InternetPundit a new voice for the old right

"...the earthly institutions of God for the expansion of His kingdom must at least resemble God's ways and serve His cause. Government, which is eminently wayward, cannot fall into this category. Moreover, since there is no unclaimed "territory" in the spiritual world, if a government is not in God's realm then it belongs to Satan's as a matter of simple logic." Bible and Government: Public Policy from a Christian Perspective is a provocative book that is sure to stimulate much conversation within the Evangelical community about this complex but vital issue. Policy pundits, university professors, and pastors have already given it favorable reviews. Should Christians Obey Government? The book offers a new perspective on how Christians should view the state and think about public policy. Public policies often entail annoying, costly, and even offensive impositions for Christians. Which public policies must be obeyed and which must be disobeyed? Is it immoral for Christians break the speed limit, hire an illegal alien, or not pay taxes? The book provides both interesting answers to such questions, utilizing a new paradigm for assessing Christian behavior in a pluralistic civil society. Public policy is examined using both economic analysis and biblical exegesis to challenge received statist orthodoxy among Evangelicalism, replacing it with a better understanding for how Christians should handle their relationship to civil government. This book provides an analysis of the Christian's relation to government and public policy. The task is undertaken by using both economic analysis and biblical exegesis that lead to both scientific or logical conclusions as well as advocacy ones. I should warn the reader in advance that this book does conforms to neither mainstream Evangelical thought about government nor theonomy. On the contrary, it challenges received statist orthodoxy and often revered cherished state institutions. During my doctoral studies in Public Policy, I realized the necessity to have a complete basis for understanding my field, i.e., a extension to my Christian world view to better deal with public policy. This first edition of this book in 1999 was the result of that quest. The revised edition (2003) reflects far greater thought and analysis. I believe it provides the necessary basis for both doing economics and public policy work as well as providing an fundamental understanding for Christians dealing with their relationship to civil government. At times the book is polemic and advocacy-oriented. At other times it is objective and scientific. At any rate, even if it is unlike my usual written work, the book serves its purpose well and I hope you will have an interest both in reading it and thinking more about this complex but vital issue.