<\/p>\n
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- Introduction<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
Political theology is not a term I have used very much in my academic journey.\u00a0 I feel that I have missed the boat.\u00a0 But gladly, I have purchased my ticket to get on board.\u00a0 Jesus and the Powers: Christian political witness in an age of totalitarian terror and dysfunctional democracies,<\/em> by Tom Wright and Michael F. Bird, is a nice introductory ride.<\/p>\n
This 2024 book comes at a timely moment.\u00a0 The U.S. presidential election, as usual, has divided the nation into two major camps \u2013 Democrat or Republican with Independents serving as a protest space that unfortunately has lost its presidential candidate.\u00a0\u00a0 Churches are not immune to political debates, and they have joined the polarization of the parties on a variety of topics.<\/p>\n
Choosing one, I pick immigration.\u00a0 More on that later.<\/p>\n
Letting the author speak for himself, I found that NT Wright has produced an intro trailer for his book on YouTube. N.T. Wright & Michael F. Bird — Jesus and the Powers — NEW BOOK\u00a0 https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=zf_ZXyAs1fY<\/a><\/p>\n
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- What others are saying:<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
Thumbs Down<\/u><\/p>\n
Church Times, 28 March 2024, Book review: Jesus and the Powers: Christian political witness in an age of totalitarian terror and dysfunctional democracies<\/em>, by Tom Wright and Michael F. Bird.\u00a0 The reviewer presents a negative review of the book\u2026<\/p>\n
The Rt Revd Dr Peter Selby is an Honorary Visiting Professor in Theology and Religious Studies at King\u2019s College, London. He is a former Bishop of Worcester, Bishop to HM Prisons, and President of the National Council for Independent Monitoring Boards is the author.<\/p>\n
He writes, \u201cThere is no doubt about the need for theological material to inspire a new generation of Christians in general, and Evangelical Christians in particular, in facing the political challenges of this time; but this book, sadly, fails to offer that. Informative and engaging as it is, its content needs to breathe more slowly and, like much contemporary political theology, provide more detailed resources for facing the complex politics of our world with wisdom and courage.\u201d[1]<\/a><\/p>\n
Thumbs up:<\/p>\n
As a counterpoint, there is an excellent review of the book, \u201cJesus and the Powers (NT Wright and Michael Bird) Review\u201d by \u00a0Joel Wentz. https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=ndDQDWLNuoo<\/a><\/p>\n
While Wentz also agrees that there are portions that rush along.\u00a0 He is quick to remind readers that the book is the tip of the iceberg to deeper and longer writings of the authors.\u00a0 He strongly suggests that for those who want more background and discussion to go to the author\u2019s previous works (which are liberally referenced).<\/p>\n
While giving the book a thumbs down, Selby does give a nice synopsis of the book via the headings of the seven chapters,<\/p>\n
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- \u201cThe Kingdom of Jesus in the shadow of empire\u201d, \u201cThe Church between Jesus and Caesar\u201d,<\/li>\n
- \u201cPower and the powers in early Christianity: John, Paul and the paradox of biblical politics\u201d,<\/li>\n
- \u201cThe Kingdom of God as vision and vocation\u201d, \u201cThe Church between submission and subversion\u201d,<\/li>\n
- \u201cThe Church resisting the powers of today\u201d, and \u201cLiberalism and love in a time of fear and fragmentation\u201d \u2014 are signals, together with the assertive subheadings, of the book\u2019s somewhat scatter-gun approach to its theme: various theological, historical, and political topics are briefly produced and sometimes reappear later on.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
<\/p>\n
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- Bland Ending? <\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
In their conclusion, Wright and Bird use the Lee Camp\u2019s quote:\u00a0 The faith of the Christian is the last great hope of earth. [2]<\/a>\u00a0 I find this quote as a clarion\u2019s call for Christians to respond to our responsibility to engage in the political process.\u00a0 If not us, who?<\/p>\n
In their conclusion, the authors bring up eight points.\u00a0\u00a0 They write,<\/p>\n
First, we have recognized that the world we live in now is at a moment of social and economic turmoil, with new imperial powers rising and democratic nations tearing themselves apart.[3]<\/a><\/p>\n
Second, we\u2019ve observed that God\u2019s people have always had to deal with empires\u2026[4]<\/a><\/p>\n
Third Christianity has always had a public witness, and our conception of the kingdom shapes how we relate to the political and social challenges of the day.[5]<\/a><\/p>\n
Fourth, we laid out that governing authority is a God-given institution that, in part, carries forward the divine design for humans to be custodians of creation.[6]<\/a><\/p>\n
Fifth, we have argued too that the Church, meaning all practicing Christians in reality, has a duty to bear public witness. [7]<\/a><\/p>\n
Sixth, we have explored how Christians should relate to governing authorities.\u00a0 We discovered in the New Testament that there is an oscillating perspective of submission to state authorities and at other times subversively resisting them. [8]<\/a><\/p>\n
Seventh, there are many varieties of tyranny or unjust government that Christians may find the need to resist. [9]<\/a><\/p>\n
Eighth, and finally, we have examined the very nature of state authority itself.\u00a0 We concluded that, while government is good, the authority of the state needs to be limited. No state apparatus should aspire to be all-powerful. \u2018<\/p>\n
Selby would call this a bland ending, but I find it useful as a reminder of Christian Responsibility.<\/p>\n
Epilogue: Polarization of Immigration<\/strong><\/p>\n
U.S. Immigration is one of those hot button topics that politicians use to their own advantage.\u00a0 In a recent survey entitled, \u201c2024 Evangelical Views on Immigration Study,\u201d[10]<\/a><\/p>\n
80% would support bipartisan immigration reform that strengthens border security, established a pathway to citizenship for Dreamers, and provides enough farmworkers (Lifeway Research)<\/p>\n
To help us understand the issue, the definition of a refugee and an asylum seeker can be understood using this graphic.\u00a0 The bottom line \u2013 the refugee process takes up to 17 years for immigration to occur.\u00a0 The asylum seeker process is overburdened legal process that is constantly in the news.\u00a0 Asylum seekers present their cases at the border and are let in without the kind of vetting that refugees receive.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dlgp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/Refugee.Asylumseeker-300x169.png\")
<\/a><\/p>\nBecause of legislative INACTION for 20 plus years, the Executive Branch has responded with Executive Orders. These in turn can be challenged in court.\u00a0 A case in point is the recent executive order for Parole in Place (those who are undocumented but married to U.S. citizens can apply for naturalization remaining in the states rather than returning to their nations of origin).\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 This has been challenged in court by 16 states and a federal judge put the whole program on hold.\u00a0 The tension between the Executive and Judicial branches of U.S. government can only be eased with the Legislative branch weighing in with bipartisan reforms.<\/p>\n
No one is holding their breaths on this one.<\/p>\n
However, returning to the political theology espoused by Wright and Bird, Christians can respond to this situation following the biblical mandates such as Deuteronomy 10: 18 “He defends the cause of the fatherless and the widow, and loves the foreigner residing among you, giving them food and clothing.\u201d<\/p>\n
Our actions of compassion to the refugees AND the desire for secure borders are not in opposite camps.\u00a0 Both can be achieved simultaneously.<\/strong><\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
[1]<\/a> https:\/\/www.churchtimes.co.uk\/articles\/2024\/28-march\/books-arts\/book-reviews\/book-review-jesus-and-the-powers-christian-political-witness-in-an-age-of-totalitarian-terror-and-dysfunctional-democracies-by-tom-wright-and-michael-f-bird<\/p>\n
[2]<\/a> Lee C. Camp, Scandalous Witness: A little political manifesto for Christians (Grand Rapids, MI: Erdmans, 2020), p. 1.<\/p>\n
[3]<\/a> N. T. Wright and Michael F. Bird, Jesus and the Powers: Christian Political Witness in an Age of Totalitarian Terror and Dysfunctional Democracies (Grand Rapids, Michigan: Zondervan Reflective, 2024).Burton, p. 174<\/p>\n
[4]<\/a> Burton, Ibid., p. 174.<\/p>\n
[5]<\/a> Burdon, ibid., p. 175.<\/p>\n
[6]<\/a> Burton, ibid., p. 176.<\/p>\n
[7]<\/a> Burton, Ibid., p. 176.<\/p>\n
[8]<\/a> Burton, Ibid., p. 177.<\/p>\n
- Bland Ending? <\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
- What others are saying:<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n