The Law of God and Public Policy: First Things (4)

The Church is the focal point and epicenter of God’s Kingdom.

“The scepter shall not depart from Judah, nor the ruler’s staff from between his feet, until tribute comes to him; and to him shall be the obedience of the peoples.” Genesis 49.10

When “Shiloh” – Him for Whom the Kingdom has been prepared – comes in His glory, then the dynasty entrusted to Judah will cease and the nations and peoples of the world will be led to obey God’s King. That King has come; His Kingdom has come near; and His Spirit is at work in the world advancing His rule of righteousness, peace, and joy like a growing stone (Dan. 2.44, 45). God intends to draw the nations to obedience to Jesus Christ through the example and witness of His people, as we have seen. And, while we do not expect the world to be entirely converted to Christ, nor the Kingdom of God to come fully before the day of judgment (Dan. 7.18-27; Matt. 13.36-43), still, we expect and work for progress in that domain, praying that God will do in and through us all that He has prepared from of old (Matt. 6.10; Eph. 2.10).

In this world God has established governments to serve people for good (Rom. 13.4). But governments need wisdom and understanding to know what is good. The people of God are called to demonstrate wisdom and understanding and to teach these in such a way as that others might gain as much of the benefit of God’s favor as is possible – up to and including salvation in Jesus Christ.

All this is just another way of saying that the Church is the focal point of God’s world-transforming agenda, the epicenter of His power for making all things new and reconciling the world unto Himself. The Church does not bear the political sword. It bears only the Sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God. The Word of God, with the Law as its cornerstone, instructs us in the way of obedience and blessing and reveals the wisdom and understanding of God which are to be found in their fullness in Jesus Christ. The grace of God flows through Jesus Christ in wave upon wave from the Church to the world through the lives of God’s people and the words by which they testify to King Jesus and His rule.

Thus, the only power by which the Church may seek to bring the benefits of God’s Law to its unbelieving neighbors and their governments is the power of persuasion. The challenge to each generation of believers is to discern the best ways of persuading their contemporaries in the direction of obedience and blessing. These will not be the same in every age or culture or political environment. We are not alone in this effort: The Word and Spirit of God are lively and powerful to bring the benefits of God even to those who despise Him (Jn. 6.63; Heb. 4.12; Matt. 5.43-48). The power of persuasion is not simply a matter of convincing others by arguments. Much less is it merely a political activity. Persuasion is accomplished when, by a combination of compelling reasons and examples, policies may be prescribed, the wisdom and understanding of which are readily apparent to those who must enact them. As the focal point and epicenter of God’s Kingdom, it is the Church’s duty to persuade its generation to seek the wisdom and understanding of God’s Law, and, beyond these, to seek the King of that Law for salvation.

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