Politics can be one of the most divisive issues in our society, and often elicits one of two responses: fight (with the people around us) or flee (and avoid the hard conversations). As Christians, we are called to sit with each other, listen, and participate in these difficult discussions. Below are a few resources we compiled to support healthy conversations with people from many different perspectives. We won’t get everything right, but we are always a work in progress and these conversations are another way we can demonstrate God’s love to the world.
Thank you to the Covenant Church for sharing some of these resources with us!
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The Ballot and the Bible: How Scripture Has Been Used and Abused in American Politics and Where We Go from Here, by Kaitlyn Schiess
Welcoming the Stranger: Justice, Compassion, and Truth in the Immigration Debate, by Jenny Yang and Matthew Soerens
Jesus and the Powers: Christian Political Witness in an Age of Totalitarian Terror and Dysfunctional Democracies, by N.T. Wright and Michael F. Bird
How to Be a Patriotic Christian: Love of Country as Love of Neighbor, by Richard J. Mouw
Subversive Witness: Scripture’s Call to Leverage Privilege, by Dominique Gilliard
Disability and the Church: A Vision for Diversity and Inclusion, by Lamar Hardwick
Exiles: The Church in the Shadow of Empire (Church in the Shadow of Empire, 2), by Preston M. Sprinkle
Compassion (&) Conviction: The AND Campaign’s Guide to Faithful Civic Engagement, by Justin Giboney, Michael Wear, and Chris Butler
The Confessions, by Saint Augustine
Moral Man and Immoral Society: A Study in Ethics and Politics, by Reinhold Niebuhr
The After-Party, by Curtis Chang, Nancy French
The Kingdom, the Power, and the Glory by Tim Alberta
The Spirit of Our Politics: Spiritual Formation and the Renovation of Public Life by Micheal Wear
Escaping Enemy Mode: How Our Brains Unite or Divide Us by Jim Wilder, Ray Woolridge
The Righteous Mind: Why Good People Are Divided by Politics & Religion by Jonathan Haidt
Defending Democracy from Its Christian Enemies by David Gushee
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The After Party features Dr. Russell Moore, David French, and Curtis Chang. This resource was created “for pastors and people who know there’s a better way to ‘do politics.’ It is designed to equip and encourage you to do the hard work of engaging across differences, reframing political identity in light of the gospel’s promises, and focusing hearts and minds on the ‘how’ of relating to each other before the ‘what’ of political opinions.”
“Welcoming the Stranger in an Election Year—Without Dividing Your Church,” a resource from the Evangelical Immigration Table
“For the Health of the Nation: An Evangelical Call to Civic Responsibility,” a resource produced by the National Association of Evangelicals
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LESS THAN 20 MINUTES
“How Should We Vote?” by Phil Vischer
“The Bible and Politics—How to Spot the Misuse of Scripture by Politicians and Activists,” by Kaitlyn Schiess
This video on biblical justice from the Bible Project
“Was America Founded as a Christian Nation?” by Russell Moore
“Does Romans 13 Say We Have to Obey the Government?” by Kaitlyn Schiess
“Do Politics Belong in the Pulpit?” from the Gospel Coalition
“The REAL Problem with Christian Nationalism,” by Skye Jethani
“What Does It Mean to Be Holistically Pro-Life?” by Trillia Newbell
This excerpt of an interview with Jenny Yang entitled “Why Is Immigration an Issue the Church Is Called to Care About?”
This video on the crisis along the US southern border
“The Lies That Serve Us,” by Justin Giboney
This homily entitled “Minding the Gap,” by Efrem Smith
Video of a Covenanter politically mobilizing her community to love vulnerable neighbors
“Peace in the Holy Land”—Rev. Dr. Mae Cannon interviews Jessica Montell and Sami Awad
“Caring for Creation One Church at a Time,” from Lausanne Global Classroom
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“Faith and Politics,” sermon by Rev. Eugene Cho
“God, Politics, and the Church: Resisting the Politics of Fear,” sermon by Rev. Rich Villodas
“Making Room: Playing Host to Ideological Strangers,” lecture by Dr. Richard J. Mouw
“How the Bible Defines Love,” interview with Rev. Dr. Dennis Edwards, dean of North Park Theological Seminary
The documentary “True Justice: Bryan Stevenson’s Fight for Equality”
“The God Who Sees: Immigrants, the Bible, and the Journey to Belong,” lecture by Karen Gonzalez
“Jesus Sees Our Pain,” sermon by Rev. Dr. Alexia Salvatierra
“Questions Christians Should Ask About Social Justice,” sermon by Dr. Thaddeus Williams
“God’s Kingdom and Our Politics,” lecture by Dr. James Skillen
“Rebirth of the Range,” video highlighting Indigenous wisdom and land rights
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This podcast on Christian nationalism by Dr. Andrew L. Whitehead and Dr. Samuel Perry
This podcast from Rev. Dominique Gilliard on “What Joseph, Pharaoh, and the Apostles Teach Us about Privilege”
This podcast from Dr. Wille James Jennings after George Floyd’s murder
This podcast on felon disenfranchisement and voting rights
This podcast on Critical Race Theory, “What Is It, Actually?” by Dr. Nathan Cartagena
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"Separation of Church & State" - by James Tallarico
"All the Wrong Ninevehs: Jonah 4" - by Rev. Brynn Harrington
"Right Side Up" - by Rev. Brynn Harrington