Thus Far – The Law of God and Public Policy

Thus Far
The Law of God and Public Policy

Here’s where we’ve come thus far, and where we’re headed.

“You shall not pervert justice. You shall not show partiality, and you shall not accept a bribe, for a bribe blinds the eyes of the wise and subverts the cause of the righteous. Justice, and only justice, you shall follow, that you may live and inherit the land the LORD your God is giving you.” Deuteronomy 16:19, 20

Thus far in our series on the Law of God and public policy we have focused on the prolegomena—as theologians say, the foundational assumptions and principles—that must guide us in working through our chosen subject. We began by examining the abiding validity of the Law of God, rightly understood, for speaking into this aspect of our national life. From there we examined the various “loci” within which public policy is forged in our society, and saw that many opportunities exist for members of “we the people” to exercise their civic responsibility toward the forming of just public policies. Next, we examined the teaching of God’s Law concerning the true nature of justice, and saw that justice represents the expression in human society of the loving and true character of God. On that basis, then, we outlined a Biblical view of the good society, and explained the meaning of a “divine economy” as the preferred means for achieving such a society.

I want to provide now a look at the remainder of this study. These “first things” of public policy-making thus concluded, we will begin, with our next installment, to unpack aspects of Biblical teaching, primarily within the Law of God, concerning the kinds of public policies that can help to ensure a future based on justice, only justice. Our discussion will range over the following topics:

• Money, Wealth, and Economics
• Caring for the Poor
• Immigrants and Immigration
• Life Issues
• The Environment
• Education
• Marriage and Sex
• Maintaining a Just Society

The focus of our discussions will be on the Law of God, which, as we showed at the beginning of this series, is regarded by the writers of the New Testament as containing abiding principles of justice for pursing the divine economy and a good society, and which our forebears in this American experiment held in high regard for just those ends.

The Law of God is the acorn to the oak of divine revelation. The fact that it is neglected by most, despised by many, and virtually unknown by all but a few makes our consideration of the Law’s use in forging public policy for a good society all the more important.

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.