Rethinking politics in the light of God When we think about politics we often think about the privileged vying for power. Alternatively, we might think about gridlock, about frustration, or abou
“Ross Kane’s highly engaging book strips away any naive assumption that politics is somehow separate from, and even antithetical to, being a follower of Jesus. Instead, drawing on the example of Jesus himself, Kane offers a new way of looking at politics, as another form of human interdependence through which we can prayerfully and intentionally live out the Way of Love and make a difference in our world. This is an important work of reimagining that is needed in this deeply divided age.”
—Michael B. Curry, presiding bishop of the Episcopal Church
“It’s common for church members today to tell pastors to keep politics out of their sermons, and out of the church. It’s a reaction against the extreme political partisanship infecting many American congregations. But politics, deeply and properly understood, gets interwoven in what a church does, whom it serves, how it governs its life, and how it regards the world outside of its walls. This is why Ross Kane rightly speaks about how politics should be good news for the church. This helpful, concise book redeems the language and practice of politics in the life of the church.”
—Wes Granberg-Michaelson, general secretary emeritus of the Reformed Church in America
“This is a book about recentering. It maintains, with compelling examples and incontestable argument, that a truly theological politics is not about parties, egos, campaigns and votes, but about the daily practice of how we live together. Ross Kane demonstrates that there is nothing more political than church, because church is the embodiment of how we live with one another and with God, now and forever. If you think faith is about heaven, this book will shake you into contemplating the politics of heaven. If you think faith is useless for thinking about earth, this book will stir you into seeing how each of your political commitments are first theological ones. Politics is often portrayed as a tussle between heart and head. This book will persuade you that it’s about body and soul.”
—Samuel Wells, vicar, St. Martin-in-the-Fields Church
“In this remarkable new book, Kane writes with a pastor’s heart and a theologian’s imagination about how the church and politics (local and national) go together—indeed how they must go together for the church to be faithful to its calling.”
—Douglas Brouwer, pastor and author of Chasing After Wind: A Pastor’s Life
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Ross Kane teaches theology and ethics at Virginia Theological Seminary, where he also directs their doctoral programs.
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Table of Contents
Preface
Part 1: Ordinary Politics
1 Neighbor Love as Politics
2 Loving Interdependence
3 Public Life in Scripture and Worship
4 Good News in Politics
Part 1 Questions for Reflection and Discussion and Recommended Reading
Part 2: The Spirituality of Politics
5 Prayer and Politics
6 Loving Our Enemies
7 Forgiveness as Political
8 Tangles of Forgiving
Part 2 Questions for Reflection and Discussion and Recommended Reading
Part 3: Renewing Leadership through Good Politics
9 Habits of Faithful Politics
10 Love as Political Power
11 Really? The Church?
12 Finitude and Sin
13 Authority and Leadership
Part 3 Questions for Reflection and Discussion and Recommended Reading
Part 4: The Firstfruits of Public Life
14 The Congregation in the Wider Community
15 Limits of Hyperlocal Politics
16 Seeking the Welfare of the City
17 Christians amid the Nations
18 The Firstfruits of Public Life
19 The Wisdom of Neighbors
Part 4 Questions for Reflection and Discussion and Recommended Reading
Conclusion: The Body of Christ and the New Jerusalem
Acknowledgments
Notes
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