April 23, 2008

Just in time to spark discussion during the 2008 presidential election season, Calvin College political scientist Steve Monsma has come out with a new book titled Healing for a Broken World.

Written with the general public in mind, the book sets out a range of biblical principles and points out how these principles can help guide a person's response to public policy issues ranging from abortion to gun control and the Patriot Act to environmental policy.

Not included in the book is a push for a strictly Republican or Democratic ideology. Nor does Monsma, a former Michigan state representative and senator, endorse John McCain or Hillary Clinton or Barack Obama for president.

"I'm not telling anyone for whom to vote," says Monsma in an interview in his office at Calvin College, "but we need to give some thought to applying our faith and what the Bible says to our actions as citizens and voters."

Monsma recently spoke about his book in a presentation at the Grand Rapids offices of the Christian Reformed Church in North America.

A research fellow in Calvin's Paul Henry Institute for the Study of Christianity and Politics, Monsma says he wrote the book after the 2004 presidential election, in which evangelical Christians reportedly played an important role in reelecting President George Bush.

At that time, he says, he thought that a portion of evangelical Christians might not really have a sound biblical base for their beliefs and for why they voted one way or another. "Many evangelical Christians had not learned to think about public policy issues from the standpoint of what the Bible says about justice, solidarity, civil society."

In his book, he writes that he doesn't offer simple, neat, "Christian" answers to public policy as it relates, for instance, to poverty, health care, or placing the Ten Commandments in public spaces. The book, he writes, "is intended for Christians who wish to be salt and light as they act as citizens for their communities and our nation."

A core focus of the book is on the redeeming power and love of Christ and of how his message of building right relationships should permeate all of life. "We can be used by God to be his agent of reconciliation and redemption in the world . . . Public policies can be changed for the better by dedicated Christians and doing so can make a meaningful difference," Monsma writes.

In the chapter on global terrorism, he sets the discussion by looking at such Bible passages as "All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God" (Rom. 3:23). He also looks at how Christ himself warned there would be "wars and rumors of wars" until his return (Matt. 24:6).

Both passages remind us, he says, of the reality of sin in the world and that pride and selfishness can rule all nations. In looking at governmental responses to terrorism with some of this in mind, he says that it is important to support outside groups and organizations that help to examine and, if need be, curb the "sweeping powers" that government can assume at times of crisis.

"From a Christian perspective, I insist that the key need (in this era of a war on terror) is for effective, independent checks on the authority of the law enforcement and surveillance agencies."

Discussion questions that can be used by adult discussion groups follow chapters in Monsma's book. Also available is a DVD study guide.

"I'm so grateful for the work that he has done," says Karl Westerhof, constituency relations team leader for the Christian Reformed World Relief Committee. "He lays out in a very thoughtful and balanced way the stepping stones for getting to a dialogue" about important public policy issues.

"I hope congregations can get together in small justice groups and use topics in this book for discussions," he says.

Monsma's book is published by Crossway. It is available through Faith Alive Christian Resources by calling 1-800-3330-8300 or visiting http://www.FaithAliveResources.org/.

Christian Reformed Church in North America