The Bible and the Ballot: Using Scripture in Political Decisions

by Tremper Longman III

Overview

How to read the Bible on matters of public policy

Christians affirm the Bible as our standard of faith and practice. We turn to it to hear God’s voice. But what relevance does the Bible have for the contentious public policy issues we face today? Although the Bible does not always speak explicitly to modern issues, it does give us guiding principles as we think about how we might vote or act as political figures ourselves. 

The Bible and the Ballot demonstrates the proper use of Scripture in contemporary political discussions. Christians regularly invoke the Bible to support their positions on many controversial political topics—gay marriage, poverty, war, religious liberty, immigration, the environment, taxes, etc.—and this book will help facilitate those conversations. Tremper Longman provides a hermeneutical approach to using the Bible in this manner, then proceeds topic by topic, citing important Scriptures to be taken into consideration in each case and offering an evangelical interpretation. 

Longman is careful to suggest levels of confidence in interpretation and acknowledges that often there are a range of possible applications. Each chapter includes questions to provoke further thought in individuals’ minds or for group discussion. 

The Bible and the Ballot is a ready guide to understanding the Bible on issues that American Christians face today as we live within a pluralistic society. 

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780802877345
Publisher:	Eerdmans, William B. Publishing Company
Publication date:	01/14/2020
Pages:	304
Sales rank:	1,016,253
Product dimensions:	5.50(w) x 8.40(h) x 1.20(d)

About the Author

Tremper Longman III is Robert H. Gundry Professor ofBiblical Studies and chair of the Religious StudiesDepartment at Westmont College, Santa Barbara, California.His other books include Introduction to the OldTestament, How to Read the Psalms,Reading the Bible with Heart and Mind, andLiterary Approaches to Biblical Interpretation.

Table of Contents

Preface xi

Acknowledgments xv

Introduction 1

The Church and the World 4

Christendom Types 7

Non-Christendom Types 8

Part 1 The Bible and Public Policy

1 Key Questions for Reading the Bible 13

The Goal of Interpretation: The Locus of Meaning 15

Author-Text-Reader 16

2 How to Read Scripture to Make Political Decisions 24

Key Interpretive Principles 24

Redemptive-Ethical Trajectory 44

Summary and Conclusions on the Redemptive-Ethical Trajectory 49

3 Essential Biblical Theological Themes 51

Humans, Created in the Image of God 51

Humans, Self-Seeking Sinners 56

Redemption and Consummation 60

Wisdom 66

Idolatry 72

Dispositions and Rhetoric 75

Summing Up and Moving on to Specific Issues 77

Part 2 Biblical Principles for Controversial Issues

4 Nationalism, Patriotism, and Globalization 81

Nations: Born of Sin; Token of Grace 81

New Testament 87

Globalization 96

Summary: Patriotism, Nationalism, and Globalization 97

5 Religious Liberty 101

Forced to Sin? 108

6 War 114

Five Phases of Divine Warfare 115

But Does the Bible Prohibit Christian Involvement in War? 122

Can a Nation Go to War and under What Conditions? 122

Self-Defense in the Bible 123

Summary and Conclusion 132

7 Abortion 135

Biblical Texts Relevant to the issue of Abortion 136

8 Criminal Justice and Capital Punishment 155

Gleanings from the Old Testament 157

Gleanings from the New Testament 161

Retributive Justice versus Restorative Justice 170

What about Capital Punishment? 172

9 Immigration 178

Terms Related to the Immigration Issue 179

The Patriarchs as Gerim in the Promised Land 181

Israel as a Ger in Egypt 183

Moses as a Ger in Midian 183

The Rights and Responsibilities of Gerim in Israel 185

Undocumented Immigrants and the Image of God 202

Sanctuary Cities and Churches 208

10 Same-Sex Marriage 213

Biblical Teaching on Same-Sex Relationships 214

A Biblical Theology of Sexuality 215

Public-Policy Implications 230

11 The Environment 233

God, the World, and Humanity in Genesis 1-2 234

God, the World, and Humanity in Genesis 3 240

God, the World, and Humanity: Judgment and Redemption 242

The Climate-Change Controversy 247

12 Poverty 254

God's Attitude toward the Poor 255

Reasons for Poverty 258

Mandate to Help the Poor 262

Old Testament Laws concerning Provision for the Poor 265

The Sin of Prosperity Thinking 268

Conclusion 270

13 Racism 275

God Created One People in His Image 276

All People Are Sinners 279

Redemption 280

Misused Texts 285

The Question of Affirmative Action and Reparations 292

Summary and Conclusion 298

Index of Authors 301

Index of Subjects 303

Index of Scripture References 305

Editorial Reviews

11/18/2019

Longman (How to Read Daniel), professor emeritus of biblical studies at Westmont College, considers Christian interpretations of key political issues in this solid resource for evangelicals. After a careful explanation of the historical landscape during the composition of the Bible, Longman shares fundamental principles that have guided Christian thinking about political issues and ground his arguments: humans are beings in the image of God who are trapped in sin but are capable of redemption and wisdom. He then devotes one chapter each to ten issues in contemporary American life: abortion, the environment, immigration, nationalism, poverty, racism, religious liberty, same-sex marriage, social justice, and war. Some of his positions may surprise conservatives, including that religious liberty should not shield Christians from consequences (for instance, for refusing to offer services to same-sex couples), or his frank concerns that capital punishment has become overutilized. Others will make liberals uncomfortable, including his argument against same-sex marriage, or his belief that economic fears should trump actions on counteracting climate change. His most forceful points, especially the need to reconsider immigration and fight poverty and racism, highlight a powerful ability to deploy the Bible to cut through talking points. Evangelicals will find much food for thought in this cogent, well-argued guide. (Jan.)

Publishers Weekly

Publishers Weekly
“Evangelicals will find much food for thought in this cogent, well-argued guide.”

“The Bible and the Ballot is a book where Tremper Longman III’s biblical scholarship, wisdom, and intellectual integrity converge. His goal is less to tell you what to think than to explain how to think, in a way that is faithful, theologically rigorous, and authentically biblical. In an era when many politically engaged evangelical Christians are discrediting their faith, Tremper Longman honors it.”
— Peter Wehner
contributing editor, The Atlantic; senior adviser to President George W. Bush

“This book is a tremendous gift to Christians seeking counsel on how to read Scripture to make political decisions! Tremper Longman’s expert biblical scholarship, his love for God’s word, and his longing for Christian citizens to be shaped by Scripture come through on every page.”
— Stephanie Summers
Center for Public Justice

“Longman’s book illuminates core biblical principles to help guide moral reflection on public-policy issues. Christian citizens will find the introductory chapters on biblical interpretation and the subsequent case studies on domestic and global issues especially helpful in the challenging task of integrating faith and politics.”
— Mark Amstutz
Wheaton College

“The Bible and the Ballot is a book where Tremper Longman III’s biblical scholarship, wisdom, and intellectual integrity converge. His goal is less to tell you what to think than to explain how to think, in a way that is faithful, theologically rigorous, and authentically biblical. In an era when many politically engaged evangelical Christians are discrediting their faith, Tremper Longman honors it.”
— Peter Wehner
contributing editor, The Atlantic; senior adviser to President George W. Bush

“This book is a tremendous gift to Christians seeking counsel on how to read Scripture to make political decisions! Tremper Longman’s expert biblical scholarship, his love for God’s word, and his longing for Christian citizens to be shaped by Scripture come through on every page.”
— Stephanie Summers
Center for Public Justice

“Longman’s book illuminates core biblical principles to help guide moral reflection on public-policy issues. Christian citizens will find the introductory chapters on biblical interpretation and the subsequent case studies on domestic and global issues especially helpful in the challenging task of integrating faith and politics.”
— Mark Amstutz
Wheaton College

From the Publisher