Michael Gerson - City of Man: Religion and Politics in a New Era

City
of
Man

RELIGION AND POLITICS IN A NEW ERA

Michael Gerson
Peter Wehner

FOREWORD BY TIMOTHY KELLER

M OODY P UBLISHERS
CHICAGO

2010
by M ICHAEL J. G ERSON AND
P ETER W EHNER

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form without permission in writing from the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles or reviews.

All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version, NIV. Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984 by Biblica, Inc.(tm) Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide.

Scripture quotations marked NJPS are taken from Tanakh: The Holy Scriptures: The New JPS Translation according to the Traditional Hebrew Text. Copyright 2000, The Jewish Publication Society. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations marked NASB are 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 ESV are taken from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. Copyright 2000, 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

All websites listed herein are accurate at the time of publication, but may change in the future or cease to exist. The listing of website references and resources does not imply publisher endorsement of the sites entire contents. Groups, corporations, and organizations are listed for informational purposes, and listing does not imply publisher endorsement of their activities.

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Gerson, Michael J.
City of man : religion and politics in a new era / Michael J. Gerson and Peter Wehner; foreword by Timothy J. Keller.
p. cm.
Includes bibliographical references.
ISBN 978-0-8024-5857-5
1. Religion and politics. 2. Religion and state. I. Wehner, Peter. II. Title.
BL65.P7G47 2010
261.7dc22

2010030107

We hope you enjoy this book from Moody Publishers. Our goal is to provide high-quality, thought-provoking books and products that connect truth to your real needs and challenges. For more information on other books and products written and produced from a biblical perspective, go to www.moodypublishers.com or write to:

Moody Publishers
820 N. LaSalle Boulevard
Chicago, IL 60610

1 3 5 7 9 10 8 6 4 2

Printed in the United States of America

Figuring out the appropriate relationship between politics and religion for Christians is a daunting task. Yet Michael Gerson and Peter Wehner have succeeded brilliantly. In City of Man, they spell out a political theology for 21st-century Christians that rejects the narrow thinking of the religious right and the creeping secularism of the religious left. City of Man is a two-fer. Its an enormously important book on politics and on religion.

F RED B ARNES
Executive Editor, the Weekly Standard

Michael Gerson and Peter Wehner issue a clarion call for active Christian involvement in the form of calculated and thoughtful engagement. Chock-full of historical and theological wisdom, City of Man reminds Christians that they should care about politics andwin or losenever give up the fights that matter most.

W ILLIAM J. B ENNETT
Washington Fellow, the Claremont Institute

In City of Man, two of our nations most gifted public intellectuals address the question, How should religious believers understand their obligations as citizens of a modern constitutional democratic republic? Addressing a range of challenging and timely issues, Michael Gerson and Peter Wehner show how the resources of Christian faith can be marshaled to bring public policy more fully in line with the inherent dignity of human beings, as creatures fashioned in the very image and likeness of God.

Robert P. G EORGE
McCormick Professor of Jurisprudence and Director of the James Madison Program in American Ideals and Institutions Princeton University

Michael Gerson and Peter Wehner write out of both a rich experience in the national political arena and a deep immersion in biblical faith, and have given us a book of uncommon wisdom. Their reflections on how religion and politics interact in our rapidly changing culture are perceptive and challenging, combining a broad, historical understanding of the issues with a thoroughly accessible style.

S TEPHEN A. H AYNER
President, Columbia Theological Seminary

This book is a wonderful gift to all of us who care deeply about Christian engagement in the political arena. Drawing on their experiences of having worked day-to-day in the inner corridors of political power during times of crisis, the authors offer us a marvelously clear and candid perspective on what it means to seek the welfare of the City of Man, while taking with utmost seriousness our identity as citizens of the kingdom of Jesus Christ.

R ICHARD J. M OUW
President, Fuller Theological Seminary

In recent American history, the mixture of religion and politics has all too often produced inflated rhetoric, demonization of opponents, runaway hyperbole, and mindless demagoguery. City of Man is different. It pulls back from the heat of conflict to seek light from Scripture, Christian tradition, and a measured analysis of American political history. Although I have voted none of the above in many presidential elections, Im confident that what these veterans of the Bush White House have written will help Christian believers of any political persuasion to act more responsibly in the public square.

M ARK A. N OLL
Francis A. McAnaney Professor of History University of Notre Dame

A thoughtful, creative articulation of a new agenda for conservative politics by Christians. One need not agree with all the assumptions or arguments to find this book a significant contribution to Christian reflection on where our nation should go. City of Man offers a significant challenge to both liberals and conservatives.

R ONALD J. S IDER
Professor of Theology, Holistic Ministry, and Public Policy Palmer Theological Seminary

To all the spiritual descendants of William Wilberforce
Michael Gerson

To Cindy, John Paul, Christine, and David, who have filled my life with so much joy, so much love, and so many blessings
Peter Wehner

Seek the welfare of the city to which I have exiled you, and pray to the Lord in its behalf, for in its prosperity you shall prosper.

Jeremiah 29:7 NJPS

As an exercise in public theology, Moody Publishers Cultural Renewal series brings biblical thought to bear on matters of contemporary concern. Resources for the church and by the church abound, yet a need remains for deep, sustained, faithful Christian reflection on pressing cultural questions. This series attempts to shape key conversations for the common good. Our challenges todaydaunting and complex though they may bedo not intimidate the God who inspired the apostles and equipped great Christian leaders throughout history. By looking to their wisdom, humbly relying on Gods provision of common grace and, especially, His Son, the church still has much to offer the worldnow and always.