Name: How Can I Love Church Members with Different Politics?
Rating: 5.0 (1 reviews)

Many new believers have questions about what it means to live as a Christian in the context of a local church, and pastors are looking for resources to pass along to their congregations to help them think biblically about the Christian life. 9Marks Church Questions is a series that seeks to provide ordinary Christians with sound and accessible biblical teaching by answering common questions Christians have about church life. Each volume offers biblical answers and practical applications with the goal of nurturing healthy church practice and commitment. This booklet offers six practical recommendations for Christians who are divided on political issues. Authors Jonathan Leeman and Andy Naselli propose that Christians should learn how to disagree on many such issues with a spirit of gracious understanding by recognizing the importance of what binds us together as a local church body.

Title

How Can I Love Church Members with Different Politics?
Author(s)

Jonathan Leeman and Andrew Naselli
Series

9Marks Church Questions
ISBN

9781433571794
Format

Paperback
Publisher

Crossway
Topic

Church
Audience

Adults
Pages

64
Published

01/03/2020

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Jonathan Leeman

Jonathan Leeman is the editorial director for 9Marks. After doing undergraduate and graduate degrees in political science, Jonathan began his career in journalism where he worked as an editor for an international economics magazine in Washington, D. C. Since his call to ministry, Jonathan has earned a master of divinity and a Ph.D. in theology and worked as an interim pastor. Today he edits the 9Marks series of books as well as the 9Marks Journal. He has written for a number of publications and is the author or editor of a number of books.

Jonathan lives with his wife and four daughters in a suburb of Washington, DC and serves as an elder at Cheverly Baptist Church. He is also an occasional lecturer at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary and teaches adjunctively for The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary, and the Reformed Theological Seminary.

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Andrew Naselli

Andy Naselli (PhD in theology, Bob Jones University; PhD in New Testament exegesis and theology, Trinity Evangelical Divinity School) is associate professor of systematic theology and New Testament at Bethlehem College & Seminary, administrator of Themelios, and a pastor of Bethlehem Baptist Church. He and his wife, Jenni, have four daughters.

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Overall rating

5.0 based on 1 review

Clarity, Conviction, and Charity in a Divided Age

How Can I Love Church Members with Different Politics? by Jonathan Leeman and Andrew David Naselli is short, simple, and likely to leave you wanting more—but that’s not a weakness. It’s not meant to be a comprehensive manual, and it succeeds in exactly what it sets out to do. This book lays a strong theological foundation while also offering practical guidance on how to engage with fellow believers who hold different political views. It’s a timely and needed reminder that Christians are ultimately citizens of heaven, not this world—and that reality should shape how we think, speak, and relate to one another. One of the most helpful aspects is the clear distinction between gospel issues and matters of Christian liberty. The authors emphasise that while there are certain truths Christians must agree on, there are many secondary and tertiary issues where disagreement is not only possible but expected. Learning to handle those differences with humility and love is essential for the health of the church. I especially appreciated that this is not a book telling you who to vote for or offering “correct” political answers. Instead, it focuses on something far more important: how to handle differences in a biblical and Christlike way. In a culture where political conversations are often harsh and divisive, this book calls Christians to something higher. A standout insight was the idea that while non-Christians can simply share what they think, Christians are also accountable to what God thinks—and that should shape both our convictions and our tone. It also wisely warns against placing too much hope in political systems or parties. Our ultimate hope is not in earthly kingdoms, but in Christ and His eternal kingdom. That perspective alone helps reframe so many tensions. Overall, this is an excellent little book—concise but full of wisdom. A great resource for anyone wanting to think more clearly, act more graciously, and love fellow believers well in the midst of political differences. Highly recommend.