Challenging. I don't agree with everything the author says, but I think this is a conversation we need to be having, and I think we need to be okay if and when we have to rethink some of our default responses and examine if they align with scripture. I think this would make a great book to read through with a few friends and then meet up and discuss afterwards. May Jesus reign supreme in our hearts - far above our love of country or love of political party.

Thanks to NetGalley for providing an advanced copy for an honest review.

I have a really difficult time eating this one. On the one hand, there’s a few things I agree with in here. I appreciate the care and nuance that Schreiner put into supporting his points. The book was very well written.

On the other hand, I am not sure I fully buy into the militarization of the faith. I also don’t know if I really agree with the redefinition of the gospel presented in the beginning of the book and subsequent worldview shaping based on that definition of the gospel.

I think it could be a good read as food for thought, but I don’t know if I would recommend it as a theological work.

When I started reading I was skeptical. Reading people talk about politics and religion is either very liberal or very conservative. This was neither. It's a thought-provoking read. The title isn't my favorite as there's only one gospel and in this time of history everyone seems to put the word gospel behind anything.

*I received this book from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for my thoughts.

I will admit: I entered this book a bit trepidatiously. _How is this going to go?_ I wondered.

Thankfully: It went well, lol.

Schreiner writes engagingly, convictingly (sometimes more than I want, but that just indicates opportunities for growth, right?), and unflinchingly. The read is a necessary one, especially now ... and I think readers across the political spectrum will find something of value here. My hope is that the book is read, it points the reader back to the True Source (God and his Word), and dialogue happens--not just with those who think or look like us, but with those who don't.

I appreciated Schreiber's setting many events in Jesus's life in their right context, as well as showing how they were political (to varying degrees). That was really insightful, and I learned a lot about historical politics as well as how to apply my faith in present day (and everything that goes with that).

A thought-provoking and timely read. 4/5 stars.

I received an eARC of the book from the publisher via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

This book discusses how the gospel is political even though some says …uh uh…nope…for some they believe we are to keep silent as Christians and never speak of the Bible or Christ. The USA was founded on freedom of speech.and freedom of religion. It isn’t supposed to be kept separate. This book is discussing if the Gospel and Christianity are political and to be talked about or should we be silent. This book pretty much says it is because our country was founded upon it and Christians have a say in it all and that we should speak up, but us being as Christ/Christlike is the epitome of what Christianity is and this is how we are to spread the gospel of Christ , in love, and guidance. Not by force or pushing, but in love. There were places where I didn’t agree with the author but all in all I believe he was trying to get us Christians to do a better job with our rights to freedom of speech and freedom of religion. Thank you to #NetGalley, the author, and the publishers for the opportunity to read and review #PoliticalGospel with my honest thoughts and opinions!

The author's argument is that Christianity is political. He demonstrates the premise with Scripture. His definition of political is "the activities associated with the organization and governance of people." So for a Christian, politics is "how we integrate our confession that Jesus is Lord with our call to love our neighbor."
I believe that is an appropriate definition and application. That being said I do not relate politics in the gospel as specifically as Schreiner.
Familiar biblical events- casting out Legions of demons, the temptations of Christ, the Trial of Christ, the Empire of Rome, the church, even the idea of 'gospel' - are cast in the light of this politic. Schreiner offers some relevant insights, new to me, in this narration. His explanation of whether Caesar should receive taxes is well presented.
In this framework, a believer must submit and subvert. Submit to God as the Highest authority and subvert earthly authority by "existing as the kingdom of God amid the kingdom of man." We speak the truth and justice of God. This will create "a community so loyal to King Jesus that all other political allegiances pale in comparison." The outcome is this. "We are truly political when we speak more of God's reign and thereby put Caesar's reign in its proper place."
As I began the book I presumed that I would find many disagreements but Schreiner and I have much in common. Most importantly, we hold that politics as usual has played too big a role in the church. The church must "proclaim God's kingdom and the gospel of hope. . . Maybe that means we should stop watching so much cable news and get together with people from our congregations for meals, inviting others to do the same."

What should the church’s role in politics be? How much should we care about politics? Should we emphasize the heavenly kingdom and withdraw from earthly governments or should we become activists? When do we submit to government and when do we disobey to follow Christ?

Schreiner seeks to answer these questions in Political Gospel.
His thesis is that Christianity is political, not in the way that we usually think, but because Jesus is the King of Kings, and so we belong ultimately to another kingdom and are under a greater ruler than any earthly ruler. But because God has appointed earthly rulers, we do have a duty to submit to them, but only when our ultimate submission and allegiance is to God—which will sometimes be “subversive.”

In Schreiner’s own words, “The gospel message is a world-forming, public, and political reality. Jesus calls people to a new way of life, a new society, a new community. In this way, Jesus and Paul contested the current order of society. Yet at the same time, Jesus is after no earthly throne.”

Schreiner gives a framework for Christians’ role in politics. He almost entirely avoids specific issues. He bases his arguments on Ancient Greek and Roman culture, the New Testament narratives, and the Epistles.

First, he shows that “gospel,” “faith,” “son of God,” and of course, “kingdom” were all political ideas in Jesus’ day. Jesus’ message conflicted with earthly politics—not because he wanted to take Caesar’s place in the 1st century A.D., but because he is the ultimate King of all time.

Next, he turns to our job to both submit and to subvert. Not one or the other, but both in tension. These are touchy words, so he defines them: To subvert means “to use your words or actions to critique or undermine the usual way of doing something.” To submit means “to voluntarily yield to the authority of another.” Here he gives examples from both the Epistles (where the emphasis is more on submit) and Acts (where we get most of our examples of refusing to submit). This is done not ultimately as “pro” or “anti” government, but “altergovernment” as we live in a community “loyal to King Jesus and make all other political allegiances pale in comparison.” For a longer quote here: “The primary task of our communities is not to run to secular political orders for protection, to dominate political processes, or to bring about the “Christian” state. The primary task is to stand as a witness to an alternative political society.” Ultimate allegiance to Jesus will often mean submission. But sometimes it means speaking out against wrongs in government, and sometimes it means that by our very lives as faithful Christians, we undermine the status quo—not because we are stirring something up or are even actively involved in politics. Paul was accused of political things, but what he was doing was preaching.

Finally, after first the way of the Dove (Jesus’ ministry), and the way of the subversion in a way of submission (Paul), he turns to the way of the Lion embodied in the slain Lamb (the future). Jesus’ second coming matters to our politics. Revelation shows us the end of all earthly kingdoms, and pulls back the curtain on what they really are. And it tells us that Jesus’ kingdom is not one that is ultimately “in our hearts” but is real and physical.

The Christian way is not one of nationalism, utopianism, or withdrawal. It is one of faithful, pilgrim citizenship and proclamation. Schreiner’s book is a good start in exploring what that way looks like. Its strength lies in proving how political Christianity is. Its weakness is that the submission/subversion section is not as fleshed out as I would have liked. I still have numerous questions in that area—some of which is me thinking through personal experiences and what that looks like as a stay-at-home-mom. His use of Judas as an example in the last chapter also needed more substantiation.

A word to my more conservative friends: Schreiner does reference systemic racism multiple times. My point in bringing this up is not to address that issue, but because I know people who wouldn’t listen to Schreiner because of that. I have some quibbles with examples Schreiner uses while trying to stay away from the issues—he could have done a better job picking things Christians across the spectrum agree on when giving examples—but the book is still 100% worth reading, so please don’t let disagreements on the issues stop you from picking up Political Gospel.

I’m hoping this isn’t just tickling my ears that are annoyed with the way I see many Christians interacting with politics, but I love this framework. It makes so much sense of gut feelings I’ve had in the last few years.

Read this book, because “we are too political in the wrong way. We give too much power to earthly powers when we speak of them constantly. One of the ways to be truly political is to speak more of God’s reign and thereby put Caesar’s reign in its proper place.”

(I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for my review)

Patrick Schreiner has written a timely book for evangelicals. Beginning with the premise that the message of the Gospel is a political statement, Schreiner outlines from Scripture that early Christianity and specifically the ordinances they practiced were political statements and would have been understood in that capacity. Both baptism and the Lord’s Supper were direct claims that Jesus is the true king. My favorite part of this book is the background material detailed to defend this claim. This is very well done.

The author uses Augustine’s City of God/City of Man dichotomy to show the tension that Christians must navigate. The reader is reminded that our contemporary culture is not the first to have this dialogue. This tension manifests in the reality that Christians are commanded to both submit to and subvert governing authorities. Schreiner shows that contemporary Christians find themselves between opposing theological paradigms that present very different approaches to navigate this tension. Dispensationalism leads to a withdrawal mentality while the postmillennial theonomist argues for an aggressive capturing of governing authority. Only when the Church fully captures the tension of being citizens of two nations can the tension be resolved. Until the return of Jesus, Christians must balance the submit/subvert tension.

This is an important work by Dr. Schreiner. Thankful for his balanced approach to the debate currently raging in evangelicalism. I would encourage you to read this book