Reframing Politics Through the Cross: Paul’s Radical Conversion and a New Vision for the Church

Oct 22, 2020

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What does it look like to engage politically in a way rooted in the cross and not coercion? In this special bonus episode from the archives, Mike Erre continues the “Faith & Politics” series by diving deep into the transformative implications of Paul’s conversion—for both the early church and our modern political landscape.

Drawing from Paul’s radical encounter with Jesus on the road to Damascus, Mike explores how the Apostle’s understanding of politics, salvation, nationalism, and power underwent a complete overhaul. Listeners are invited to reimagine civic engagement not through partisanship but through the cruciform vision of the Kingdom of God, where allegiance to Jesus as Lord reshapes all identities, systems, and priorities.

Key Takeaways: • Paul’s Political Awakening – How meeting the crucified and risen Jesus reoriented Paul’s theology from zealotry to sacrificial love and non-coercive kingdom living. • Resurrection as Political Symbol – Seeing resurrection not as escapism but as God’s holistic plan for the world: economic, social, and political renewal. • The Cross as a Political Statement – Understanding the Roman cross as the ultimate political symbol, and how Jesus’s death subverts and reclaims power structures through loving victory. • The Birth of a New Humanity – How the church, drawn from every tribe and nation, is called to be a new polis—a holy, justice-oriented political community shaped by the Spirit and mission of Jesus. • Jesus Is Lord (Not Caesar) – Why the early Christian proclamation directly challenged the empire and what it means for modern believers navigating political identity.

Resources Mentioned: • Ephesians 1 – Paul’s sweeping vision of Jesus’s cosmic lordship (Read Ephesians 1) • Michael Gorman – Insights on “cruciform” theology and non-coercive power • Books and themes of Jonah and Exodus 19 – For understanding election, vocation, and God’s heart for the nations • Tim Gombis – Writings on empire and Pauline theology

Join us as we wrestle with what it means to live as a politically faithful church in an era of division, nationalism, and misplaced allegiance. Subscribe, leave a review, and share this episode with anyone questioning how faith truly intersects with politics.

As always, we encourage and would love discussion as we pursue. Feel free to email in questions to hello@voxpodcast.com, and to engage the conversation on Facebook and Instagram.

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Music in this episode by Timothy John Stafford

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