* The reviews below are by Trevin Wax at The Gospel Coalition
1. Patriotic Grace
I don’t know what Noonan’s religious beliefs are, but I find her to be articulate and winsome, even when I disagree. Patriotic Grace appeared in 2008, while McCain and Obama were duking it out for the presidency. It is a brief book that calls Americans to courtesy and civility as a way of showing our respect for this remarkable Republic we have inherited.
Some writers force a dichotomy between partisanship and civility. Noonan does not. Instead, she warns that when politics replaces religion (whether for those on the right or the left), we are inclined to drive out the “heretics” who differ with us.
Eight years later, Noonan’s call to patriotic grace is even more needed – “a grace that takes the long view, that apprehends the moment we’re in, comes up with ways of dealing with it, and eschews the politically cheap and manipulative. That admits affection and respect. That encourages them.”
2. Five Views on The Church and Politics
Throughout history, Christians have debated the appropriate posture toward the public square. This book includes representatives from five influential streams of Christian thought:
- The “separationist” view of the Anabaptists
- The “paradoxical” view of the Lutherans
- The “prophetic” view of the black church
- The “transformationist” view of the Reformed
- The “synthetic” view of the Roman Catholic Church.
This book serves as a worthwhile introduction to the major views of political engagement. I found myself nodding my head in agreement with much of the Anabaptist chapter (we need their emphasis on ethics and the political witness that comes from the church being the church!), and I’m inspired by the hurdles overcome by the prophetic witness of the black church. Overall, my position is closest to the one presented by James K. A. Smith (the transformationist view), which is why the next two books on my list build on that particular perspective.
3. The Political Disciple
Vincent Bacote, professor at Wheaton College, has written a brief book on why and how Christians should be involved in politics.
I enjoyed The Political Disciple primarily because of its autobiographical dimension. Bacote is an African-American evangelical theologian, and this book includes both his story of migration between political parties and his discovery of Abraham Kuyper’s theology of common grace.
I appreciate Bacote’s call for Christians to pursue both private and public holiness, as well as his encouragement to Christians to persevere no matter how long it seems to take to achieve results.
4. One Nation Under God
Bruce Ashford and Chris Pappalardo take the Kuyperian approach to politics, explain it, and then apply a Christian worldview to some of the pressing issues of our day.
Even if you do not agree with all of Ashford and Pappalardo’s prescriptions, you will benefit from the framework for political involvement that they provide.
Books like this one transcend the polarities of “right and left,” or “conservative and liberal,” which indicates that there is an appeal to biblical principle here, not just to a party platform.
5. Onward: Engaging the Culture Without Losing the Gospel
Russell Moore’s new book is a manifesto for Christian action as a distinct minority within an increasingly hostile culture. Moore cautions against dangers on both the right and the left, and he encourages evangelicals to not sacrifice our prophetic voice by aligning too visibly with any particular politician or political party.
Christianity Today named Onward their book of the year and the best representation of “beautiful orthodoxy.” Read it, and you’ll see why.
Bonus Reads for those who want a challenge:
1. Augustine, City of God
2. Abraham Kuyper, Lectures on Calvinism
3. Richard John Neuhaus, American Babylon
4. David Koyzis, Political Visions and Illusions, 2nd ed.
5. Francis Beckwith, Defending Life