Charles E. Gutenson, Christians and the Common Good: How Faith Intersects with Public Life. Brazos Press, 2010.
Referenced in: Perspectives on Political Theory and Church-State Relations
LifeandLeadership.com Summary
The aim of this book is to elevate God’s kingdom vision for justice and the common good of his creation, and let this guide Christians on issues of public policy. Gutenson is the CEO of Sojourners, so one would expect a keen interest in social justice, but he also brings an appreciative conservative background to this subject. He transcends the short-list of texts commonly used on Christian political interaction, and traces God’s interests in the common good through the entire canon, highlighting God’s special interests in the poor. As part of the discussion, he challenges the evangelical overemphasis on individual salvation and underemphasis on social justice. He also calls Christians to be informed by and committed to God’s larger interests, and reach beyond strict party affiliations to influence matters on the local, national, and international levels. Gutenson provides a thoughtful foundation for Christians who do not lean extremely left or right (although he left himself), but who still believe scripture has much to offer in political deliberations, and wish to engage them theologically and spiritually.
From the Publisher
Christians across the spectrum have soured on religious involvement in politics, tempted either to withdraw or to secularize their public engagement. Yet the kingdom of God is clearly concerned with justice and communal well-being. How can Christians be active in public life without getting mired down in political polarization and controversy?
For too long, the question of faith in public life has centered on what the Bible says about government. Charles Gutenson, a theologian respected by both evangelical and mainline Christians, argues that we should ask how God intends for us to live together before considering particular public policies and governmental institutions. By concentrating on the nature of God, we can move past presuppositions regarding the role of government and form a reasonable framework for engaging in healthy discussions about how best to serve the common good. This lucidly written book will appeal to readers interested in ethics, theology, and politics and includes a foreword by bestselling author Jim Wallis.
Contents
- Introduction
- Reading Scripture
- The God of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and Jesus
- Biblical Vignettes
- Human Governance and a Kingdom Agenda
- Public Policy and a Kingdom Agenda
About the Author
Charles E. Gutenson (PhD, Southern Methodist University) is the chief operating officer of Sojourners. He formerly served as associate professor of philosophical theology at Asbury Theological Seminary and has worked as a pastor and a corporate executive. He is the author of Considering the Doctrine of God and coauthor, with Jim Wallis, of Living God’s Politics.