(36) S2E13 Abstention from Political Idolatry
02/14/20 • 92 min
- A huge thanks to Joseph McDade for his generous permission to use his music: https://josephmcdade.com/
- Thanks to Palmtoptiger17 for the beautiful logo: https://www.instagram.com/palmtoptiger17/
- Discord Discussion Board: https://disboard.org/server/474580298630430751
- The 80% (My Book): https://www.amazon.com/80-Conservative-Evangelicals-Prove-Relativists-ebook/dp/B07RDPW2NZ/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=j.g.+elliot&qid=1573560697&sr=8-1
- Various reflections related to consequentialism: https://www.dckreider.com/blog-theological-musings/category/pragmatism-and-consequentialism
- A great conversation on a philosophy behind abstention: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dqEc3NNGol8&feature=youtu.be
- Phil Vischer on abortion and politics: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RvWD7ykNjCc&feature=youtu.be
- Voting as coercive: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FiiyZsCzP9k&t=1s
- Voting as an abdication of responsibility: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OBAs9jmanzs&t=9s
- Christian Sacralism in "Anatomy of a Hybrid:" https://www.gospeltruth.net/verduin/hybrid.htm
- Electing Not to Vote: https://www.amazon.com/Electing-Not-Vote-Christian-Reflections-ebook/dp/B00YD5D0Z0/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=electing+not+to+vote&qid=1577199172&sr=8-1
- Essay on Civil Disobedience (Thoreau): https://users.manchester.edu/Facstaff/SSNaragon/Online/texts/201/Thoreau,%20CivilDisobedience.pdf
- Kierkegaard Quotes on Politics: https://www.plough.com/en/topics/justice/politics/politics-and-the-state
- The Myth of a Christian Nation: https://www.amazon.com/Myth-Christian-Nation-Political-Destroying/dp/0310267315/ref=sr_1_2?keywords=the+myth+of+a+christian+nation&qid=1583004622&sr=8-2
- Consequentialism Series (beginning ep. 24): https://thefourthway.transistor.fm/episodes?utf8=%E2%9C%93&year=2019&month=
- Romans 13 Part 1 (Biblical Case): https://thefourthway.transistor.fm/episodes/rebuttal-romans-13
- Romans 13 Part 2 (Practical Case): https://thefourthway.transistor.fm/episodes/rebuttal-romans-13-part-2
As Christians in the U.S. start thinking about voting for a commander in chief this fall, I thought I'd throw out an unpopular option for everyone to chew on. I've done a significant amount of reflection on politics, voting, and Kingdom living over the past few years, and I have concluded that the option of abstention is something that needs to be on the table for Christians. It may not be something you do in this election, or any future election, but it needs to be a tool you have available to you and one you can respect others using. In this podcast episode I lay out that case for this option, but if you want the summary and don't want to listen to a ninety minute episode, I'll summarize below.
https://thefourthway.transistor.fm/episodes/se2-abstention-from-political-idolatry
1. Many Christians view what James calls true religion as optional (helping orphans, widows, etc), as few Christians judge others for not doing these things. Only people who are "called" to those things are required to do them. Few people in our churches adopt, volunteer at the food pantry, etc. We view those things as op...
- A huge thanks to Joseph McDade for his generous permission to use his music: https://josephmcdade.com/
- Thanks to Palmtoptiger17 for the beautiful logo: https://www.instagram.com/palmtoptiger17/
- Discord Discussion Board: https://disboard.org/server/474580298630430751
- The 80% (My Book): https://www.amazon.com/80-Conservative-Evangelicals-Prove-Relativists-ebook/dp/B07RDPW2NZ/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=j.g.+elliot&qid=1573560697&sr=8-1
- Various reflections related to consequentialism: https://www.dckreider.com/blog-theological-musings/category/pragmatism-and-consequentialism
- A great conversation on a philosophy behind abstention: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dqEc3NNGol8&feature=youtu.be
- Phil Vischer on abortion and politics: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RvWD7ykNjCc&feature=youtu.be
- Voting as coercive: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FiiyZsCzP9k&t=1s
- Voting as an abdication of responsibility: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OBAs9jmanzs&t=9s
- Christian Sacralism in "Anatomy of a Hybrid:" https://www.gospeltruth.net/verduin/hybrid.htm
- Electing Not to Vote: https://www.amazon.com/Electing-Not-Vote-Christian-Reflections-ebook/dp/B00YD5D0Z0/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=electing+not+to+vote&qid=1577199172&sr=8-1
- Essay on Civil Disobedience (Thoreau): https://users.manchester.edu/Facstaff/SSNaragon/Online/texts/201/Thoreau,%20CivilDisobedience.pdf
- Kierkegaard Quotes on Politics: https://www.plough.com/en/topics/justice/politics/politics-and-the-state
- The Myth of a Christian Nation: https://www.amazon.com/Myth-Christian-Nation-Political-Destroying/dp/0310267315/ref=sr_1_2?keywords=the+myth+of+a+christian+nation&qid=1583004622&sr=8-2
- Consequentialism Series (beginning ep. 24): https://thefourthway.transistor.fm/episodes?utf8=%E2%9C%93&year=2019&month=
- Romans 13 Part 1 (Biblical Case): https://thefourthway.transistor.fm/episodes/rebuttal-romans-13
- Romans 13 Part 2 (Practical Case): https://thefourthway.transistor.fm/episodes/rebuttal-romans-13-part-2
As Christians in the U.S. start thinking about voting for a commander in chief this fall, I thought I'd throw out an unpopular option for everyone to chew on. I've done a significant amount of reflection on politics, voting, and Kingdom living over the past few years, and I have concluded that the option of abstention is something that needs to be on the table for Christians. It may not be something you do in this election, or any future election, but it needs to be a tool you have available to you and one you can respect others using. In this podcast episode I lay out that case for this option, but if you want the summary and don't want to listen to a ninety minute episode, I'll summarize below.
https://thefourthway.transistor.fm/episodes/se2-abstention-from-political-idolatry
1. Many Christians view what James calls true religion as optional (helping orphans, widows, etc), as few Christians judge others for not doing these things. Only people who are "called" to those things are required to do them. Few people in our churches adopt, volunteer at the food pantry, etc. We view those things as op...
Previous Episode
(35) S2E12 Consequentialism: The Moral Conundrum of Lying to Save Lives
- A huge thanks to Joseph McDade for his generous permission to use his music: https://josephmcdade.com/
- Thanks to Palmtoptiger17 for the beautiful logo: https://www.instagram.com/palmtoptiger17/
- Discord Discussion Board: https://disboard.org/server/474580298630430751
- The 80% (My Book): https://www.amazon.com/80-Conservative-Evangelicals-Prove-Relativists-ebook/dp/B07RDPW2NZ/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=j.g.+elliot&qid=1573560697&sr=8-1
- Various reflections related to consequentialism: https://www.dckreider.com/blog-theological-musings/category/pragmatism-and-consequentialism
- Great real-life example of integrity in doing right while refusing to lie: https://wagingnonviolence.org/podcast/city-of-refuge-part-1/
- Phillip Mast
- patrick H
- Laverne Miller
- Jesse Killion
Next Episode
(37) S2E14 Consequentialism: The Moral Conundrum of Voting for an Evil
- A huge thanks to Joseph McDade for his generous permission to use his music: https://josephmcdade.com/
- Thanks to Palmtoptiger17 for the beautiful logo: https://www.instagram.com/palmtoptiger17/
- Discord Discussion Board: https://disboard.org/server/474580298630430751
- The 80% (My Book): https://www.amazon.com/80-Conservative-Evangelicals-Prove-Relativists-ebook/dp/B07RDPW2NZ/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=j.g.+elliot&qid=1573560697&sr=8-1
- Various reflections related to consequentialism: https://www.dckreider.com/blog-theological-musings/category/pragmatism-and-consequentialism
- The Immoral Majority: https://www.amazon.com/Immoral-Majority-Good-Christians-Leaders/dp/0062797115/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=the+immoral+majority&qid=1592527499&sr=8-1
- "Anatomy of a Hybrid" and Christendom/Christian Sacralism: https://www.gospeltruth.net/verduin/hybrid.htm
- The Myth of a Christian Nation: https://www.amazon.com/Myth-Christian-Nation-Political-Destroying/dp/0310267315/ref=sr_1_2?keywords=the+myth+of+a+christian+nation&qid=1583004622&sr=8-2
- Quote from Robert Jeffress, President Trump's spiritual advisor and Evangelical bigshot:
"But as far as his worldview, Trump's world view, I was debating an evangelical professor on NPR and this professor said, "Pastor, don’t you want a candidate who embodies the teaching of Jesus and would govern this country according to the principles found in the Sermon on the Mount?" I said, "Heck no." I would run from that candidate as far as possible because the Sermon on the Mount was not given as a governing principle for this nation. Nowhere is government told to forgive those who wrong it, nowhere is government commanded to turn the other cheek. Government is to be a strongman to protect its citizens against evildoers. When I’m looking for somebody who’s going to deal with ISIS and exterminate ISIS, I don’t care about that candidate’s tone or vocabulary, I want the meanest, toughest, son of a you-know-what I can find, and I believe that’s Biblical."
Psalm 2: https://www.biblestudytools.com/psalms/2.html
1 Why do the nations conspireand the peoples plot in vain?
2 The kings of the earth rise up and the rulers band together against the LORD and against his anointed, saying,
3 “Let us break their chains and throw off their shackles.”
4 The One enthroned in heaven laughs; the Lord scoffs at them.
5 He rebukes them in his anger and terrifies them in his wrath, saying,
6 “I have installed my king on Zion, my holy mountain.”
7 I will proclaim the LORD’s decree: He said to me, “You are my son; today I have become your father.
8 Ask me, and I will make the nations your inheritance, the ends of the earth your possession.
9 You will break them with a rod of iron ; you will dash them to pieces like pottery.”
10 Therefore, you kings, be wise; be warned, you rulers of the earth.
11 Serve the LORD with fear and celebrate his rule with trembling.
12 Kiss his son, or he will be angry and your way will lead to your destruction, for his wrath can flare up in a moment. Blessed are all who take refuge in him.
Thanks to our monthly supporters- Phillip Mast
- patrick H
- Laverne Miller
- Jesse Killion
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