Opportunities for Publication – The Law of God and Public Policy

Opportunities for Publication
The Law of God and Public Policy

Opportunities for publishing your views are many.

“And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and you shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise.” Deuteronomy 6:6, 7

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, not only in our casual conversations, but also by every available means of publication.

Prior to the last few years, finding a platform from which to publish one’s political views for a wider readership or listenership was not an easy proposition. In our day, however, 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 through publishing is the Internet. Websites abound where Kingdom citizens can comment and kibbutz on matters of public policy. Political websites and blogs also provide opportunities for Christians to weigh in from their Christian worldview perspective on matters of public policy.

In addition, 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 engaging 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.

We should also think about ways of influencing and encouraging fellow believers, who have followings, to use their platforms to address matters of public policy. Whether the platform is a pulpit, a Bible study group, a website or newsletter, or casual discussion groups, all these arenas can be powerful venues for promoting public policies in line with the teaching of God’s Law.

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.