9.34 - Politics and Faith: Respectful Disentanglement

Do not steal. Simple enough, right? But what if stealing meant feeding your family? Surely that is understandable… But what if you lived in a community where you never had to steal in the first place?  When it comes to theft, God's people are called to a higher standard—not only in how we treat what belongs to others, but also in how we uphold justice in our communities. Tune in to today's episode to hear how the cultural idiom "finders keepers" is at odds with God's kingdom ethic, and how the rich may actually steal more from the poor than Robin Hood would have you think! Because the best conversations happen After Class!

Have you ever asked someone to lie on your behalf? Have you ever lied on behalf of another? Have you ever let the masses dictate how you act, even when you knew  it was wrong? Today, the guys dig into commandment number nine: "Do not bear false witness." Has God called us to a higher standard of truth than we might apply in our day-to-day lives? Tune in to today's episode to hear the guys discuss how deeply the commandment not to bear false witness goes and how to apply it to our lives today. Because the best conversations happen After Class

God has given you everything you need, and He is all you need. If you said "Amen," then why do you covet? The Ten Commandments are more than a generic law code that anyone can live by. They are the reference point to a wider, set-apart way of life, and that set-apartness comes with a few rules on how to conduct oneself in a new identity as a kingdom of priests, a holy nation.  Today, the guys begin their new series unpacking the Ten Commandments, beginning with coveting. Tune in to hear how pervasive and destructive this seemingly simple attitude can be.  Because the best conversations happen after class!

How do we present the very political biblical worldview without doing it in a worldly political way? Do Moses, Joseph, Daniel and company, Ezra, Nehemiah, and Esther prove that Christians should seek top political positions to influence policy? Does God call us to be on the right or the left of the political aisle? What level of involvement with the governing authorities is appropriate?  Today, the guys answer listener questions regarding how Christians should relate to governing authorities as they wrap up the series. Are you okay to have no say? Tune in today to find out, because the best conversations happen, After Class! 

Do you believe Christians should control the outcome of political and state decisions? Should Christians fear governing authorities? How do Christians engage and interact with the wider political culture and the powers of the age? Today, the guys engage with some of the most cited passages as they wind down their series on politics and faith, focusing on the Christian's relationship with governing authorities.  Tune in to hear how passages like Romans 13:1–5, Matthew 22:15–22, Titus 3:1–5, 1 Peter 2:11, 1 Timothy 2:1–4, and Matthew 10:28 fit into the conversation and inform our ultimate posture.

Do Christians have dual citizenship? Are Christians called to utilize their earthly citizenship as leverage? Is the Christian expression of a new Kingdom reality one that seeks to take control of worldly politics and policies? If you said yes, your vision of the Kingdom might be too small… Are you spending your time and energy on inferior  conflicts, fights, and weaponry? Maybe there really is a different way. Tune in to today's episode of the After Class Podcast to hear the guys bring a timely word for Christians of all nations.  Because the best conversations happen After Class!

Are you removing tension from your life by sacrificing the way of the Kingdom of God? Today the guys conclude their series by exploring the final seven tensions between the Kingdom of God and the kingdoms of this world. By nature, the State is myopic, but the Kingdom of God is cosmopolitan. It is not enough to partner with the world in a Christian way. We are called to a separate way of life that intentionally puts us in tension with the governing world around us. Are we easing the tension by compromising our allegiance? Do we seek influence through power, or faithfulness through obedience? Are we citizens who happen to be Christians, or ambassadors of another Kingdom who happen to live under earthly governments? Are you ready to be challenged today? Then tune in to today's episode of The After Class Podcast, because the best conversations happen after class.

As we continue exploring the contrast between the Kingdom of God and the Kingdom of the World, we begin asking the practical questions that expose where our true allegiance lies. How do we speak about ourselves? Do we seek recognition, status, and influence—or do we quietly point others to Christ? How do we treat the undeserving, the overlooked, and the downcast? Do we show the same honor to the poor that we readily give to the wealthy? Is wealth a prerequisite for influence, respect, or significance in our eyes? Do we seek to lord our authority over others, or do we pursue greatness by becoming servants—even in the lowest and least visible places? Do we follow the world's pattern of self-promotion, boasting, and ambition? Or do we follow the humble example of Christ, who emptied Himself, took the form of a servant, and laid down His life for others? Join us as we continue examining the radically different values of the Kingdom of God and the Kingdom of the World—and discover how the Gospel challenges not only what we believe, but how we live. Because the best conversations happen after class.

Jesus commands us to seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness. But how should citizens of the Kingdom of God engage with the kingdoms of this world? In today's episode, the guys explore the tension between the Kingdom of God and earthly kingdoms.  Are you ready for some tension? Growth rarely comes without resistance. Just as perseverance strengthens our character, wrestling with difficult questions strengthens our faith. Join us as we work through the challenging—but essential—relationship between the kingdoms of this world and the Kingdom of God. Because the best conversations happen after class.

Is the world ultimately transformed through the voting booth, or through a people who faithfully live out the "strange" teachings of Christ? Do Christians need governments to enforce God's standards, or is a holy, set-apart life sufficient? What comes to people's minds when they think about you? Your politics? Your opinions? Your accomplishments? Or do they think of Christ? If your life points more clearly to a kingdom other than to the Kingdom of God, it may be time to ask where your true priorities—and your true allegiance—lie. Join the guys as they explore what it means to pursue holiness, redefine success, and faithfully represent Christ in a world with very different values. Because the best conversations happen after class.