The Liberal Goal of Conservatism: The Advantages of a Politically Diverse Church

The Liberal Goal of Conservatism: The Advantages of a Politically Diverse Church

The political tension of the past four years has polarized our country in ways not seen in recent history. One need only spend a few minutes on social media to acquire “participative knowledge” (to use a phrase from St. Maximus) of just how vitriolic American political discourse has become. The terms “conservative” and “liberal”, which formerly served as descriptors of one’s political leanings, now more frequently function as terms of slander. The political right views the political left as elitist, soft on law, enabling, amoral, and too preoccupied with the world at the expense of America. Likewise, many political liberals view their conservative counterparts as racist, ignorant, narrow minded, lacking compassion, too preoccupied with martial power, oppressively moralistic, and fixated on an idealized (and non-existent) past.

Paul’s Provocative Word for Our Politics

Paul’s Provocative Word for Our Politics

We live in a world that loves power, especially political power. Christians are not immune to this. In fact, conservative Christians—particularly evangelicals—have honed their political influence just as much, if not more, than other demographics in America. Billy Graham advised Presidents, evangelicals anchored the ‘Moral Majority’ for Ronald Reagan, and now most white evangelicals are propping up Donald Trump’s re-election chances.

Politics at Twilight: Faithful Political Engagement in an Age of Ideology

Politics at Twilight: Faithful Political Engagement in an Age of Ideology

Over the last two decades, the trend away from deliberative discourse toward a kind of scorched earth politics on both ends of the spectrum has accelerated at a staggering pace: virtue signaling and performative moral posturing, the outrage cycle and the politics of grievance, cancel culture—all exacerbated by our consumption of media carefully curated by algorithms explicitly devised to confirm the views we already hold.

Editorial – Kingdom Politics

Editorial – Kingdom Politics

For many Americans, politics is everything. Which is why so many, Christian and non-Christian alike, give a sort of religious devotion to their political causes, and why they put biblical-like faith in political promises. This is also why every four-year election cycle—this one included—is such a big deal, why it takes on messianic and apocalyptic urgency.

Critical Race Theory, Loaded Language, and an Appeal for Nuance and Charity

Critical Race Theory, Loaded Language, and an Appeal for Nuance and Charity

It would be ignorant and abusive to suggest that every democrat is an ardent supporter of late-term abortions, or that every republican is xenophobic. Might that be true of some democrats or republicans? Of course. But the sweeping partisanship and vitriolic landscape that is the present political climate need not also describe our conversations within the church. To label and dismiss anyone with whom there is an apparent disagreement is to identify more with the pharisee than it is to identify with Christ.