Subjects and Citizens: The politics of the gospel - Lessons from Romans 12-15

by Michael P. Jensen

Michael writes to help Christian rediscover “a truly Christ-centred vision for human politics”. The heart of that vision is based around a careful study of Romans 12-15, calling Christians to be who they are as the “subjects of the Lord Jesus and citizens of the kingdom of heaven”. The aim is that this perspective will help Christians to navigate the alienation and anxiety that dominate contemporary debates, providing a fresh way to think about contemporary politics.

Michael distinguishes ‘Politics 1.0’, the politics of this world (where temporary, earthly kingdoms exist within the present age), from ‘Politics 2.0’, “where Jesus Christ reigns in the Kingdom of God” (which exists here and now within the church, but will continue into the world to come when Christ returns). The book argues that ‘Politics 1.0’ has its place, but also its limitations.

‘Politics 2.0’, meanwhile, is distinguished by three points (drawn from Romans 12-15):

Jesus is Lord; no other ruler is LordWorshipping Jesus is a political statement because he is LordJesus is a crucified Lord who rules his kingdom by humble service.The book calls on Christians to rethink what politics it is not wrong to be involved in the ‘party politics’ of this world, but this kind of politics has its limits. Our focus should be on ‘Politics 2.0’—namely, “living together as the people of God as we worship and revere Jesus Christ as Lord, and call others to join us”.

Genres: Christian

193 pages, Kindle Edition

Published June 5, 2024

About the author

Michael P. Jensen lectures in Theology and Church History at Moore Theological College. He is the author and editor of several theological books, including "Martyrdom and Identity: The Self on Trial" and "Decisive Commitments and Defining Convictions". He is also the editor of "True Feelings: Perspectives on Emotions in Christian Life and Ministry". He loves the internet and bad TV. He and his wife Catherine have four children.

Reviews

[Tim Goldsmith · Rating 4 out of 5]

Michael Jensen recognises that general politics are almost unavoidable. What The Christian is called to is not to avoid politics as we generally understand it, but to engage in what he calls "Politics 2.0", that is seeing to embody Christ and his teaching in our lives.
I enjoyed the main premise that Christianity is inherently political, as it is a system that claims the Lordship of Jesus over all things, and therefore denies any other claims of absolute power. Looking at Peace, respect, Love, Selflessness and Hospitality, this book (via Romans 12-15) takes a journey, looking at what it might mean to have our lives shaped by the gospel, and in turn, how this might effect our public engagement.
A great read.

[Steve Frederick · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5⭐️ / Great little exploration of how gospel convictions transform and renew our mindset toward others, and how that is embodied in our political engagements - almost like a series of homiletic meditations on Romans 12-15 with a political focus/applicatiin

[Sandy Grant · Rating 4 out of 5]

As other reviewers note the author (a fellow Anglican minister from Sydney) distinguishes between politics 1.0 (particular political views and positions) and politics 2.0 (how the gospel of the crucified Lord of all has its own rules implications for allegiance and attitude and therefore for politics). Michael then works through Romans 12-15 with a political lens for application. Sometimes this is more natural than at other points.

In that sense the first and last chapters are the most interesting for those wanting to think politically as a Christian citizen and the middle chapters are a bit more like working through a series of Bible studies. Yet the attitudinal work through these chapters is important, if not quite as engaging in a narrative sense.

A couple of significant quotes on politics

Page 96
What Romans 13 shows is that it is essential to be realIt’s rather than idealists when it comes to government. In democratic societies, we have the blessing of being able to contribute directly in appointing those who govern us, What we ought to look for in human governors is not salvation from our problems but rather as much justice as a human ruler can muster. We should favour governments who are likely to be competent and honest in the practical and complicated business of running a state or a nation. It obviously matters a great deal that they are just and accountable. Indeed, the more open to scrutiny a government is, the better.

Whenever we choose who to govern us, though, we choose between various versions of human imperfection. Since we aren't looking for a ruler who will deliver salvation, we should be as interested in a candidate's personal integrity, honesty, and actual competence as we are in his or her personal faith or ideology. Simply choosing the Christian candidate is not a guarantee of competence or honesty, sadly. Someone may be a genuine Christian and an incompetent governor. Another may be able to put on a façade of Christian faith but not display any integrity in government. The decision about who will receive our vote deserves our careful attention, given what we know about the purpose of human government-and even more given what we know about human nature.

P192-93 - something I as an ecclesiastical letter writer to politicians need to remember…
What are these terms of engagement? Throughout this book I've been focusing on the local church. It's often been said by political operatives that all politics is local. This is true for the church. It is in the local church community that we are able to do what Paul envisages the Roman Christians doing. We practise forgiveness, neighbour love, and hospitality. We are visible, in doing these things, to the world around us. This is no less true—in fact, even more true—in the era of globalization and virtual communication (which has also been the age of increasing social isolation). Gathering together physically and being present to and for one another may be old-school, but it is extremely potent. It expresses Christ's own presence with us in the incarnation. Our act of gathering together under the lordship of Jesus Christ, in our (mostly) small local churches, is the most powerful piece of politics we can do. As we together learn obedience to him, we point with ever more clarity to who really rules the world. This is more important than activism over social issues, or joining a political party, or having bishops or other church leaders write letters to politicians.
Not only that, but calling others to believe in Jesus as Lord is our most radical of political acts. If Christian discipleship is an act of allegiance to Jesus as Lord, then making more disciples and baptizing them in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit extends his rule. The church does not need to choose between politics and evangelism, because declaring the gospel is making a political statement.

[Andrew Kerr · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some really great points raised in this book. At times I did feel though that some thoughts were raised and not really explored
I also found the Terms Politics 2.0 a bit forced, and Michael had to continue to push hard to make the term relevant. Michael Did explain the difference between temporary earthly politics (1.0) and eternal heavenly Politics (2.0) but it seems like instead of using the word politics a second term could have been used to show the differences more clearly.
anyway, really worth the read

[Ursula · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was so good! Michael Jensen’s ability to articulate what politics should be for us as Christians is extremely comforting but also convicting, in today’s day and age where politics or any discussion of it seems so contentious and one sided. Michael’s exposition on Romans gives us as Christians a way to navigate politics and governance, that honors God. It’s a call to action for us to appreciate the beauty of “Politics 2.0”. To be hopeful, not sentimental or cynical. To obey what God has commanded us; to love our neighbors, and to grow in Christlikeness.

[Peter Johnson · Rating 4 out of 5]

A thought-provoking long exposition of Romans 12-15 with a political focus in mind. At times it is a little more pastoral than political in its applications - which might mean that in those areas the passage is in fact a little less political. I would have liked a little more drilling down into the depths of certain issues just to see if the thesis could be stretched to be a little more radical. Michael is a good friend to those seeking to think biblically.

[Jessica Spyker · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great ideas. Very helpful to live out. But I found it a hard book to read, with the interruptions of noise and children.