Healing for a Broken World: Christian Perspectives on Public Policy

Front Cover
Crossway Books, 2008 M02 4 - 222 pages

Do todayÕs believers know how to be not simply good citizens but good Christian citizens? Are they ready to respond to contemporary public policy issues such as genocide, global AIDS, global warming, and human trafficking according to Scripture rather than any particular political agenda? A growing segment of them are, even if they arenÕt quite sure how to accomplish it. This book is for them.

With American evangelicals having more political influence today than ever before, this book is especially important. The opening chapters establish the foundational biblical principles that are relevant to our lives as Christian citizens no matter the topic. Author Steve Monsma next highlights crucial global issues in which believers are called to live out their faith. Forgoing ready-made answers, Monsma encourages a reflective, thoroughly biblical response via a lively writing style. His book will equip all believers to make godly, humanitarian choices rather than purely political ones.

ÒSteve Monsma avoids the modern-day tendency to believe that the kingdom of God will arrive on Air Force One. Instead he offers a balanced perspective on how Christians should engage in the political process. His solid biblical grounding, as well as his concrete applications of Christian principles to public policy, provides wise guidance.Ó
Charles W. Colson, Prison Fellowship

ÒUrgent, compelling, readable. An important book on a crucial topic. MonsmaÕs entire lifeÑas a successful politician and a gifted professor of political scienceÑhas prepared him to write this clear, compelling book. Every Christian with any interest in politics should read it.Ó
Ronald J. Sider, Evangelicals for Social Action

ÒIf you need to know in advance whether the author is a conservative or a liberal, you may not like MonsmaÕs approach. He asks you to set aside such simplistic labels and ask instead what the Bible says about each of a dozen key public policy issues. And then if you disagree with some of his personal conclusionsÑjust as he expects you toÑyou will appreciate his candor and honesty.Ó
Joel Belz, Founder, World Magazine

ÒAn important introduction to issues arising at the intersection of faith and politics, written from a disciplined Kuyperian/Calvinist theoretical stance and resulting in a nuanced centrist-evangelical perspective. This book is reader-friendly, biblical, holistic, and wise.Ó
David Gushee, Distinguished University Professor of Christian Ethics, Mercer University

ÒMonsma is one of the most important scholars writing on church-state issues today. This latest contribution is perhaps his finest work. It brings together his wide-ranging knowledge of the history of politics and jurisprudence with a theological seriousness that is often lacking in church-state scholarship.Ó
Francis J. Beckwith, Associate Professor of Philosophy and Church-State Studies, Baylor University

A DVD featuring a 10 minute introduction to each chapter of this book is available from Crossway at www.crossway.org or from the Henry Institute for the Study of Christianity and Politics at www.calvin.edu/henry. It is ideal for use in classes and discussion groups.

About the author (2008)

STEVE MONSMA is a senior research fellow at the Henry Institute for the Study of Christianity and Politics at Calvin College and professor emeritus of political science at Pepperdine University. He has published widely in the fields of church-state relations and faith-based nonprofit organizations.

Bibliographic information