Politics - According to the Bible: A Comprehensive Resource for Understanding Modern Political Issues in Light of Scripture [Hardcover]

Wayne Grudem (Author)

Book Description

Release date: September 14, 2010

A variety of perspectives exist within the Christian community when it comes to political issues and political involvement. This comprehensive and readable book presents a political philosophy from the perspective that the Gospel pertains to all of life so Christians should be involved in political issues. In brief, this is an analysis of conservative and liberal plans to do good for the nation, evaluated in light of the Bible and common sense. In this ground-breaking book, recognized evangelical Bible professor Wayne Grudem rejects five mistaken views about Christian influence on politics: (1) 'compel religion,' (2) 'exclude religion,' (3) 'all government is demonic,' (4) 'do evangel-ism, not politics,' and (5) 'do politics, not evangelism.' He proposes a better alternative: (6) 'significant Christian influence on government.' Then he explains the Bible's teachings about the purpose of civil government and the characteristics of good or bad government. Does the Bible support some form of democracy? Should judges and the courts hold the ultimate power in a nation? With respect to specific political issues, Grudem argues that most people's political views depend on deep-seated assumptions about several basic moral and even theological questions, such as whether God exists, whether absolute moral standards can be known, whether there is good and evil in each person's heart, whether people should be accountable for their good and bad choices, whether property should belong to individuals or to society, and whether the purpose of the earth's resources is to bring benefit to mankind. After addressing these foundational questions, Grudem provides a thoughtful, carefully-reasoned analysis of over fifty specific issues dealing with the protection of life, marriage, the family and children, economic issues and taxation, the environment, national defense, relationships to other nations, freedom of speech and religion, quotas, and special interests. He makes frequent application to the current policies of the Democratic and Republican parties in the United States, but the principles discussed here are relevant for any nation.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"There are sections of this book that are uncannily timely . . . This can be a wonderful resource as we face growing tensions from an ever more powerful state."
--Chuck Colson, Founder, Prison Fellowship

"a sweeping, and inspiring, guide to politics and government .... [this book] will be on the desk next to the microphone in my radio studio" --Hugh Hewitt, professor of law and radio talk show host

"[Grudem's] biblically-based good sense overwhelms the nostrums of . . . the evangelical left." --Marvin Olasky, editor, World magazine

Conservative and hard-hitting both biblically and culturally,  . . . [it covers] the whole waterfront of America's political debate with shrewd insight and strong argument . . . . An outstanding achievement! --J I Packer, Regent College, Vancouver,

"The fuzzy thinking . . . of many evangelicals is corrected in Wayne Grudem's biblical and irenic assessment of contemporary politics." --Paige Patterson, president, Southwestern Baptist Seminary

From the Back Cover

"Precisely and exactly the call the rising generation needs to hear"
  -- Timothy Goeglein, Vice President, External Relations, Focus on the Family

Written by the author of the bestselling theology text in the world, this book not only considers today's most pressing issues, but also details the purpose of civil government and how Christians might best influence government.  Politics -- According to the Bible may be the most important book you can read on how the Bible supports conservative political positions.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 624 pages
• Publisher: Zondervan (September 14, 2010)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0310330297
• ISBN-13: 978-0310330295
• Product Dimensions: 7.8 x 1.9 x 9.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.6 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (52 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #84,424 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Wayne Grudem, research professor of theology and biblical studies at Phoenix Seminary, received his A.B. from Harvard, M.Div. and honorary D.D. from Westminster Seminary-Philadelphia, and Ph.D. in New Testament from the University of Cambridge. He is a board member of the Council on Biblical Manhood and Womanhood, a past president of the Evangelical Theological Society, and the author of twenty books. He was the general editor of the ESV Study Bible, and is a member of the Translation Oversight Committee for the English Standard Version Bible. He and his wife, Margaret, have been married since 1969, and they have three grown sons.
See more publications and audio and video lectures at www.waynegrudem.com.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

76 of 98 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars A Valuable Resource September 20, 2010

By William D. Curnutt TOP 1000 REVIEWERVINE™ VOICE

Format:Hardcover

I am very excited about what a great resource this is. I loved Grudem's Systematic Theology for the detailed work yet well laid out approach to teaching Biblical Theology. So I was interested in this work on Politics based on what the Bible has to say hoping that it was going to be as well laid out.

I was not disappointed. Part one is a must read as it sets the foundation for what Grudem will detail throughout the rest of the book. It approaches his view of the Basic Principles of Politics as seen in scripture. He does a good job of talking about the Theocracy of the Old Testament and then how Jesus gives us a new view of Biblical thoughts regarding government.

Grudem states in the Introduction, "I support political positions in this book that would be called more 'conservative' than 'liberal.' . . . . It is important to understand that I see these positions as flowing out of the Bible's teaching rather than positions that I hold prior to, or independently of, those biblical teachings." I think it was important for him to state this fact so that we know that he may have had a different view of politics before he studied what the Bible had to say. I think he does a good job of also stating that he will take on some conservative, Republican, ideas as being wrong, because they don't square with the Bible.

After you have read Part 1 you can then start to read at random, depending on what topic is of most interest to you. The table of contents is extensive and helps you to find topics of interest to you that you can go directly to. I have read several of the topics I was interested in and found Grudem's work to be thought provoking. I have been challenged to think through my feelings about some issues not based on what makes me feel good or what I think is right but based on what Scripture has to say regarding the subject.

But again, read the foundational Part 1 before you start skipping around.

This is a good reference book that I think you will find as a great edition to any Biblical Library that you have started. It will give you good reference material as you start to dialogue with family and friends about the issues that are facing us today.

Many of the items are very timely. Those of us who claim to be Christians need to stop hiding our heads in the sand and start (or reaffirm) addressing the world of politics that we live in. This text will give you a great handle on what a Christian worldview should be in relation to the political scene of our country.

Enjoy!

48 of 64 people found the following review helpful

3.0 out of 5 stars Classic Grudem November 17, 2010

By bob lewis

Format:Hardcover

I have long been a Grudem fan leaning heavily on his Systematic Theology and Recovering Biblical Manhood and Womanhood. Politics According to the Bible will occupy the opposing side to Jim Wallis' God's Politics.

I am personally in agreement with the author's position regarding the role of the believer in politics and appreciated his handling of the five opposing views regarding the believer's role. My discomfort with many of his observations and conclusions stem more from his view of the broad reach for the government in the life of the citizen. At the same time, it seemed to me he gives more attention to the public statements of the political parties as opposed to their actions over the past century or so. Platform statements are for propaganda purposes. What the parties have done is the evidence of what they believe. Seems as if there is a suggestion in scripture toward that end?

Still, the book is a great resource, especially the first four chapters while his treatment of the sixty issues affords one a starting point in considering each point. Needs to be in the Christian's library

I recommend the book along with Chuck Colson's Kingdom's In Conflict, Gary DeMarr's God and Government series, Rushdoony's Law and Liberty, and Bhansen's By What Standard.

72 of 98 people found the following review helpful

2.0 out of 5 stars Politics - according to Grudem: a comprehensive resource for understanding a very specific agenda March 24, 2011

By Lopez

Format:Hardcover

Short version:
Though the author claims his views "flow from the Bible", this book has a very specific agenda and biblical verses are just stuffed into pre-made arguments.

So here goes the (very) long version:

I am not an American (although I'm living here for a couple more years), and my political views differ diametrically from Dr. Grudem's. However, my 2-star rating is due to the simple fact that the book is nothing but ideological propaganda and is extremely inconsistent in its purpose to be "comprehensive resource for understanding modern political issues in light of Scripture" (and I will address that bellow).

First about the agenda: though the author claims his political views are "flowing from the Bible", he is honest enough to declare his purpose: "voting for Republicans for state and national positions is the best way - in fact, the only way known to me - to bring about a change". And the fact that this book was released weeks before the 2010 elections was definitively NOT a coincidence.

Well, the fact is, he has the right to have his opinion. I respect that. He has the right to ask votes for his party. He has the right to thoroughly defend a very, very specific agenda. He has every right to have his opinions and enlist biblical verses that DO SUPPORT his opinions. But what annoys me as an Evangelical Christian is the distortion he makes does SO OFTEN of just throwing a verse REMOTELY related to the issue to support his own idea and imply that, if you don't agree with him, you are against the Bible (remember, the views described by him "flow from the Bible"). Just two examples:

Arguing that taxes should not be bigger for the richer, his biblical support is "you shall not steal" (Exodus 20:15). Really. Just like that.

Arguing that global warming is not a real danger, he quotes Genesis 1:28 ("fill the earth and subdue it") and says that "this command seems inconsistent with a belief in a dangerous man-made global warming. Do we think God set up the earth so that we would destroy it by obeying these commands...?" (page 369). By the way, in this passage he really plays a low game, asking how can we say it is morally wrong to have people driving their fossil-fueled cars to the church...

Well, at least he was delicate enough more sensitive readers as myself to not quote any Bible verse to support the following paragraph:

"[Waterboarding] does not seem to me to be inherently morally wrong. It inflicts pain and a feeling of panic [...] When used within appropriate guidelines, it causes no permanent damage. (US interrogators were given specific limitations to prevent water from getting into the person's lungs and prevent any lasting physical damage)" (431).

A last word on his "biblical basis": for me, a very big evidence that Grudem is much more informed by his agenda than by the Bible is in the Scripture Index section. He almost does not mention prophetic books (they are less than 10% of the texts mentioned). The prophets were very intense critics of social matters, of the political order, and their tone was usually taking instance against the rich and powerful, but they have a very small place in this book.

In other occasions, he is just inconsistent. For example, speaking about government, he says that because rulers are human beings, they are sinners, and power corrupts. But speaking about the rich, the owners of corporations, there is absolutely no mention of the power that comes with money, to the corruption that comes with this kind of power, and his conclusion is that "most rich people today got their money fairly and honestly".

But in many issues he is very consistent. In a sense you don't need to read this book. What do you think his answers are to questions like affirmative action, ecological crisis, possession of guns, capital punishment, nuclear weapons, immigration, "waterboarding" (sorry, the right way of saying that is "enhanced interrogation methods"), bigger taxes for richer people, etc (not to mention REALLY big controversies as abortion and homosexuality)? What do you think it is the tone of EVERY SINGLE mention he makes to President Obama? (well, to be honest, there is ONE sentence with compliments to Obama: the President is "articulate, posed, highly intelligent, and a remarkable speaker")

So, should you buy this book? For most of the readers of this review, I say "Sure!" Because if you agree to Grudem's agenda, you will find delight in the reading and the scattered verses will give you a semi-biblically articulated excuse for how you think. And if you don't agree with that agenda, you will also have delight in masochistic moments of thinking "man, this world is gone nuts" and will have somebody to blame for that (and this is where the second star I'm giving comes from- I got SO angry with the misusage of Scriptures, and got curious to see what else he would do, so the reading was really entertaining).

Just don't buy this book if you are undecided in some matter and want something that honestly lays arguments from both sides, ACTUALLY looking to hear from Scripture. Because although there are Bible verses in many pages of this book, there is NO serious attempt to hear the prophetic call of the Bible in terms of political issues.