Navigating Complexities of Faith, Leadership, and Politics
When entering the world of books on leadership, each one offers a unique lens through which we can explore ideas, experiences, and insights. In this blog, we’ll briefly examine three thought-provoking titles that tackle different themes, yet all share a common goal: to challenge our perspectives and inspire more profound reflection. From navigating the complexities of faith and politics to understanding gender leadership dynamics and wrestling with racial reconciliation, these books offer valuable points of consideration for personal growth and societal change. I will highlight the central themes, pivotal points, potential challenges, and questions from God’s Politics by Jim Wallis[1], as well as two works from Brett Fuller: High Ceilings: Women in Leadership[2] and Dreaming in Black and White[3].
God’s Politics
Jim Wallis critiques the two dominant sides of the American political landscape, focusing on their handling of religion in politics. He argues that the Right misuses religious language to promote policies that neglect biblical teachings on social justice, focusing too much on issues like abortion and marriage while neglecting broader biblical matters like poverty and peace. He argues the Left often avoids using religious language and either minimizes or avoids aspects of biblical morality when engaging in politics. Wallis advocates for a “third way,” a faith-based approach that transcends partisanship and approaches important public questions with wisdom from both the Hebrew prophets and democratic aspirations.[4] He calls for what he concluded is a more biblical approach to war, wealth, environmental stewardship, and social issues.
A central theme of Wallis’s work is his use of biblical references to emphasize moral imperatives that should lead to specific political policies and actions. However, one weakness of his approach is a superficial use of the biblical text. Several times, he jumps too rapidly from specific isolated biblical texts to a political recommendation, bypassing careful and thorough reflection on the issues from historical or modern theological voices. This jump fails to give adequete warrant for his suggested course of action. Still, Wallis challenges us to consider our relationship with the Bible and politics. He urges Christians to be more actively engaged in politics. Willing to challenge the status quo and speak truth to power, primarily inspired by biblical values.
High Ceilings: Women Leadership
Brett Fuller offers a tour of unique challenges and opportunities women face in leadership, with particular attention to those within church and ministry contexts. Using examples from his own life and the Bible to highlight the unique value of women’s leadership in accomplishing the church’s God-given mission in the world. As the book title suggests, Fuller speaks to “ceilings” or barriers he believes exist in society and the church that have historically limited women’s roles in leadership. He also gives a healthy challenge for creating environments that cultivate women’s leadership gifts and highlights the importance of men in that cultivation process. He identifies out of the four primary Christian positions on male/female roles he has settled on the “Complementarian-Egalitarian” position. This position holds that within marriage men and women have equal but different roles, but outside of the context of the family, men and women should have equal opportunities to roles of authority and leadership. This is a pivotal point in understanding the whole of his thesis and how he approaches and uses certain biblical texts to support this position.
Dreaming in Black and White
In this book, Brett Fuller explores the important intersection of race, faith, and unity in the United States. Throughout this book, he draws on personal experience while touring low points in the American landscape of racial tensions. Pivotal to his insights is a consistent thread of hope and resilience in pursuing racial reconciliation. The historic instances he shares are disheartening; however, he remains optimistic. He goes beyond theory to offer practical insights by building bridges through empathy, faith, and healthy dialogue, especially in the context of church communities.
Questions:
- For Wallis: Why did he forgo Genesis or the Gospels and ultimately conclude that the prophets were the place to begin understanding our political action?
- For Fuller: He bases his belief that God doesn’t restrict a woman in her gifting and potential simply because she is female in Galatians 3:28-29. In this passage, Paul emphasizes that in Christ, distinctions based on ethnicity, social status, or gender are irrelevant; all believers are one in Him. This passage underscores the idea of unity in faith and the transformative nature of being part of Christ’s family and, subsequently, heirs of the promises of God. This passage refers to the inclusive nature of the gospel unto salvation and eternal life; how does Fuller apply this to how women can or cannot serve with their gifts? The connection between our eternal inheritance and women using their gifts doesn’t seem as obvious as he concludes.
- For Fuller: When did you realize your parents vision and pioneering purpose of reconciliation and how did that realization affect you?
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[1] Jim Wallis, God’s Politics: Why The Right Gets It Wrong, And The Left Doesn’t Get It, (San Francisco: Zondervan, 2005).
[2] Brett E. Fuller, 2021. High Ceilings: Women in Leadership (Independently published, 2021).
[3] Brett Fuller, Dreaming In Black And White (BookBaby, 2021).
[4] Jim Wallis, God’s Politics, 29.
About the Author
Chad Warren
A husband, father, pastor, teacher, and student seeking to help others flourish.11 responses to “Navigating Complexities of Faith, Leadership, and Politics”
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Chad,
Regarding your question to Wallis, where in Scripture would you begin to posit an argument for political action?
Jeff, similar to what we read from Wright and Bird in “Jesus and the Powers,” I would begin with Genesis 1 & 2 and even Psalm 8, where the stewardship and dominion job description is first bestowed on humanity.
Hi Chad, thanks for your post. As you said, Wallis calls for a more biblical approach to war, wealth, environmental stewardship, and social issues. As you were reviewing Wallis’ book, did you find anything that you want to take back to your congregation?
Christy, I think I will take back to my congregation the general idea of questioning our assumptions and digging deeper into the Bible for guidance on our political engagement.
Hey Chad. I loved the questions you came up with as you look at Wallis’ book. He unpacks several practical insights. Which do you feel is the most vital today?
Daren, I think it is hard to classify one as most vital. In general, the practical considerations regarding poverty, immigration, and the unborn should be at the top of the list since we are dealing with God’s image bearers.
Hi Chad,
How would you interpret Wallis’s advocate for a “third way,” a faith-based approach to non-Christians or Hebrew based community?
Chad, thanks heaps. Given the current heightened tensions in society, how can churches actively create spaces for difficult but transformative conversations on reconciliation that go beyond theoretical discussions and lead to practical, lasting change?
Glyn, that’s a great question. I think churches actively create spaces for difficult but transformative conversations on reconciliation that go beyond theoretical and lead to practical, lasting change through developing a culture of spirit-led honesty and humility about racism. Acts 6 is a great place to begin, considering how the early church dealt with this issue of racism when helllenist widows were being neglected. Once the racism was acknowledged, they moved toward spirit-led, selfless action.
Chad, you criticize Wallis for not being thorough enough in his biblical reflections. Are there other voices whom you might recommend Wallis – and I – consider?
Debbie, there are a few voices worth the time and consideration in developing a more thoroughly biblical approach to politics.
– The Bible in Politics by Dr. Richard Bauckham
– Politics – According to the Bible: A Comprehensive Resource for Understanding Modern Political Issues in Light of Scripture by Dr. Wayne Grudem
– God and Politics By Dr. Mark Dever (Mark is a pastor/scholar that has been pastoring a church a few blocks from Capitol Hill for 30 years and brings some helpful pastoral insight to the topic.)