When Christians Disagree: Church Unity in an Age of Division

Survey the typologies of engagement with the public square that have been offered by various Christian traditions (giving particular attention to the broad evangelical tradition). Explore a spectrum that includes disengagement, cooperation, co-optation, and confrontation, and analyze the theological assumptions and perspectives that inform choices about whether and how to engage. We will consider how dominant evangelical paradigms of Christian engagement in the public square lack the pursuit of the common good, and make a strong case that the authentic gospel—embodied in the person and work of Jesus and explicated in the motif of the kingdom of God—is good news not only for those who believe, but also for those who may not believe. As we will see, the gospel places an obligation on all who believe not only to proclaim and demonstrate the good news of salvation, but also to strive for the common good.