James L. Garlow - Well Versed: Biblical Answers to Todays Tough Issues

Copyright 2016 by James L. Garlow

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means electronic or mechanical, including photocopy, recording, or any information storage and retrieval system now known or to be invented, without permission in writing from the publisher, except by a reviewer who wishes to quote brief passages in connection with a review written for inclusion in a magazine, newspaper, website, or broadcast.

Scripture quotations taken from the Amplified Bible (AMPC), Copyright 1954, 1958, 1962, 1964, 1965, 1987 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. www.Lockman.org

Scripture quotations marked (ESV) are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version (ESV), Copyright 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. All rights reserved. ESV Text Edition: 2011

Scripture quotations taken from the New American Standard Bible, Copyright 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation Used by permission. (www.Lockman.org)

Scripture quotations marked (NIV) are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version, NIV. Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. www.zondervan.com The NIV and New International Version are trademarks registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by Biblica, Inc.

Scripture taken from the New King James Version. Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyright 1946, 1952, and 1971 by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Regnery Faith is a trademark of Salem Communications Holding Corporation; Regnery is a registered trademark of Salem Communications Holding Corporation

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First e-book edition 2016: ISBN 978-1-62157-570-2

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Table of Contents

CONTENTS

I grew up on a Midwestern farm with strong Christian parents and a close family. I went through a long academic journey including three masters degrees and a doctorate. I married while in graduate school. My wife and I adopted four children. My wife of forty-two years died of cancer. I later remarried, and combined, we have eight children and nine grandchildren; I love and am close with every one of them. This is the lens through which I view my life.

I am a follower of Christ, a pastor, a lover of the Church and the Word of God. I am shaped by all of these things. I am not an economist, though some of this book deals with the economy. I am not an attorney, though some of this book deals with law. I am not a judge, though some of this book deals with judicial issues. I am not a foreign affairs specialist, though some of this book deals with international issues. I am not a medical doctor, though some of this book deals with medical issues. I am in neither the military nor law enforcement, though some of this book deals with our nations safety at home and abroad. I am not a social worker, though some of this book deals with community and social issues. I am not a reporter, though some of this book deals with journalism. I am not currently an educator, though I was formerly a university professor. But I am a student of the Book, the Bible, which is Gods Word. God knows everything. I dont. Because He knows it all, my desire is to carefully unpack what He says about these and other topics.

I care deeply for people, both those who agree with me and those who do not. We live in a broken world, but does it have to be this broken? I am heartbroken to see so much human suffering. I believe that following the Word of God in governmental arenas would alleviate much human tragedy.

I recognize that understanding and interpreting the Bible can be challenging at times. I am a Protestant. I am an evangelical, although it appears the word evangelical has largely lost its meaning. I am the type of evangelical who believes that the Bible is totally authoritative. I believe that the Bible speaks not merely to personal, family, and church issues, but also to national, community, and governmental issues, if we would take the time to listen.

I also grasp that there are significant differences between the theocracy of ancient Israel of the Old Testament and the constitutional Republic in contemporary America. Furthermore, I grasp that there are significant differences between the early Church in the New Testament operating in a Jewish nation controlled by occupying Roman military forces directed by an emperor and the constitutional Republic in contemporary America.

Are there governmental principles from the Old Testament and New Testament that might apply to America today? I believe there are. I contend that when these are followed, much of human pain and misery can be reduced.

I do not believe that the real separation in America is Right versus Left, but rather right versus wrong. Some principles are right. Some are not. The ones found in the Bible are always right. When followed, they bring great blessings.

My calling is not ultimately to save a nation, America nor any other nation. My calling is to love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind and love your neighbor as yourself (Luke 10:27). Yet part of loving my God and loving my neighbor is to attempt to connect the dots between how things are and how things could be if we would embrace scriptural principles. It is an act of love to my neighbor to make known what blessings could be ours if we would understand government from the One who thought of government, and who even spoke of it as something that would be shouldered by His Son (Isaiah 9:6).

Some of what I write will be obvious. Some of it might be new to you. Some of it might be controversial, though controversy is not my goal. Some of it may seem simply impossibleeven idyllic, utopian, or unrealisticto carry out. That may be true. But that does not change the fact that the Bible has principles that could bring greater peace and tranquility to our nation, states, communities, places of work, schools, churches, and homes.

I am fallible, as we all are. This is my best effort, at this time. In the future, I may see clearer, understand truths better, and have more matured and seasoned insights than what are written here. If you were writing this book, you might write it differently. My friend Professor Rob Staples once said of his own writing, Its my story. When you write yours, you can write it however you want. Each of us has his or her view of reality. This is mine.