Last week I wrote a post on “The top ten most difficult doctrinal/theological subjects that contemporary Christians need to address.” Today I want to invite readers to leave a comment recommending books on these topics that you have found to be helpful. The fifth item on my list was political allegiance and ecclesiastical unity about which I wrote:
I don’t know how this goes elsewhere, but our election season can be a nasty time for Christian unity. Often pastors preach overt sermons supporting particular political ideologies or sometimes their views leak into their sermons. People may begin campaigning for a particular party in such a way that it causes friction with Christians who support other parties or candidates. Even more discouraging is the way politicians adopt the rhetoric of Christianity in order to win votes.
What is a book (or books) that you recommend for someone wanting to think through this subject?
the archives near Emmaus 
I have heard that James Davidson Hunter’s book To Change the World is thought provoking, but I have not read it.
I recommend “The Myth of a Christian Nation” by Greg Boyd. It compares and contrasts the power-over tendencies of politics with the power-under principles of Christ. It promotes Christian unity.
Richard Mouw’s Uncommon Decentcy. Is not particullary about political disagreement but disagreement as a whole. I don’t think it is a great book but it is a good one and ther are few good books on disagreement that I have found
A bit of a cop out, but John Howard Yoder’s “The Politics of Jesus” is about as good as it gets.
If we add Yoder we should mention Hauerwaus as well.
…though it could be argued that Yoder and Hauerwaus are divisive! 🙂
Alas, most books on this subject can be plotted at one point on the political spectrum or the other. The only people to whom it does not seem that way are people who share the political viewpoint of the author in question. It is, practically speaking, impossible to be political without being partisan.
The alternative – to withdraw from politics – is hardly ever commended these days. Perhaps this is as it should be. Perhaps not.
What we’d really like in any case is keen sense of how Jesus would handle being a 21st-century American adult. Alas, we don’t seem to be anywhere near a consensus on how that would play out.
Mike
Probably true and unfortunate. I guess that substantiates my claim that this remains a critical issue!
Greg Boyd “Myth of A Christian Nation”
John Howard Yoder “Politics of Jesus” and “The Christian Witness to The State”
Shane Claiborne “Jesus for President”
Chuck Colson “God and Government”
Jim Wallis “God’s Politics”
Augustine “The City of God”
Stanley Hauerwas articles.
@Tg
Good list.
I have read James Davidson Hunter’s book To Change the World. It is, in my opinion, by far the best book of the lot among the recommendations so far. Mirsolav Volf’s A Public Faith is also good.