After all of the arguments and severed relationships that resulted from the elections of 2016 and 2020, here we are, doing it all over again. For all who are weary of the modern political climate, today’s episode with Michael Wear is for you. Wear is the founder, president, and CEO of the Center for Christianity and Public Life, a nonpartisan, nonprofit institution based in the nation’s capital. A former White House and presidential campaign staffer, Wear has intimate knowledge of the political process and how Christians might engage it with hope. On this episode, Wear and Moore discuss Wear’s new book, The Spirit of Our Politics: Spiritual Formation and the Renovation of Public Life. They consider what a positive, spiritually formed vision for political engagement might be. Their conversation includes how to understand why Christians land on opposing sides of political issues. They explore what the Bible has to say about the government and talk about the role of pastors in politics. And they consider how the truth of the gospel can shape political participation in a broken world. Resources mentioned in this episode include:
- Michael Wear
- The Center for Christianity and Public Life
- The Spirit of Our Politics: Spiritual Formation and the Renovation of Public Life by Michael Wear
- Reclaiming Hope: Lessons Learned in the Obama White House About the Future of Faith in America by Michael Wear
- “College-Educated Voters Are Ruining American Politics” by Eitan Harsh
- Soul Searching: The Religious and Spiritual Lives of American Teenagers by Christian Smith
- “Spiritual Formation: What It Is, and How It Is Done” by Dallas Willard
- The Divine Conspiracy: Rediscovering Our Hidden Life In God by Dallas Willard
- Life Together: The Classic Exploration of Christian Community by Dietrich Bonhoeffer
- Awaiting the King: Reforming Public Theology by James K. A. Smith
- Craft and Character:"The Spirit of Politics With Michael Wear" with Steve Carter
Do you have a question for Russell Moore? Send it to questions@russellmoore.com. Click here for a trial subscription at Christianity Today. “The Russell Moore Show” is a production of Christianity Today Executive Producers: Erik Petrik, Russell Moore, and Mike Cosper Host: Russell Moore Producer: Ashley Hales Associate Producers: Abby Perry and McKenzie Hill Director of Operations for CT Media: Matt Stevens Audio engineering by Dan Phelps Video producer: Abby Egan Theme Song: “Dusty Delta Day” by Lennon Hutton