The Power of Persuasion – The Law of God and Public Policy

The Power of Persuasion
The Law of God and Public Policy

The Church must persuade the world of the wisdom of God.

“The scepter shall not depart from Judah, nor the ruler’s staff from between his feet, until tribute comes to him; and to him shall be the obedience of the peoples.” Genesis 49:10

The only power by which the Church may seek to bring the benefits of God’s Law to its unbelieving neighbors and their governments is the power of persuasion. The challenge to each generation of believers is to discern the best ways of persuading their contemporaries in the direction of obedience and blessing. These will not be the same in every age or culture or political environment.

We are not alone in this effort: The Word and Spirit of God are lively and powerful to bring the benefits of God even to those who despise Him (John 6:63; Heb. 4:12; Matt. 5:43-48). The power of persuasion is not simply a matter of convincing others by arguments. Much less is it merely a political activity. Persuasion is accomplished when, by a combination of compelling reasons and examples, policies may be prescribed, the wisdom and understanding of which are readily apparent to those who must enact them.

As the focal point and epicenter of God’s Kingdom, it is the Church’s duty to persuade its generation to seek the wisdom and understanding of God’s Law, and, beyond these, to seek the King of that Law for salvation.

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.