God and Governing: Reflections on Ethics Virtue and Statesmanship

Abortion. Poverty. Pornography. More than thirty years ago evangelical conservatives moderates and liberals alike began tackling these and other major social problems head on through concerted political effort. The intervening decades witnessed the rise of groups such as the Moral Majority and the Christian Coalition which supported numerous politicians and religiously driven policies. Why is it then that despite the seemingly great potential of these and other similar groups the same pervading social problems still persist? How is it that evangelicals have been so ineffective at changing the political and social landscape of the United States in a positive way? Based on a conference organized by Trinity Law School God and Governing brings together theologians politicians law professors and cultural critics in order to examine the root causes of evangelical political failure over the past thirty years. With a foreword by Charles Colson contributors include David Wells Paul Marshall Os Guinness Patrick Nolan Vishal Mangalwadi Dallas Willard Donald McConnell and Stephen Kennedy. This collection of essays addresses the critical and perpetual questions of human society in a way that challenges both historic errors of Christian cultural and political engagement: complete withdrawal and utter accommodation. One of the most pressing issues in the evangelical world today is the right relationship between Christian ethics and secular law and this volume makes a substantial contribution to the discussion. --Jordan J. Ballor Associate Editor Journal of Markets & Morality This wonderful collection of essays clearly shows that Evangelicals contrary to the conventional wisdom are fully prepared to enter into serious conversation with each other and their non-Evangelical neighbors on issues of government religion and the common good. In an age in which many militant secularists uncharitably paint all serious Christians as closet theocrats this book shows once and for all that such a portrait is pretentious defamation in the cause of atheocratic utopianism. --Francis J. Beckwith Professor of Philosophy and Church-State Studies Baylor University When Jesus said Render unto Caesar . . . he acknowledged the realm of earthly government authority while at the same time demanding that we render . . . unto God the things that are Gods. This timely book explores the tension generated when believers struggle to reconcile the moral laws supremacy over temporal law with their own participation in the political realm. Its a much needed reset button for those of faith involved in public policy. --Chuck DeVore California State Assemblyman This book comes at just the right time during my own first run for political office. It deals head on with the central spiritual challenge of doing so . . . This brief compelling almost-conversational book not only imparts wisdom it draws out of the reader the personal convictions necessary to engage in both leading and serving others in government. If you hold elected office are considering a run or simply vote and care about our nation I challenge you to take a fresh look at this God-ordained element of common grace through the pages of God and Governing. --Scott Ott Columnist The Washington Examiner; Editor ScrappleFace.com Roger N. Overton is coeditor of The New Media Frontier (2008) has addressed churches schools and youth camps throughout the United States and currently blogs at www.ATeamBlog.com.