Beyond Good Intentions brings a wealth of knowledge and insight to the question of how Christianity and politics interrelate. Author Doug Bandow believes the key lies in the correct use of the Bible in addressing public policy issues. Too often Christians either ignore or misapply the Bible in the political arena. Beyond Good Intentions is a much-needed corrective which takes the Bible seriously yet avoids proof-texting and questionable interpretive methods.
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16 of 20 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Bandow clearly does believe there is a biblical view of politics, but he recognizes the complexity of applying Biblical principles to the modern state. For example, there is no doubt the Bible calls for assistance for the poor, but there is no explicit biblical statement about whether this should be solely a matter of private charity or also a matter of state assistance. Bandow sets forth several criteria for applying Scripture to the modern state, but also offers biblical criteria for Christians to think on particular issues when there is no explicit biblical principle. The book is a little dated now published in 1988), but still worthy of consideration.
Format:Paperback
It is a pretty straight forward look into the 1st Century Christian view of politics, that is important because these Christians were taught directly by Jesus.
Several quotes from the book stand out to me: " Paul was willing to use his Roman citizenship to demand the protections of the judicial process due him, but he engaged in no lobbying on the public policy issues of the day"
Paul's " Letters to believers in such important cities of Corinth, Ephesus, and even Rome betrayed no interest in secular political squabbles"
Paul "commanded submission to government, but in none of his many letters did he ever detail even one policy for the local church to urge on public institutions"
"Though they believed they were obligated to honor the governing authorities, the early Christians did not believe in participating in political affairs"
These Christians clearly lived by Jesus command to pay back Caesar's things to Caesar, but God's things to God.
This is also part of what it meant when Jesus said his disciples were to be no part of the world, just as he is no part of the world.
James also hit on this point when he said that friendship with the world is enmity with God, whoever wants to be a friend of the world is constituting himself an enemy of God.
Several quotes from the book stand out to me: " Paul was willing to use his Roman citizenship to demand the protections of the judicial process due him, but he engaged in no lobbying on the public policy issues of the day"
Paul's " Letters to believers in such important cities of Corinth, Ephesus, and even Rome betrayed no interest in secular political squabbles"
Paul "commanded submission to government, but in none of his many letters did he ever detail even one policy for the local church to urge on public institutions"
"Though they believed they were obligated to honor the governing authorities, the early Christians did not believe in participating in political affairs"
These Christians clearly lived by Jesus command to pay back Caesar's things to Caesar, but God's things to God.
This is also part of what it meant when Jesus said his disciples were to be no part of the world, just as he is no part of the world.
James also hit on this point when he said that friendship with the world is enmity with God, whoever wants to be a friend of the world is constituting himself an enemy of God.
10 of 54 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Caveat Emptor!
Considering Bandow's political views, the book could have been much shorter. Essentially, Bandow claims there really isn't a biblical view of politics.
If you are really interested in an explicitly Biblical book on politics, try George Grant's "The Changing of the Guard" or his "The Patriot's Handbook".
Inside This Book
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First Sentence:
Religion and politics have been intertwined throughout recorded history. Read the first page Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
Body of Christ, Soviet Union, United States, Old Testament, Third World, New Testament, Pat Robertson, Supreme Court, Holy Spirit, Central America, Jesus Christ, Jerry Falwell, President Reagan, World War, Moral Majority, Promised Land, Richard John Neuhaus, Vernard Eller, Jesse Jackson, Latin American, Paul Johnson, Social Security, Uncle Sam, Charles Colson, Continuing Resolution New!
Concordance | Text Stats Browse Sample Pages:
Front Cover | Table of Contents | First Pages | Index | Back Cover | Surprise Me!
Religion and politics have been intertwined throughout recorded history. Read the first page Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
Body of Christ, Soviet Union, United States, Old Testament, Third World, New Testament, Pat Robertson, Supreme Court, Holy Spirit, Central America, Jesus Christ, Jerry Falwell, President Reagan, World War, Moral Majority, Promised Land, Richard John Neuhaus, Vernard Eller, Jesse Jackson, Latin American, Paul Johnson, Social Security, Uncle Sam, Charles Colson, Continuing Resolution New!
Concordance | Text Stats Browse Sample Pages:
Front Cover | Table of Contents | First Pages | Index | Back Cover | Surprise Me!
Citations (learn more)
This book cites 78
books:
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15
books
cite this book:
See all 15 books citing this book
- Kingdoms in Conflict by Charles Colson on 6 pages
- Piety and Politics by D. C.) Ethics and Public Policy Center (Washington on 5 pages
- History of Christianity by Paul Johnson on 5 pages
- Christianity and the State by Rousas John Rushdoony in Back Matter (1), Back Matter (2), and Back Matter (3)
- JACQUES ELLUL by Clifford G Christians on page 113, page 118, and Back Matter
See all 78 books this book cites
- Turn Neither to the Right Nor to the Left (Christian Life and Public Policy Series) by Eric D. Schansberg on 4 pages
- Recovering the Lost Tools of Learning: An Approach to Distinctively Christian Education (Turning Point Christian Worldview Series) by Douglas Wilson in Front Matter
- Reading Between the Lines: A Christian Guide to Literature (Turning Point Christian Worldview Series) by Gene Edward Veith Jr. in Front Matter
- The Libertarian Reader: Classic and Contemporary Writings from Lao Tzu to Milton Friedman by David Boaz on page 112
- The Korean Conundrum: America's Troubled Relations with North and South Korea by Ted Galen Carpenter in Front Matter
See all 15 books citing this book
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