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Full Description
Learn to think deeply about the relationship between church and state in a way that goes beyond mere policy debates and current campaigns.
Few topics can grab headlines and stir passions quite like politics, especially when the church is involved. Considering the attention that many Christian parachurch groups, churches, and individual believers give to politics--and of the varying and sometimes divergent political ideals and aims among them--Five Views on the Church and Politics provides a helpful breakdown of the possible Christian approaches to political involvement.
General Editor Amy Black brings together five top-notch political theologians in the book, each representing one of the five key political traditions within Christianity:
Anabaptist (Separationist: the most limited possible Christian involvement in politics) - represented by Thomas Heilke
Lutheran (Paradoxical: strong separation of church and state) - represented by Robert Benne
Black Church (Prophetic: the church's mission is to be a voice for communal reform) - represented by Bruce Fields
Reformed (Transformationist: emphasizes God's sovereignty over all things, including churches and governments) - represented by James K. A. Smith
Catholic (Synthetic: encouragement of political participation as a means to further the common good of all people) - represented by J. Brian Benestad
Each author addresses his tradition's theological distinctives, the role of government, the place of individual Christian participation in government and politics, and how churches should (or should not) address political questions. Responses by each contributor to opposing views will highlight key areas of difference and disagreement.
Thorough and even-handed, Five Views on the Church and Politics will enable readers to consider the strengths and weaknesses of the most significant Christian views on political engagement and to draw their own, informed conclusions.
Contents
Introduction A brief overview of the five main views on church and state, the historic contexts of Christian reflection on politics, the significance of the topic for the contemporary church, and the key questions each contributor has been asked to cover. 1. Separationist (Anabaptist) Christian goals are only advanced through the church, and Christians only participate as believers in the church. 2. Two-Kingdom (Lutheran) Christians operate in the realms of both church and state as believers; however, they have different roles and goals in each realm. 3. In-Tension (Catholic) The church both cooperates with and challenges the state in order to bring about Christian social goals. 4. Integrationist (Reformed) The church seeks spiritual redemption while the church seeks social redemption, yet these goals overlap and complement each other. 5. Prophetic (Black Church) An integrationist perspective similar to the Catholic and Reformed views, but marked by an emphasis on the church's role in challenging the state and by a unique blend of theological conservatism married to political liberalism. Conclusion Each view is placed within the context of contemporary politics and compared to the goals and policies of the Democratic and Republican parties, so that readers can see clearly how both parties align and conflict with the five Christian traditions of political thought.
