Savior or Servant? Putting Government in Its Place - Hardcover

David W. Hall

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9780965036719: Savior or Servant? Putting Government in Its Place

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0965036715 ISBN 13: 9780965036719

Publisher: Kuyper Institute, 1996

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A survey of the history of Christian political thought, including a study of scriptural bases and current discussions. This book argues for limited government based on an enduring foundation.

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From the Publisher:

Savior or Servant? Putting Government in Its Place is an attempt to define the role of the state: Shall it be a minister or a Messiah? Using ancient but timeless information, David W. Hall has surveyed the Bible and arrived at a coherent theology of the state. This study succeeds in identifying the responsibilities that the civil state is mandated to do, permitted to do, and prohibited from doing. Along the way, it is discovered that all political schemes and issues are fraught with theological value. Moreover, the most enduring grid to keep government in its rightful place is found in the Bible. Drawing upon thousands of verses and hundreds of thinkers, this volume is comprehensive yet readable. Theologians from Augustine to Calvin and from Aquinas to Barth are studied and presented in a non-technical manner. The Christian who is interested in politics should absorb these summaries before launching out into unstudied political activism. Rather than adopting a politics- as-usual posture, Hall challenges partisans from the right and from the left. He summons Christians to the old paths, which God's Word has occupied for centuries. Discussed in these chapters are perennial matters of practical importance, such as: taxation; resistance to evil governments; methods of influence; the escalation of rights; limited government; moral qualities for leaders; separation of powers. This book will provide excellent fodder for discussion and guidance. It returns spiritual principles to their place, while seeking to put government in its proper place.

Savior or Servant? Is a revival of a classic approach to limited government. In a time when nations are finally beginning to shrink bloated governments, a surprising source commends itself as an able assistant in reform. The scriptural view of the state, removed from the varied fads of political science, provides an enduring perspective by which to measure all states. This study begins with a survey of biblical teaching on pressing matters of state today. Following the contours of the Old and New Testaments, Savior or Servant? calls all levels of government to a servant posture, rather than allowing officials to dominate. A historical tracing of the best and most pertinent that theology has to offer on the subject is contained in these pages.

About the Author:

David W. Hall, Senior Fellow at the Kuyper Institute in Oak Ridge, TN, is the author or editor of 14 books on political, historical, and theological subjects. He is the Executive Editor of PREMISE and Pastor of Covenant Presbyterian Church.

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