Pam Hogeweide and Emmett Bailey would have much to talk about at a sit-down dinner. They are both active churchgoers, committed to their families, and love their cities—Portland, Oregon, and Richmond, Virginia. Both Pam and Emmett say their reading of Scripture compels them to join current U.S. political movements. The only difference? Pam is an Occupy protester, a decision she says allows her to pursue God’s heart for justice, while Emmett is a Tea Party member, which he says ensures that God’s gifts of liberty and freedom remain intact.
How can people who share the same faith embrace such different political views? And what does their witness tell us about the state of American politics?