[Note: This is one post in a series on David Gushee’s book After Evangelicalism: The Path to a New Christianity. The aim of these posts is to help you start conversations with people in your community. Invite someone to read this book with you and discuss it together. You don’t need to agree with each other or the author to benefit from doing this type of activity.]
Chapter 8: Politics: Starting over after white evangelical’s embrace of Trumpism
In this chapter, Gushee addresses what he identifies as the major problem of intertwining how we practice our Christian faith and engage in the political landscape. Gushee pays particular attention to the decades-long process that has led to conservative Christianity being almost synonymous with American Republicanism.
As he develops his argument, Gushee identifies two factors that pushed conservative Christians into a deeper relationship with the Republican party. First, conservative Christians perceived GOP politicians as a means to an end. The politicians would theoretically support policies that would enable the flourishing of Christianity in America. Second, the Democratic party increasingly embraced secularism and took stances many conservative Christians perceived as antithetical to the Bible’s teachings.
As an anti-dote to what he sees as a major problem for evangelical Christians, Gushee offers his “Seven Marks of Healthy Christian Politics.”
A distinctive Christian identity — not a civil religion
A politics of hope, not fear
Critical distance from all earthly powers—not partisanship, partnership, or surrender
A discipline provided by a Christian social teaching tradition—not ideology or improv
A global perspective — not parochial or nationalist
A vision for the common good - not the Church’s self-interest
A people who practice what they preach — not hypocrites or load shifters
Intriguing Quote(s)
“There is no way that the Bible can be said to produce a single, coherent political vision or ethic. It has proven to be usable for endless alternative politics: theocratic, royalist, authoritarian, fascist, ethno-nationalist, slavocratic, colonialist, Christian democrat, revolutionary, reformist, liberal, libertarian, socialist, communist, anarchist, quietist, millenarian, and even today’s social-conservative white evangelical Republicanism.” (138)
“Christians who are confused about their core identity often abandon the teachings of Jesus for the demands of other lords, notably, the nation itself—without knowing they are doing so.” (145)
“Politicians are generally far less interested in hearing Christian moral convictions stated in their presence than in co-opting Christian influencers for their own political purposes. They feign interest in the former while pursuing the latter.” (146)
Conversation Starters
How would you assess the relationship between your faith and your politics?
Can you identify the areas where your preferred political party takes stands that are unbiblical?
Should Christians reject partisan politics? Why or why not?