Originally Posted by JohnOwen007

Expanding on Tom's good post, it seems to me that when it comes to social ethics and it's relation to moral law, telos alone is reductionist. Telos is certainly important, but there is also the motivation for actions, and the morality of the actions themselves (deontology). All three elements are needed for a full-orbed biblical ethic.

When it comes to political theology Oliver O'Donovan's defense of Christendom (of a sort) is superb (found in Desire of the Nations). I highly recommend it, even though it is a very tough read. It's well worth persevering. He gives a scathing critique of Hauerwas' (derived really from John Howard Yoder) politics.

Moreover, his work on The Just War Revisited is also brilliant, particularly in light of the building popularity of the neo-anabaptistic non-violence movement. What is interesting in this later work, is that O'Donovan condemns any just war that is motivated by self-defense. Interesting.

God bless.