Guest Speaker: Tim Keel - "The Church and Politics"

Pastor Tim Keel began his teaching today by framing some ideas around politics and citizenship. He said: “Politics is about… * How we belong to each other * What we owe one another * What we owe society & * Who holds ultimate loyalty” What do you think of these summarizing statements? Does one or another capture something significant in your view or just jump out to you? Which and for what reasons? Are there any of these that seem more or less relevant to our present moment in history? More or less relevant in our lives as Christians? Share about how so or why not.

Tim also added that what we’re really talking about with all these ideas is citizenship, and added that the a key question is, “when there is a conflict in loyalty, who wins?” Many of us know that our ultimate loyalty is “supposed to be” to Christ, and yet living our lives in that way is often much simpler in theory than in practice. What are some of the areas in life in which your divided loyalties are most likely to present themselves? Where do you most struggle to choose a path that honors your ultimate identity as a Christian rather than another loyalty or identity? Share about those spaces, what characterizes them, and the ways in which you experience the tensions between different loyalties that you hold. Are there contexts in which you feel like the idea of Christ-as-ultimate-authority is especially relevant? What about contexts in which it may seem like Christ’s authority is or should be less a factor in your decision making or actions?

Tim also talked about the impact of Emperor Constantine’s adoption of Christianity as the state religion of Rome, and the far-reaching impacts on Christianity’s relationship to politics and power. He said that, for the many centuries since, Christians have tended to believe that the Church needs the power of the state. What are your thoughts about this idea? What have you observed about the threads of this concept in the Christianity you see around you? Is there some extent to which you think that Christianity does need - or, at least, could be aided by - integration with powers of state? Alliances with powers of state? Is this something that’s shifted for you over time? Share about your views & experiences. Considering these ideas, how do you then understand and integrate Paul’s directive to “pray for those in authority…so that we may live peaceful and quiet lives?” In what ways does the idea of “peaceful and quiet” living align with your sense of living out your Christian faith and fidelity to Christ? Are there ways in which you feel some measure of  resistance to or dissonance resulting from the idea of “peaceful and quiet living” as an ideal Christian way of engaging with secular authority? Share about your thoughts and feelings with the group.