With the national election not too far away, questions about politics, public life, and how faith shapes our choices may be front of mind for many. In Reimagining Biblical Politics: What Scripture Says About Public Life and Why It Matters, Michael Rhodes - Old Testament lecturer and Dean of Faculty at Carey Baptist College - encourages readers to think more deeply about what Scripture has to say about these issues. But is the book worth adding to your reading list? Read what two members of our Baptist whānau thought.
Jono Edmeads, Pastor, Whakatane Baptist Church
"Michael J. Rhodes' Reimagining Biblical Politics: What Scripture Says about Public Life and Why it Matters is a gift to disciples, leaders and pastors alike. In a world where the cry of 'what about this other passage?' hangs over almost every pastoral attempt to apply scripture to contextual issues in our public life, Rhodes uses his academic skill and relatable communication style to expand the conversation whilst keeping Jesus at the centre.
In a format that is relatable and easily understandable for us plebs outside the biblical studies realm, Picturing Biblical Politics has both the political nerd and their conflict-avoidant cousins curious about where Rhodes is going just as soon as they open the contents page. Starting with the assertion that every form of Christian political discipleship originates in the claim that 'God is King', Rhodes collates his wide (and I mean wide!) variety of scriptural case studies into two distinct camps. 'Outpost Politics' addresses the call on God's people to organise themselves as people who recognise that Jesus is King. These are the stories that can help shape our effectiveness to live as a 'city on a hill'. 'Pilgrim Politics' covers where God's people find themselves living where the systems of power and government do not acknowledge the same King. These chapters draw the reader to consider what it is to engage in political systems where those who don't know our King hold the keys. Across these two broad categories, Rhodes gives chapter length treatment to the contributions of Jesus and Paul, the Torah, Psalms, Proverbs, Daniel, Esther and the Hebrew Midwives in Exodus...just to name a few.
The reader is left without any doubt that Scripture points us in no singular direction when it comes to our political witness. This will be exciting for those frustrated by narrow political discipleship limited to certain texts, but equally frustrating for those of us hoping that Dr. Rhodes will have found a 'one-size-fits-all' approach for biblically informed political engagement!
Rhodes brings the book to a close with a practical set of steps to assist churches with discerning how they can engage in political witness together. This is very much the level this exciting book is pitched at, regular followers of Jesus engaged in their local faith community who want to face the complexity of our distinct political moment with an awareness of the breadth of Scriptural witness in these matters. As much as Dr. Rhodes has written this with a heartfelt concern for his own homeland, I look forward to seeing it become a resource to inform church-wide conversations as we head towards our own general election here in Aotearoa."
Nicola Griffiths, Carey Baptist College Contextual Education Programme Lead
Blue… red… green… left… right… Even reading the words “biblical” and “politics” together in one sentence may bring waves of panic to many, perhaps especially to pastors who have led through the COVID19 period. I was pastoring at that time, and my nervous system has not lost that memory. So, in a world divided sharply by partisan politics, is Rhodes’s new book Reimagining Biblical Politics going to further add to the divide, or will it bring hope?
This book gives me hope. To get the ball rolling, at the start of his book Rhodes asks questions that we all have probably heard or asked: Why should Christians bother with politics? Isn’t worshipping God best done in complete separation from this hot-button topic? Rhodes tackles these questions (and others) with his characteristic gusto, stating that Christians must bother with politics because what the Bible says about politics is good news! The good news is that Jesus is King, and he reigns. This is political language, and it underpins the gospel. I have been a Christian all my life, and how had I missed that each Sunday we were singing, reading, teaching, and learning deeply political language and stories? Indeed, Jesus is King, and he reigns is a deeply political statement, and the one which Christians base our lives upon. Politics matter and are embedded in our worship of King Jesus.
Rhodes also poses a follow-up question: so why is Jesus’s kingship good news? There are several answers: Jesus’s kingship is good news because Jesus’ rule brings true shalom, true peace. It is good news because we are called to bring shalom in any way that we can, to help all citizens and the earth to flourish. Further, Jesus’s kingship is good news because as a city on a hill we are called to invite others to join us as citizens in God’s kingdom. And it is good news because the watching world can either be attracted or repelled by our politics.
Firmly founded on this good news of Jesus’ kingship, Rhodes then takes readers on a rollercoaster ride through scripture to examine a diverse range of political responses. Without providing a complete spoiler, one of Rhodes’s key points is that we must abolish any notion of there being one correct way to engage politically as a disciple of Christ. Instead, he urges us to draw from the diverse mosaic of political discipleship within Scripture. Also, and importantly, Churches must not tell people how to vote, as Scripture does not demand allegiance to one party or human ruler! May we remember this as we approach our election. Also, though, and perhaps more challenging, is the call to not ignore politics by separating worship and politics. While firmly pushing against any conflation of church and state (us Baptists breathe a sigh of relief!), near the end of the book Rhodes paints a beautiful vision where the declaration “The Lord reigns” shapes our worship services, guiding God’s people to live lives of political justice. If you only read one section of this book, read this one.
Rhodes’s theoretical and practical book provides a hope-filled, generous gift to the church where our eyes, ears, hearts, and hands are opened to picturing Biblical politics prayerfully, humbly, and wisely together. This can allow us to better live as citizens of God’s kingdom in our “City on a Hill” that welcomes people in. Go on, grab a copy! And listen in to Rhodes’s podcast about his book. It’s a goodie. (And how about enrolling in Michael’s postgrad course at Carey when it next comes around!)
Grab a copy of the book for yourself
Keen to explore further? Here are two places to start:
1. Read the book
Pick up a copy of Reimagining Biblical Politics: What Scripture Says About Public Life and Why It Matters from Amazon.
2. Listen to the podcast
Michael Rhodes and friends unpack many of the themes from the book on the crossRhodes: Reimagining Biblical Politics podcast. New episodes are being released weekly and are available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube, and Baptist.nz.
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