Good News for the Public Square

Description

Good News for the Public Square is a call to Christians to love our neighbours biblically. Love demands that we should promote the good of the society around us as God intended and in a way which commends the gospel. This will also have the effect of protecting the church’s spread of the gospel for everyone’s eternal good.

This can be a confusing topic. So this book provides a mainstream Biblical summary of:

• God’s core mandate for public authorities to serve society by the rule of law, and
• What it means for Christians to help the authorities do their God-given job, for the benefit of everyone – regardless of religious belief.

Good government should be based on what is true about society. Jesus is the truth and Christians should consistently promote truth, evidence and reasoning over corruption, bias, violence and confusion. The Bible is about Christ and his creation, so it also unlocks, clarifies, and extends the natural law of general revelation.

Good government should promote what is really good for society. In the face of fragmentation and competing rights, the Bible presents a coherent vision of what is good. Human society flourishes when it is ordered with, rather than against, the grain of our created design. Jesus is the life and his common grace also promotes life for all. We too should promote it in ways people can understand and find persuasive using the accessible language of God’s creation.

Good government should know its limits. Rulers often claim to put everything right. But in the attempt they often reach into people’s lives and interfere with God-given freedoms. Only Jesus’ growing kingdom transforms human hearts and sets people free. Jesus is the way. The more the gospel spreads and Christianity grows, vibrant local Christian communities will be a blessing in a way that no government can be. When citizens themselves show self-government, civil governments can also become appropriately limited, with a foundation for democracy.