POLITICS ACCORDING TO THE BIBLE A COMPREHENSIVE RESOURCE FOR UNDERSTANDING MODERN POLITICAL ISSUES IN LIGHT OF SCRIPTURE WAYNE GRUDEM This book is dedicated to the three people who had the most significant influence in encouraging me to write this book, and whose lives exemplify what I discuss in these pages: Alan Sears, president of Alliance Defense Fund, and Ben Bull, executive vice president of Alliance Defense Fund, the two people who first approached me with the idea of writing this book, and Cathi Herrod, president of the Center for Arizona Policy, who encouraged me with several wise suggestions and with opportunities to present this material and promote the book to live audiences. CONTENTS Cover Title Page PREFACE INTRODUCTION Part 1 BASIC PRINCIPLES Chapter 1: FIVE WRONG VIEWS ABOUT CHRISTIANS AND GOVERNMENT A. GOVERNMENT SHOULD COMPEL RELIGION B. GOVERNMENT SHOULD EXCLUDE RELIGION C. ALL GOVERNMENT IS EVIL AND DEMONIC D. DO EVANGELISM, NOT POLITICS E. DO POLITICS, NOT EVANGELISM Chapter 2: A BETTER SOLUTION: SIGNIFICANT CHRISTIAN INFLUENCE ON GOVERNMENT A. UNDERSTANDING THE BIBLE RIGHTLY B. LIBERAL DISTORTIONS OF THE BIBLE C. BIBLICAL SUPPORT FOR SIGNIFICANT CHRISTIAN INFLUENCE D. HISTORICAL EXAMPLES OF CHRISTIAN INFLUENCE ON SECULAR GOVERNMENTS E. IS THE UNITED STATES A CHRISTIAN NATION? F. WHAT ABOUT OLD TESTAMENT LAWS? (THE QUESTION OF THEONOMY) G. SHOULD CHRISTIANS ONLY VOTE FOR CHRISTIAN CANDIDATES? H. WITHOUT CHRISTIAN INFLUENCE, GOVERNMENTS WILL HAVE NO CLEAR MORAL COMPASS I. THE RESPONSIBILITY OF PASTORS TO TEACH ON POLITICAL ISSUES J. THE OBLIGATIONS OF ALL CHRISTIAN CITIZENS K. CHURCHES AND THE INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE (IRS) GUIDELINES L. CONCLUSION Chapter 3: BIBLICAL PRINCIPLES CONCERNING GOVERNMENT A. GOVERNMENTS SHOULD PUNISH EVIL AND ENCOURAGE GOOD B. WHAT ABOUT THE DETAILED LAWS FOR ISRAEL GIVEN IN EXODUS-DEUTERONOMY? C. GOD IS SOVEREIGN OVER ALL NATIONS D. GOVERNMENTS SHOULD SERVE THE PEOPLE AND SEEK THE GOOD OF THE PEOPLE, NOT THE RULERS E. CITIZENS SHOULD OBEY THE GOVERNMENT (EXCEPT IN CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES) F. GOVERNMENTS SHOULD SAFEGUARD HUMAN LIBERTY G. GOVERNMENTS CANNOT SAVE PEOPLE OR CHANGE HUMAN HEARTS H. THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN CHURCH AND STATE I. GOVERNMENTS SHOULD ESTABLISH A CLEAR SEPARATION OF POWERS J. THE RULE OF LAW MUST APPLY EVEN TO THE RULERS IN A NATION K. THE BIBLE GIVES SUPPORT FOR SOME KIND OF DEMOCRACY L. NATIONS SHOULD VALUE PATRIOTISM Chapter 4: A BIBLICAL WORLDVIEW A. GOD CREATED EVERYTHING B. THE ONE TRUE GOD REVEALS HIMSELF AND HIS MORAL STANDARDS CLEARLY IN THE BIBLE C. THE ORIGINAL CREATION WAS “VERY GOOD” D. BECAUSE ADAM AND EVE SINNED, THERE IS MORAL EVIL (“SIN”) IN THE HEART OF EVERY HUMAN BEING E. BECAUSE ADAM AND EVE SINNED, GOD PLACED A CURSE ON THE ENTIRE NATURAL WORLD F. GOD WANTS HUMAN BEINGS TO DEVELOP THE EARTH’S RESOURCES AND TO USE THEM WISELY AND JOYFULLY Chapter 5: THE COURTS AND THE QUESTION OF ULTIMATE POWER IN A NATION A. ULTIMATE POWER: WHO WILL HAVE IT? B. ACCORDING TO THE BIBLE, WHAT SHOULD JUDGES DO? C. WHAT HAS ACTUALLY HAPPENED IN THE UNITED STATES? D. LIMITING THE POWER OF THE COURTS BY APPOINTING “ORIGINALIST” JUDGES IS THE MOST IMPORTANT ISSUE FACING THE NATION TODAY Part 2 SPECIFIC ISSUES Chapter 6: THE PROTECTION OF LIFE A. ABORTION B. EUTHANASIA C. CAPITAL PUNISHMENT D. SELF-DEFENSE AND OWNERSHIP OF GUNS Chapter 7: MARRIAGE A. BIBLICAL TEACHING: MARRIAGE IS ONLY BETWEEN ONE MAN AND ONE WOMAN B. INCEST, ADULTERY, AND HOMOSEXUALITY ARE PROHIBITED IN BIBLICAL ETHICS C. WHAT ABOUT POLYGAMY IN THE OLD TESTAMENT? D. DIVORCE E. CIVIL GOVERNMENTS SHOULD DEFINE MARRIAGE FOR ALL CITIZENS F. ARGUMENTS ABOUT MARRIAGE FROM REASON AND EXPERIENCE APART FROM THE BIBLE G. LEGAL ARGUMENTS ABOUT MARRIAGE H. RECOMMENDATIONS ABOUT SPECIFIC LAWS AND POLICIES RELATED TO MARRIAGE I. PORNOGRAPHY J. THE IMPORTANCE OF LAWS CONCERNING MARRIAGE Chapter 8: THE FAMILY A. GOVERNMENTS SHOULD ENCOURAGE MARRIED COUPLES TO BEAR AND RAISE CHILDREN B. PARENTS, NOT THE GOVERNMENT, SHOULD HAVE THE PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITY FOR TRAINING THEIR CHILDREN C. A SCHOOL VOUCHER SYSTEM SHOULD BE ADOPTED BY EVERY SCHOOL DISTRICT D. DISCIPLINE OF CHILDREN AND SPANKING Chapter 9: ECONOMICS A. PRIVATE PROPERTY B. ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT C. THE MONEY SUPPLY D. FREE MARKETS AND REGULATION E. THE RICH AND THE POOR F. GOVERNMENT AND BUSINESS G. TAXES H. THE SOCIAL SECURITY SYSTEM I. HEALTH CARE J. WHAT IS THE BEST CURE FOR RECESSIONS? Chapter 10: THE ENVIRONMENT A. BIBLICAL TEACHING B. THE CURRENT STATE OF THE EARTH’S RESOURCES C. ENERGY RESOURCES AND ENERGY USES D. GLOBAL WARMING AND CARBON FUELS E. CAFE STANDARDS FOR AUTOMOBILE MILEAGE F. CAP AND TRADE Chapter 11: NATIONAL DEFENSE A. BIBLICAL TEACHING B. HOW CAN WE KNOW IF A WAR IS A “JUST WAR”? C. PACIFISM D. DEFENSE POLICY IN THE UNITED STATES E. ISLAMIC JIHADISM (INTERNATIONAL TERRORISM) F. WARS IN IRAQ AND AFGHANISTAN G. NUCLEAR WEAPONS H. THE CIA I. COERCIVE INTERROGATION OF PRISONERS J. HOMOSEXUALS IN THE MILITARY K. WOMEN IN COMBAT Chapter 12: FOREIGN POLICY A. BIBLICAL TEACHING B. THE UNITED NATIONS C. FOREIGN AID D. ISRAEL E. IMMIGRATION Chapter 13: FREEDOM OF SPEECH A. BIBLICAL TEACHING B. THE UNITED STATES CONSTITUTION C. RESTRICTIONS ON FREEDOM OF SPEECH D. CAMPAIGN FINANCE RESTRICTIONS E. CAMPUS “HATE SPEECH” CODES AND OTHER RESTRICTIONS OF FREE SPEECH ON COLLEGE CAMPUSES F. THE “FAIRNESS DOCTRINE” AND TALK RADIO Chapter 14: FREEDOM OF RELIGION A. BIBLICAL AND CONSTITUTIONAL BACKGROUND B. RELIGIOUS EXPRESSION IN THE PUBLIC SQUARE C. “FAITH-BASED” PROGRAMS D. POLITICAL ADVOCACY BY CHURCHES AND THEIR TAX- EXEMPT STATUS Chapter 15: SPECIAL GROUPS A. WHY THE TOPICS IN THIS CHAPTER ARE DIFFERENT FROM EARLIER CHAPTERS B. REGULATORS: INVISIBLE BUREAUCRATS WHO REGULATE PEOPLE’S LIVES C. EARMARKS D. AFFIRMATIVE ACTION E. GENDER-BASED QUOTAS F. FARM SUBSIDIES G. TARIFFS H. TRIAL LAWYERS, MEDICAL MALPRACTICE AWARDS, AND REFORM OF TORT LAW I. THE NATIONAL EDUCATION ASSOCIATION J. NATIVE AMERICANS (AMERICAN INDIANS) K. GAMBLING Part 3 CONCLUDING OBSERVATIONS Chapter 16: THE PROBLEM OF MEDIA BIAS: WHEN THE WATCHDOGS FALL ASLEEP A. PUBLIC PERCEPTIONS OF MEDIA BIAS B. SURVEYS OF JOURNALISTS C. WHAT HAPPENS TO A NATION WHEN ITS WATCHDOGS ARE SILENT? Chapter 17: APPLICATION TO DEMOCRATIC AND REPUBLICAN POLICIES TODAY A. THE COURTS AND ULTIMATE POWER IN A NATION B. PROTECTION OF LIFE C. MARRIAGE D. THE FAMILY E. ECONOMIC POLICIES F. THE ENVIRONMENT G. NATIONAL DEFENSE H. RELATIONSHIPS WITH OTHER NATIONS