Dr. Caleb Leonard interviews Associate Professor Andrew Walker about Baptist political theology. They discuss the relationship between theology and ethics, the role of the state and natural/moral law, the importance of politics in Baptist life, Christians' role in shaping laws, and the significance of a Christ-shaped conscience in the church.
Political theology explores the intersection of God's revelation and society, emphasizing the need for Christians to engage in politics and advocate for just laws.
Baptist political theology emphasizes the separation of religious and political authorities, cautioning against conflating American identity with Christian identity and prioritizing the church's mission in administering sacraments and nurturing believers.
Deep dives
Overview of Political Theology
Political theology explores the intersection of God's revelation and how society should be ordered. It goes beyond government and includes questions about the obligations of both Christians and non-Christians to each other and to God. The authority and purpose of government are examined, as well as the role of lawmaking and issues of morality. Political theology recognizes the importance of natural law in shaping societal standards and views the state as having a derived authority. It emphasizes the need for Christians to engage in politics, understanding that just laws benefit all members of society.
The Role of Covenants in Political Theology
Covenants play a significant role in political theology by setting the redemptive historical context for scripture. While political theology considers the relationship between God's revelation and society, the covenants help define the specific obligations and boundaries for different groups. For example, the New Covenant is distinct from the Old Testament Israelite covenants, emphasizing the role of the church in mediating God's redemptive rule. The Noeic covenant provides a framework for understanding the state's role in upholding creation order and maintaining societal stability. Properly understanding the covenants helps shape political theology, helping differentiate Baptist political theology from other perspectives.
Baptist Political Theology: Church and State
Baptist political theology emphasizes the separation of religious and political authorities. It recognizes the role of the church in forming Christians and the importance of baptism in setting believers apart. Baptists affirm religious freedom and promote the idea that the state should not directly mediate ultimate reality. While Christians have a responsibility to engage in the public square and advocate for just laws, they should do so understanding the distinction between the church and the state. Baptist political theology cautions against overly conflating American identity with Christian identity and emphasizes the primacy of the church's mission in administering the sacraments, preaching the gospel, and nurturing believers.
Implications for the Church and Church Leaders
Baptist political theology encourages church leaders to keep the gospel and its implications distinct. The primary mission of the church is to shape Christians through the ordinary means of grace, focusing on preaching, sacraments, prayer, and community centered around the gospel and God's Word. However, understanding the implications of the gospel should also motivate believers to seek righteousness in society and engage in the public square. This involves mobilizing and advocating for just laws, bringing Christ-shaped consciences into various spheres of influence, while recognizing the limits of the state and respecting the separation between church and state.
In this episode, Caleb discusses the contribution Baptists have made to the field of political theology with Andrew Walker (PhD, The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary) who serves as an associate professor of Christian ethics and public theology, associate dean of the school of theology, and director of the Carl F.H. Henry Institute for Evangelical Engagement at SBTS.
Resources:
Baptist Political Theology edited by Thomas Kidd (Editor), Paul Miller, and Andrew Walker. https://a.co/d/hrbgKcj
Political Church: The Local Assembly as Embassy of Christ's Rule by Jonathan Leeman https://a.co/d/b35iCxm
How the Nations Rage: Rethinking Faith and Politics in a Divided Age by Jonathan Leeman https://a.co/d/itgVhFE
Politics After Christendom: Political Theology in a Fractured World by David VanDrunen https://a.co/d/caL4CMM
Living in God's Two Kingdoms: A Biblical Vision for Christianity and Culture by David VanDrunen https://a.co/d/eruDrKB
Political Gospel: Public Witness in a Politically Crazy World by Patrick Schreiner https://a.co/d/fiE0cbc
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