MCN Discussion — TGC podcast: Hoping Against Hope with James Davison Hunter
Discussion on the TGC podcast:
Hoping Against Hope with James Davison Hunter
The podcast: Hoping Against Hope in American Democracy
Transcript (downlosded and reformatted): Transcript: Hoping Against Hope in American Democracy.
Our recording of our discussion: MCN Sep 23 2024 Video & Audio.mp4
Some take-aways discussed to a degree by our group…
- The nature of, and reasons for, our divides as a larger culture and Christian community.
Hunter claims that what now divides us is much more internal even to our Christian worldviews, communities, and lifestyles (in contrast to the traditional political Left/Right differences of the past. This is sometimes described as Conservative vs Progressive, but even these labels are inadequate. Christianity (as with many religious views base morality on the Transcendent (concept of God, Truth, Service) whereas much of the modern world rejects this with a morality focus rooted in current social and personal notions of naturalism, materialism, lived experience (existentialism) and even “nihilism.” Given the power of society to shape us, Christians are subject to these stresses that are informed by our faith (our sense of revealed Truth) and reason and secularity (the more common ways we live our lives culturally, socially and politically). - The desire to influence the world, and the different strategies we choose to do this.
Addressing the American religious scene primarily, Hunter questions the strategy of political action as the primary means of Christian attempts to influence the moral values and commitments of those around us. Politics relies on civil governance, which in turn exercises its influence through power and coercion. This, he claims, is in stark contrast to the biblical teachings of Christ, where renewal begins internally through the working personal and community of believers and the quiet influence of the Holy Spirit. Not only does he predict failure with the political approach, but he is convinced it will have the overall wrong effect. - Historical periods and their dominant effects. Hunter claims many Christians do not adequately understand the reality and meaning of our Post-Christian world. They fail to understand the degree to which the dominance that once existed by the Church is now being rejected. But he also cites the fact that, in large part, we are now abandoning the values of the Enlightenment world where the common agreements on Truth no longer exists and where we have less confidence that Reason can resolve our social issues. This, he claims, now threatens the traditional American and Western commitments to “liberalism” (the readiness to negotiate and function democratically). These are some of evolutionary development within our culture that confronts Christianity today and that needs to be understood if Christians are to find an effective means of influence in our currently, fast-changing world.
- Faithful Presence. Hunter claims that we must recapture the initial and primary message of the gospel, and live it out in the common circumstances in which we all live and work, displaying the characteristics and teachings of Christ in all of our relationship. This approach, if diligently implemented can help to bring positive change to our communities if not the larger world. While political activity is certainly to be part of our activities as Christians, the real success will come from the practice of relationship-building and authentic care for others.
- Spiritual warfare. Some of our personal reactions included references to Spiritual Warfare, meaning that Christians feel overwhelmed by the competing ideas from so many quarters and our inability to understand, process the many influences, and find an appropriate response.
- Our Evangelical history of addressing the role of culture. Some of our group recounted the days of Francis Schaeffer (L’Abri, Switzerland, from mid-50s) as college-age Christians were encouraged to step out into the political arena on such issues as abortion and sexuality. But even here, his son seems to be in the process of abandoning the pivotal influence of his father, sensing it helped launch highly-charged religious/political climate of current times. It is a complex world, and it is having a profound effect on Christian life, culture, and public witness, not to mention the bleeding away of so many Christians and youth from the Body of Christ.
- Christian Apologetics. Collin Hansen, as interviewer of his series, GospelBound, claims to be strongly guided in his ministry by the cultural analysis of Hunter. Hansen heads-up a Centre for Cultural Apologetics, developed and supported by the outstanding ministry of … and The Gospel Coalition. Some explanation of this ministry is included in the resources below.
Indeed, there is much more in the this interviews that could be mined for nuggets of insight and wisdom.
Follow-up potential…
- What are the continuing needs of The Church as we attempt to be a witness to the power of the gospel within our local communities and nations?
- To what extent is this historic and cultural knowledge important to finding common ground with those who are now deeply immersed in secularism?
- To what extent is the call of being socially and culturally aware important to the call to faithful presence and the recommended practices of being a Missional Church?
Links to resources…
QS Meaning of Faithful Presence James D Hunter
Revisiting ‘Faithful Presence’.pdf
QM — Missional Contextualization
Missional Christianity and Cultural Apologetics
Article A Christian Manifesto Francis Schaeffer internet Archive
This page by: Ron Richmond
First published: 2024/09/28