Podcast: Play in new window | Download
Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Amazon Music | Podcast Index | RSS
Few two-word combinations cause church leaders and Christians to tremble like the words “culture war.” However, we are still citizens of a constitutional Republic that requires our participation and support. This responsibility is a tension to be managed and not a problem to be solved. So, how should we think about our citizenship in changing times?
In this second part of our conversation (you can find the first part here), Ryan McCann (the Director of Operations and Public Policy at the Indiana Family Institute) and I discuss this important question. Here’s the outline:
- The Principles of Christian Citizenship – what does Scripture have to say about this?
- The Practice of Christian Citizenship – what does this look like in changing times?
- The Product of Christian Citizenship – what is the ultimate goal of Christian citizenship?
Key takeaways:
- Ryan McCann was in the front lines of the fight over the Religious Freedom Restoration Act in Indiana, which drew national attention and a media firestorm. We briefly discuss the head-scratching misrepresentations about the law and what that means going forward.
- Ryan does a great job of connecting community impact and cultural engagement. For example, we discuss the question: “Are we good neighbors if we feed the poor but say nothing about the policies that created poverty in the first place?”
- Ryan notes that we (as the Church) do not have a well-thought out theology of government. Many Christians apply Scripture to the Roman imperial dictatorship rather than to the American constitutional Republic.
- “Christ is either Lord over all (areas of life) or Lord over none.” -Ryan. We are called to follow Christ in every area of life, including our citizenship.
- We dive into the question of how to be good stewards of our citizenship and good neighbors in our communities.
- Curt Smith, the President of IFI, has written a booklet titled, On Christian Citizenship, which addresses the Biblical standards for citizenship.
- We discuss the fascinating concept of a cultural conveyor belt. Culture used to send problems toward the church for resolution. Now, culture sends problems toward government for resolution. We need to reverse this.
Connect with Ryan:
http://www.hoosierfamily.org/
What are your thoughts on Christian citizenship in changing times? How should Christian faithfully apply their faith in public life?