According to the Bible
A Comprehensive Resource for Understanding Modern Political Issues in Light of Scripture
Wayne Grudem
Politics—According to the Bible
Copyright © 2010 by Wayne A. Grudem
Requests for information should be addressed to:
Zondervan, Grand Rapids, Michigan 49530
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Grudem, Wayne A.
Politics—according to the Bible: a comprehensive resource for understanding modern political issues in light of scripture / Wayne Grudem.
p. cm.
Includes bibliographical references.
ISBN 978-0-310-33029-5
1. Politics in the Bible. 2. Bible and politics. 3. Christianity and politics. 4. Church and social problems. I. Title.
BS680.P45G78 2010
261.7–dc22
201002252
Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version, copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Italics in Scripture quotations are added by the author.
Any Internet addresses (websites, blogs, etc.) and telephone numbers printed in this book are offered as a resource. They are not intended in any way to be or imply an endorsement by Zondervan, nor does Zondervan vouch for the content of these sites and numbers for the life of this book.
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means—electronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording, or any other—except for brief quotations in printed reviews, without the prior permission of the publisher.
Cover design: Rob Monacelli
Cover photography: SuperStock / Masterfile
Interior design: Matthew VanZomeren
This book is dedicated to the three people who had the most significant influence in encouraging me to write this book, and whose lives exemplify what I discuss in these pages: Alan Sears, president of Alliance Defense Fund, and Ben Bull, executive vice president of Alliance Defense Fund, the two people who first approached me with the idea of writing this book, and Cathi Herrod, president of the Center for Arizona Policy, who encouraged me with several wise suggestions and with opportunities to present this material and promote the book to live audiences.
Chapter 1: Five Wrong Views about Christians and Government
A. Government should compel religion
B. Government should exclude religion
C. All government is evil and demonic
D. Do evangelism, not politics
E. Do politics, not evangelism
Chapter 2: A Better Solution: Significant Christian Influence on Government
A. Understanding the Bible rightly
B. Liberal distortions of the Bible
C. Biblical support for significant Christian influence
D. Historical examples of Christian influence on secular governments
E. Is the United States a Christian nation?
F. What about Old Testament laws? (the question of theonomy)
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About Politics according to the Bible: A Comprehensive Resource for Understanding Modern Political Issues in Light of ScriptureA variety of perspectives exist within the Christian community when it comes to political issues and political involvement. This comprehensive and readable book presents a political philosophy from the perspective that the Gospel pertains to all of life so Christians should be involved in political issues. In brief, this is an analysis of conservative and liberal plans to do good for the nation, evaluated in light of the Bible and common sense. In this ground-breaking book, recognized evangelical Bible professor Wayne Grudem rejects five mistaken views about Christian influence on politics: • “Compel religion”. • “Exclude religion”. • “All government is demonic”. • “Do evangel-ism, not politics”. • “Do politics, not evangelism”. He proposes a better alternative: “significant Christian influence on government.” Then he explains the Bible’s teachings about the purpose of civil government and the characteristics of good or bad government. Does the Bible support some form of democracy? Should judges and the courts hold the ultimate power in a nation? With respect to specific political issues, Grudem argues that most people’s political views depend on deep-seated assumptions about several basic moral and even theological questions, such as whether God exists, whether absolute moral standards can be known, whether there is good and evil in each person’s heart, whether people should be accountable for their good and bad choices, whether property should belong to individuals or to society, and whether the purpose of the earth’s resources is to bring benefit to mankind. After addressing these foundational questions, Grudem provides a thoughtful, carefully-reasoned analysis of over fifty specific issues dealing with the protection of life, marriage, the family and children, economic issues and taxation, the environment, national defense, relationships to other nations, freedom of speech and religion, quotas, and special interests. He makes frequent application to the current policies of the Democratic and Republican parties in the United States, but the principles discussed here are relevant for any nation. |
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