How Christians Should Relate to Government

by Wayne Grudem

Derived from theologian Wayne Grudem's Politics---According to the Bible, this digital short outlines five misguided approaches Christians take to politics and a way that is both more biblical and better for society. Grudem describes the five misguided approaches as follows:Government should compel religionGovernment should exclude religionAll government is evil and demonicDo evangelism, not politicsDo politics, not evangelismIn their place, Grudem argues for a view that he calls significant Christian influence on government. Provocative and compelling, How Christians Should Relate to Government will prod the thinking of politically minded Christians, regardless of which party they favor.

Genres: Politics, Theology, Christian

81 pages, Kindle Edition

First published April 3, 2012

About the author

Wayne Grudem (PhD, University of Cambridge; DD, Westminster Theological Seminary) is research professor of theology and biblical studies at Phoenix Seminary, having previously taught for 20 years at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School. Grudem earned his undergraduate degree at Harvard University, as well as an MDiv from Westminster Seminary. He is the former president of the Evangelical Theological Society, a cofounder and past president of the Council on Biblical Manhood and Womanhood, a member of the Translation Oversight Committee for the English Standard Version of the Bible, the general editor of the ESV Study Bible, and has published over 20 books, including Systematic Theology, Evangelical Feminism, Politics—According to the Bible, and Business for the Glory of God.

Reviews

[Daniel Clark · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a concise and refreshingly clear-minded book on the Christian’s role in government. He argues for “significant Christian influence” saying, “This kind of ‘significant Christian influence’ on government is not (1) compulsion, it is not (2) silence, it is not (3) withdrawal from government, it is not (4) doing evangelism only, and it is not (5) trusting the government for salvation. It is simply being faithful to the biblical teaching on how Christians should have a positive influence on civil government.” I appreciated the fact that Grudem’s arguments are based on Scripture and not simply his personal feelings or opinions; additionally, I found him to be fair toward those he quoted from and respectful toward those he disagreed with. Great read!

[Joshua Duffy · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was reading this thinking something was just a little bit off; then a footnote told me that Grudem worked on the ESV, BINGO, and it all made sense, and things started lining up, especially the chapter that only seemed to be written to bash Greg Boyd!? And the neo-reformed weren't safe either, as he went after John MacArther in the next chapter. No one was safe from Grudem, unless maybe your last name was........... Piper? But maybe I am generalizing a bit too much.
Regardless, Grudem made some good points, but was so confrontational that it was hard to take him seriously. Good book, but I didn't really like it. Maybe his next book will be on open theism?

[Mark A Powell · Rating 4 out of 5]

Few issues garner as much heated debate as politics and religion, especially when the two are combined. Tackling those elephants in the room is Grudem who provides a Biblical framework for building answers to these lingering questions. This short booklet is an excerpt from Grudem’s much longer work, Politics, so it is not designed to be exhaustive Even so, this sample is a much-needed and thought-provoking examination of the Christian’s relationship with and responsibility to government.

[Lee Button · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not too impressed with Grudem's approach. He offers some help of a cursory nature but completely ignores the priority of the Constitution.

[Bryan Beauchamp · Rating 2 out of 5]

I did not agree with Mr. Grudem's conclusions, but this short book was well written, and I enjoyed his writing style.

[Chris Whisonant · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a good excerpt from the larger publication by Grudem. It isn't meant to be all-inclusive, but just some introductory material. Good read, though.