Books

My Top 5 Books on Christians in Politics

Picks from Stephen Mansfield, author of ‘The Faith of Barack Obama.’

Wilberforce: God’s Statesman John Pollock (Kingsway Publications)

The tireless lobbying and coalition building of evangelical politician William Wilberforce led ultimately to the abolition of British slavery in 1833. Pollock’s classic brilliantly portrays Wilberforce as the soul of Christian statecraft, the heroic champion of a biblical cause in an unforgiving age.

A Christian Manifesto Francis A. Schaeffer (Crossway)

First published in the 1980s, Schaeffer’s classic is a declaration of Christian intent in the face of encroaching statism. Even if it had not been updated for the 21st century, it would still be a vital expression of activist biblical faith and righteous principles confronting secular culture.

Missionary for Freedom: The Life & Times of Walter Judd Lee Edwards (Paragon House)

Walter Judd was a medical missionary to China in the 1930s, a U.S. congressman in the 1940s, an anticommunist activist in the 1950s, and a leading conservative elder statesman until his death in 1994. As someone who endeavored always to serve biblical truth, he has much to teach Christians in the political sphere today.

Idols for Destruction: The Conflict of Christian Faith and American Culture Herbert Schlossberg (Crossway)

Schlossberg gave us a timeless exposition of the biblical worldview in conflict with the false gods of Western culture. From the secular religion of politics to the secular religion of modern psychology, idols fall in this book like Dagon at the threshold of his temple.

Politics—According to the Bible: A Comprehensive Resource for Understanding Modern Political Issues in Light of Scripture Wayne Grudem (Zondervan)

This is just what we need: a seasoned theologian expounding biblical truth to inform our political thinking. Although we might disagree with Grudem on some issues, he sharpens us for the battles of our time.

Copyright © 2012 Christianity Today. Click for reprint information.

Related Elsewhere:

Wilberforce: God’s Statesman, A Christian Manifesto, Missionary for Freedom, Idols for Destruction and Politics According to the Bible are available from Christianbook.com, Amazon.com, and other retailers.

Previous Top 5 lists have featured consumerism, TV & Movies, hell, heaven, technology, forgiveness, dating, poetry, C.S. Lewis, the historical Jesus, family ministry, the problem of evil, biographies of theologians, orphans, prayer, doubt, community, sports, and parenting.

Christianity Today has more music, movies, books, and other media reviews.

Also in this issue

The CT archives are a rich treasure of biblical wisdom and insight from our past. Some things we would say differently today, and some stances we've changed. But overall, we're amazed at how relevant so much of this content is. We trust that you'll find it a helpful resource.

Cover Story

The Cure for Election Madness

Calling All Callings: Amy Sherman on ‘Kingdom Calling’

News

A Crackdown on International Adoptions

Review

Strength in Weakness: The Bible, Disability, and the Church

News

Europe's Top Courts Are on a Pro-Life Roll

A Pro-Life Plea This Election Season

Jesus and the Goodness of Everything Human

How Bethany Hoang Was Wired for Justice

Is Cage Fighting Ethical for Christians?

News

Go Figure

Excerpt

J. I. Packer and Carolyn Nystrom on God's Will

Review

Girl Meets Grace: Lauren Winner's New Reflection on Her Divorce and Desolation

News

Discipling the Dragon: Christian Publishing Finds Success in China

News

Will Immigration Slowdown Prompt a Bilingual Ministry Bust?

Wilson's Bookmarks

How the Physical Form of a Bible Shapes Us

News

Counterterrorism Laws Hamper Humanitarian Aid

Editorial

Thou Shalt Not Abuse: Reconsidering Spanking

Blessed Are the Jobless: How Ministries Aid the Unemployed

Six Indie Films You Won't Want to Miss

Readers Write

News

Passages

Natural Length Reading: Christianity Today Launches eBooks

News

Quotation Marks

News

Corporation Switches to Adult Stem-Cell Therapy, Copeland Loses Suit, and More

Commander and Chaplain: The Faith of Presidents

News

Has the Same-Sex Marriage Debate Helped Pro-Life Advocacy?

Don't Worry, Read Happy: Alan Jacobs on The Pleasures of Reading

2012 Christianity Today Book Awards

News

Top 10 News Stories of 2011

The Annual Book and Music Awards

News

As USCIRF Faces Possible Closure, Funding Divides Religious Freedom Experts

View issue

Our Latest

News

Ghana May Elect Its First Muslim President. Its Christian Majority Is Torn.

Church leaders weigh competency and faith background as the West African nation heads to the polls.

Shamanism in Indonesia

Can Christians practice ‘white knowledge’ to heal the sick and exorcize demons?

Shamanism in Japan

Christians in the country view pastors’ benedictions as powerful spiritual mantras.

Shamanism in Taiwan

In a land teeming with ghosts, is there room for the Holy Spirit to work?

Shamanism in Vietnam

Folk religion has shaped believers’ perceptions of God as a genie in a lamp.

Shamanism in the Philippines

Filipinos’ desire to connect with the supernatural shouldn’t be eradicated, but transformed and redirected toward Christ.

Shamanism in South Korea

Why Christians in the country hold onto trees while praying outdoors.

Shamanism in Thailand

When guardian spirits disrupt river baptisms, how can believers respond?

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