their ability to effect change in government.

Libertarianism is not really about party affiliation at all. Rather, it is first and foremost a theory of justice: a philosophical framework of rights and responsibilities. Some libertarians choose to become active in the Libertarian Party or another political party in order to try to influence elections or to have the opportunity to share libertarian ideas in a public forum. Other libertarians prefer to avoid electoral politics altogether. The formation of the Libertarian Party of the United States in 1971 was opposed by some prominent libertarians. The Libertarian Party remains controversial among libertarians today. Christians should be led by their convictions and prayerful reflection on the best ways to help build God’s Kingdom and regenerate goodness into society’s structure.