“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

One of the uses of the Law of God, explained by the prophets and apostles, is to inform the policies of public officials and the governments they represent (cf. Dan. 4.27; Matt. 14.1-4; Acts 23.1-3). Wisdom for governing is to be discovered in the Law of God, quite apart from any of its “religious” import. Obedience to God’s Law does not bring salvation; however, according to the Scriptures, following the Law of God tends to attract the favor of God. Nations whose policies promote obedience to the Law of God can expect to flourish in creativity, prosperity, and peace, whereas those that deny, neglect, or reject God and His Law are headed for disintegration.

The Law of God is thus a valuable resource for questions of ethics and public policy. But how shall the nations, how shall our nation, which is becoming increasingly indifferent and even hostile to matters of faith and religion, be able to know the favor of God which comes from obedience to His Law?

The calling of the followers of Christ is to embody and proclaim the Kingdom of God, by living holy lives and calling all people in every place to repent and believe the Gospel. Yet it also falls to Christians to work, by example and persuasion, to bring the public policies of government, which God intends for human good, into line with that which can be shown to bring goodness and order to the citizenry and the nation. The Law of God, as we have seen, is a useful resource for such purposes. Therefore, Christians, and others interested in the common weal, should work to derive from the Law of God whatever wisdom and counsel for good it might be able to offer us with respect to matters of public policy.

While the Law of God can be difficult to understand, and while changing times and circumstances require great care in how the Law is interpreted and applied, still, the ageless wisdom of God is encoded there – wisdom that can be of help in promoting civic order and national wellbeing – if not salvation – even in a secular age such as ours.

T. M. Moore

Visit our website, www.ailbe.org, and sign up to receive our thrice-weekly devotional, Crosfigell, featuring writers from the period of the Celtic Revival and T. M.’s reflections on Scripture and the Celtic Christian tradition. Does the Law of God still apply today? Order a copy of T. M.’s book, The Ground for Christian Ethics, and study the question for yourself.