The Law of God and Public Policy: First Things (7)

The Law of God is a rich resource for good public policy.

“See, I have taught you statutes and rules, as the LORD my God commanded me, that you should do them in the land that you are entering to take possession of it. Keep them and do them, for that will be your wisdom and your understanding in the sight of the peoples who, when they hear all these statutes, will say, ‘Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people.’” Deuteronomy 4.5, 6

Can there be any doubt that Christians have a responsibility to shape public policy according to the wisdom and understanding of the Law of God? Nations deserve good governments, and good governments require wisdom and understanding so that they may make and administer just laws in every area of society. Christians are called to show by their lives – individually and as communities – the beauty and goodness of the Law of God, going beyond the letter of the Law to the breathtaking newness of its spirit to demonstrate the love, mercy, and justice in ways to cause their neighbors to wonder.

Beyond this, Christians must seek to shape social policy in the direction of God’s shalom (Jer. 29.7; 1 Tim. 2.1-8). This they do by their prayers and lives; but they also, like Joseph and Daniel and countless others, must be prepared to do so through influencing the policies of government. In a democracy, where “we the people” are the final word in public policy, Christians must be especially active in seeking to bring glory to God by the laws and policies enacted and administered by civil governments. Again, persuasion is the vehicle we use to accomplish such God-honoring ends. There are times when other kinds of action are appropriate – civil disobedience, for example, and even rebellion – but these are not the common or everyday recourse of the citizen/believer.

We have three duties here, which this series is designed to address and illustrate. First, we must understand the letter of the Law in its original setting, and then develop our understanding toward the spirit of the Law by considering how the rest of Scripture teaches us to understand the mind of Christ. Christ is King over all the world, and He commands us to pray for and seek the progress of His rule. We must understand His Law within the framework of all His revelation if we would be faithful in realizing its promised blessings.

Second, we must practice the Law as individuals and communities so that the beauty and joy and strength which come from such obedience will be evident to our unbelieving neighbors (Ps. 48). By obedience to the Law, as summarized above, we hope to know the promises and glory of God. This hope should become visible in our obedience, thus creating possibilities for the larger application of God’s Law for His glory.

Third, we must work hard to understand the times and to discern the best ways of proposing public policies which will turn our society more in the direction of obedience to God. Then we must, by prayer and persuasion, work to implement those policies in ways appropriate to the need and the opportunity before us. Change will often be gradual and disappointingly slow. But as long as we persevere, we can expect wisdom and understanding to become their own best argument against lawlessness and the spirit of the age.

And we can expect the Lord and King of His Law to bless our efforts, and to bless our neighbors as well.

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