The Law of God and Public Policy: First Things (11)

Make the best use of every public forum.

“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 4.6

We have seen that God intends the unbelieving world to benefit from the wisdom and understanding, encoded in His Law, as these are embodied in His obedient people. Knowing God intends this must move the people of God to make His Law known by every means and in every season. Matters of public policy present timely and unique opportunities for God’s people to publish the wisdom and understanding of His Law, and this constitutes the second loci of public policy-making: publication.

Publishing the Law of God for the nations to see its wisdom and understanding presupposes, of course, both that God’s Kingdom people know His Law and that they are walking in obedience to it (Matt. 5.17-19). The knowledge of God’s Law will bring forth divine wisdom in our daily lives, and the ways we live out the hope of glory to which the Law leads us will certainly be evident to the people around us (1 Pet. 3.15).

On that basis, then, we must make every effort to speak the wisdom and understanding of God’s Law into issues of public policy. In our day there is no shortage of media through which we might do so. Local newspapers still receive occasional op/ed pieces as well as letters to the editor. Even national journals of opinion will publish letters that are concise, considerate, and well-written.

But by far the greatest medium through which believers can make known the wisdom of God is the Internet. Websites abound where Kingdom citizens can comment on matters of public policy and becoming involved in blogging conversations in which we may set forth our Scriptural views. Many websites exist in which questions of public policy are given thoughtful consideration by believing thinkers. Articles from these websites relating to public policy matters can be downloaded and copied or simply emailed to friends. We should always make sure to follow-up on any emailed articles, or articles copied and distributed, with a view to seeking to engage in conversation over the issue examined.

Believers should not be reluctant to post their own views on public policy – on their own websites, through email, or for discussion in small groups – and thus to encourage conversation that can affect public policy-making.

No one is going to publish the wisdom and knowledge of God’s Law for us. I’ll have more to say a bit later concerning the language we should use in this effort. For now, suffice it to say that we must explore every available outlet for putting the wisdom and understanding of God’s Law before the eyes of those who are engaged in making public policy, beginning with “we the people.”

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