Biblical scholar Preston Sprinkle discusses how followers of Jesus are exiles in this world, challenging political views. He explores the subversive nature of first-century church gatherings and the political symbolism of the cross in the Roman world. Sprinkle emphasizes the importance of aligning political engagement with allegiance to Christ and addresses the church's role in advocating for social issues like human trafficking and abortion. The discussion also delves into the intersection of identity and allegiance through the usage of political terminology and preferred pronouns for individuals with same-sex attraction.
Being exiles challenges Christians to rethink political perspectives.
Early church attendance was politically subversive, impacting power dynamics.
The cross symbolized political opposition, shifting perceptions on power.
Deep dives
Understanding the Concept of Exile for Christians
The concept of Christians being exiles in the world is explored, linking it to the need for a nuanced review of political views. The early church's act of going to church was seen as politically subversive in the Roman world due to its implications. Additionally, the symbolism of the cross as a political image in the Roman world is discussed, showing a different perspective on power dynamics.
Diversifying Perspectives and Political Leanings
The podcast delves into the shift in the author's writing focus from sexuality to broader topics, emphasizing the importance of exploring various viewpoints. It highlights the speaker's personal journey from a conservative upbringing to resonating with progressive values while acknowledging the complexities of political affiliations.
Political Engagement Through a Kingdom Perspective
The discussion notes the need to view political engagement through the lens of the kingdom of God as a unique political identity. It encourages measuring political viewpoints against this backdrop, emphasizing a holistic approach to political involvement grounded in spiritual and ethical principles.
Addressing Structural Evils and Embodying Values
The conversation touches on addressing structural evils like human trafficking and moral issues such as abortion from a political and ethical standpoint. It highlights the importance of the church embodying its values in societal issues while advocating for legislative change rooted in biblical principles.
Navigating Political Partisanship and Allegiances
The podcast explores the delicate balance between political leanings and partisan allegiances, urging individuals to prioritize allegiance to Christ over political party affiliations. It emphasizes the importance of discerning political pronouns and identities to align with Christian values while engaging in critical socio-political discussions.
The Bible is clear that followers of Jesus are exiles in this world. What exactly does this mean and what does this mean for the way we view our political views and affiliations? How was going to church in the first century a politically subversive act? How was the cross a political image in the Roman world? We’ll answer these questions and more with our guest and friend Dr. Preston Sprinkle around his new book, Exiles: The Church in the Shadow of Empire.
Dr. Preston Sprinkle is a biblical scholar, speaker, podcaster, a New York Times bestselling author, and is the co-founder and president of The Center for Faith, Sexuality & Gender. He earned a Ph.D. in New Testament from Aberdeen University in Scotland (2007), and has taught theology at Cedarville University (OH), Nottingham University (U.K.), and Eternity Bible College (CA). He is the author of a dozen books and hosts the bi-weekly podcast, Theology in the Raw.
Think Biblically: Conversations on Faith and Culture is a podcast from Talbot School of Theology at Biola University, which offers degrees both online and on campus in Southern California.
To submit comments, ask questions, or make suggestions on issues you'd like us to cover or guests you'd like us to have on the podcast, email us at thinkbiblically@biola.edu.
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