First
the Gospel, Then Politics...
by
John C. Rankin
From the book jacket of First the Gospel, Then Politics... :
____________
A biblical worldview involves itself in three major arenas B
theology, politics and spiritual warfare. Theology is the study of
God=s
word, politics (which involves all of culture) is the mission field,
and intercessory prayer is the power that undergirds the mission.
First the Gospel, Then Politics... seeks to address this
biblical balance. We need to know the goodness and beauty of the
Bible on its own terms, and how to share it in an increasingly pagan
culture.
Volume 1, Only Genesis,
sets forth the three doctrines introduced in Genesis 1-3 which
define all Scripture and life:
creation Г·
sin Г·
redemption; or,
the order of
creation Г·
the reversal Г· the reversal of the reversal.
The term only Genesis refers to the content of the order of
creation located in Genesis 1-2. The four all-defining subjects
of the order of creation are:
God Г·
life Г·
choice Г·
sex.
Unalienable rights in the
Declaration of Independence are uniquely rooted in these four
subjects, and thus, in heterosexual faithful monogamous marriage.
Only Genesis uniquely sets
forth ten positive elements, and these equal Chapters 1-10:
1. God=s Nature.
6. Human Sexuality.
2. Communication. 7. Science and the Scientific Method.
3. Human Nature.
8. Verifiable History.
4. Human Freedom.
9. Covenantal Law.
5. Hard Questions.
10. Unalienable Rights and the First Amendment.
Chapter 11 focuses on enemies and forgiveness. From this foundation, six
ethical components which define biblical faith emerge:
1. The power to
give.
4. The power to
love hard questions.
2. The power to
live in the light. 5. The power to
love enemies.
3. The power of
informed choice. 6. The power to
forgive.
The first four sum up the ethical content of the order of creation,
and the last two sum up the order of redemption. These six
ethical components are the prism through which first the
Gospel, then politics... is understood.
Volume 2 is The Polis
(polis is the Greek word for the city-state, referring here
to all aspects of the culture which should be based upon and not in
opposition to the family and the church B
government, education, media, business, science and the arts). Its
topics are:
N Creation, Evolution and the Framework Theory (with a resolution
for the U.S. Congress affirming the
Creator).
N A Political Party Platform Based on Biblical Ethics (with a
Politician=s
Pledge).
N To Win the Legal Protection of the Unborn (with two resolutions
for the U.S. Congress; one
on informed choice,
the other diagnosing the male chauvinistic nature of
human abortion; and
including the Jeremiah
19 Liturgy for ministry at abortion centers).
N Homosexuality, the Church and Civil Rights (with a resolution
for the U.S. Congress on human sexuality and
civil rights).
N Race and Class (with two resolutions for the U.S. Congress; one
on affirmative action, the other on drugs and
crime).
N Prayer and the Public Schools (with a resolution for the U.S.
Congress on a radical alternative to
prayer in the public schools).
N Economic Justice (with a model that focuses on the power of
moral covenant, and to lessen the need for many
legal contracts).
In Volume 3, Spiritual Territory, virtually the whole
Bible is reviewed, showing how the theme of spiritual warfare
involves all Scripture. In order to love the enemies of God in the
human polis, we first need to know how to wage war in the
heavenlies, through intercessory prayer, against Satan and his
demonic host.
The conclusion of the whole work, at the end of Volume 3, include An
Open Letter to A Sitting President, and The Last Supper
Network.
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Volume 1 was published in December, 1999. Volumes 2 and 3 are scheduled
for simultaneous publication by the fall of 2001.
Volume 1 may be ordered $32.00 (ppd. and tax paid). The whole
three-volume set may be ordered for $79.00 (ppd. and tax paid).
Volume 1 will be shipped immediately; volumes 2 and 3 will be
shipped when published. The $79.00 equals a pre-publication
discount, and is valid until the publication date. At publication,
and as the trilogy is sold through retail merchants, the cost will
be $96.00.
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