Gravity Commons Podcast Philip Christman: Why Christians Should Be Leftists
Nov 11, 2025
Philip Christman, an author and essayist teaching at the University of Michigan, discusses the intersection of Christian faith and leftist politics. He argues how the Sermon on the Mount calls for solidarity, making the case for progressive political engagement. Christman challenges the notion that church charity can replace political action, emphasizing the need to address systemic injustices. He highlights the importance of naming enemies to clarify commitments and critiques capitalism’s impact on work, urging a reexamination of motivations beyond mere survival.
AI Snips
Chapters
Books
Transcript
Episode notes
Leftism Defined By Rejecting Hoarding
- 'Leftist' rejects unjustified hierarchy and hoarding of wealth and power as its core stance.
- Philip Christman argues this rejection aligns deeply with Christian teachings about solidarity and justice.
Don't Exit Politics — Judge Its Content
- Admit politics are unavoidable and evaluate the content of political commitments.
- Use Christian moral discernment to prefer policies that promote human flourishing over those that exclude or harm neighbors.
Protect Mercy Work Through Political Action
- Contest the political arena to protect and scale the church's works of mercy.
- Engage politically so charitable acts can actually feed people and avoid becoming criminalized or token gestures.
