The Political Arena – The Law of God and Public Policy

The Political Arena
The Law of God and Public Policy

We can affect public policy by becoming public servants.

But Moses said to the LORD, “Oh my Lord, I am not eloquent, either in the past or since you have spoken to your servant, but I am slow of speech and tongue.” Exodus 4:10

Public policy is actually decided and crafted in the arena of formal politics—amid the machinery of political parties and campaigns and in the halls, chambers, and back rooms of government. If we are to make a consistent and convincing case for the Law of God in American public policy, at least some members of the Christian community will need to follow the Lord’s calling to serve here.

Most of us will feel reluctant to become take up such a calling. That’s certainly understandable. Moses was reluctant to involve himself with political power, but he was made to see that God’s will for His people could not be accomplished without such involvement. Daniel understood this, as did Nehemiah, Ezra, David, and many of the great saints of Scripture and Church history. In every generation believers have known that helping government to fulfill its God-given calling requires the presence of at least some believers in the mix.

The same is true today. Christians do not look to the State for anything other than that it should fulfill its calling as God’s servant for good (Rom 13:1-7). But for government to craft and enact “good” laws will require the presence of people who have a well-defined sense of what is good and who are able to think clearly about how such notions of good apply in the area of public policy. The Christian understands that the Law of God is holy and righteous and good (Rom. 7:12). He or she knows that God intends this Law to be a means for bringing His goodness to the nations, as has been the case with our own nation since the Founding. The Christian knows that God intends government to serve His good purposes, and this requires, in part, that government maintain a peaceable and orderly society where righteousness can flourish, human dignity is respected, and people are free to proclaim, hear, and heed the Gospel as the Lord leads (1 Tim. 2:1-8).

Unless Christians are present in the formal political process, it’s not likely that government will be inclined to serve these good purposes or to make resort to God’s good Law when it comes to their own laws and policies.

That governments frequently stray from such a framework of goodness will surprise no one. It certainly did not surprise Moses. Christians must be prepared to enter the arena of politics and government, as the Lord leads and calls, in order to work for policies consistent with divine goodness. Moses did not feel qualified for such work; doubtless, most of us feel the same way. But as God provided assistance and preparation for Moses, so He provides the qualifications His people need when He calls them to any task (1 Thess. 5:24).

So if God leads you, as He did Moses, to take up a calling in the political arena, it will do no good trying to debate with Him. Let His Spirit guide you, step by step, to determine precisely where He intends for you to serve, even as you continue preparing yourself to deal with the issues of the day from the perspective of a Christian worldview.

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.

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In the Gates is a devotional series on the Law of God by Rev. T. M. Moore, editor of the Worldview Church. He serves as dean of the Centurions Program of the Wilberforce Forum and principal of The Fellowship of Ailbe, a spiritual fellowship in the Celtic Christian tradition. He is the author or editor of twenty books, and has contributed chapters to four others. His essays, reviews, articles, papers, and poetry have appeared in dozens of national and international journals, and on a wide range of websites. His most recent books are The Ailbe Psalter and The Ground for Christian Ethics (Waxed Tablet).

Scripture quotations in this article are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version, (c) copyright 2001, 2007 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.