The Law of God and Public Policy
Obedience must begin in the house 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
If the Law of God is ever going to have renewed influence on the shape of public policy, it must first begin to bear fruit within the community of faith. If those who believe in Jesus Christ will not walk the path that He walked, they have no right to expect others to do so (1 Jn. 2.1-6).
On the other hand, if, through our embrace of and obedience to the Law of God, we are able to show the benefits of such obedience to the world, it may be enough to convince even those outside the family of faith that the Law of God is a reliable source for sound public policy.
We do not look to the Law of God for salvation; that comes only through faith in Jesus Christ. But, like the Founders of our republic, we understand that there is great wisdom to be gained from following the teachings of God’s Law, and much good to contribute to the social order. And our nation knows this implicitly, albeit perhaps unconsciously, since it is a fact that many statutes still remaining in the American legal system have their roots in the wisdom and goodness of the Law of God.
The challenge for believers today is how to understand the Law of God, and to apply it in own communities, so that we may then be able to bring the Law to bear on public policy in a way that brings the blessings of God even to those who do not know Him.
T. M. Moore
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.
