"Government in the Gospels" by Jonathan M. Craig. A Review

 

I have long ago tired of books that claim to have a Christian fix to civil government. They simply fall flat on me. But "Government in the Gospels: Daily Reflections for Government Officials" is not one of those manuals. Instead, Jonathan M. Craig, a Navy Chaplain, onetime Assistant Pastor at Westminster Presbyterian Church (PCA) in Tallahassee, Florida, and now a Florida State Capitol Minister with Mission to North America’s Ministry to State, has given Government officials a devotional guide that is more personal, and helps them to reflect on their calling without promoting sectarian political schemes. It's simple, but goes straight to the heart!

The book covers 55 daily devotions that walk a magistrate through the flow of the gospels. It aims "to facilitate the government official's regular communion with the living God by connecting the reader with every passage in the four Gospels directly related to government." It is an ingenious approach that aids officials to simply think through their relationship with God as they fulfill their office. The devotions are very short, they include the passage being considered, and each one has a set of reflection questions that are not fluffy, but serious questions. And then each installment ends with a well-written prayer.

I think I enjoyed the reflection questions as much as the devotions. Imagine politicians (or most anyone) thinking through questions like, "Are you, like the crowd (in John 6:1-15), trying to make the kingdom of God a kingdom of this world? How so" (p. 52)? Or, while thinking about the tax collector, Zacchaeus, who defrauded others and used his office for personal gain, a reflection questions asks, "Have you ever defrauded anyone? Extorted money? Stolen? How have you seen the fruit of genuine repentance for those sins? Is there anything that still needs to be done to make things right" (78)? I recognize questions like this get very private and personal. That's what I mean that they are not fluff.

And the prayers at the end fit each devotion in a way that can help officials actually pray. For example, in devotion 31 where Jesus warns against having false hopes in political parties (Matthew 16:5-12 and Mark 8:14-21), comes this prayer, "Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me a sinner. Forgive me for I have eagerly consumed the leaven of religious and political idols and thought too little of my relationship with you. Thank you for ransoming me from sin and death and bringing me into the kingdom of you righteousness. Let me live as becomes a follower of Christ. Amen" (62).

"Government in the Gospels" is a nice resource for our elected and appointed officials, especially those who claim to be Christians. It would also be useful for their aids and staff members. And, if just normal citizens happen to take up a copy and work through it, I think they would gain quite a bit. I highly recommend the work.

My thanks to the author for sending me a review copy at my request. He made no demands on me, therefore my review is freely made and freely given.