Dual Citizens: Politics and American Evangelicalism
A window into sixty years of evangelical political engagement
American evangelicals are often assumed to be a monolithic political force absolutely unified in their priorities. This collection of articles from Christianity Today originally published between 1956 and 2016 tells a different story. Evangelical engagement with politics has been more complex than is often remembered. Dual Citizens reveals a variety of evangelical thought towards political developments over the past few decades.
In Dual Citizens, Timothy D. Padgett has collected a number of articles that traces a variety of perspectives in evangelical political thought, giving a more nuanced understanding of how American evangelicals have acted politically over the past decades. These essential articles provide insight into our current situation and preserve the wrestling and wisdom of the past for the benefit of the future.
Praise for Dual Citizens
The book offers a priceless resource for historians as well as rank-and-file students of contemporary religion. ... Edited volumes come and go—mostly go. But not this one. It will stand for years as a standard reference for understanding the inner texture of one of the largest and most influential Christian traditions of modern times.
—Grant Wacker, Gilbert T. Rowe Professor Emeritus of Christian History, Duke Divinity School
This book is valuable to everyone interested in how evangelicals have thought about public issues and how they have acted in the public square. I also believe Christians will find it edifying as a reminder of the value of a faithful Christian witness, and a God who is working in history for his glory.
—Michael Wear, author of Reclaiming Hope: Lessons Learned in the Obama White House About the Future of Faith in America
At a time when evangelical Protestant presence in public life has come under significant criticism—including ridicule—this collection of essays from Christianity Today will enable insiders and observers to put the religious right in perspective.
—D. G. Hart, Hillsdale College, author of American Catholic: Faith and Politics during the Cold War
The Best of Christianity Today
Since 1956, Christianity Today has been the voice of evangelicalism in America—a bellwether of theology, politics, and culture for evangelicals. The Best of Christianity Today is a new series, featuring the most enduring articles from decades of Christianity Today written by the most respected voices in modern evangelicalism. Lexham Press is proud to partner with Christianity Today to bring these treasures of evangelicalism's heritage to readers today.
Learn more about the other titles in this series.
- Introduction by Timothy D. Padgett
- Chapter 1: US Presidents
- Dwight D. Eisenhower
- Where Do We Go From Here?
- Transition in Washington and the Need of Prayer
- John F. Kennedy
- The Big Debate: A Catholic President?
- The Assassination of the President
- Lyndon B. Johnson
- Prayer and Protest
- The Political Tightrope
- Richard M. Nixon
- A Petition for the President
- On Befriending Presidents
- The Watergate Wrangle
- Personal Pietism and Watergate
- Gerald R. Ford
- The Ford in Our Future
- Fifteen Turbulent Years
- The New President: Prayer and a Quiet Faith
- James E. Carter
- The Man from Plains
- Faith, Virtue, and Honor Are Not Enough: Jimmy Carter Is No Harry Truman
- Ronald W. Reagan
- Just Because Reagan Has Won...
- Too Good to Trust
- George H. W. Bush
- White House Religion
- Am-Bushed?
- William J. Clinton
- Why Clinton Is Not Antichrist
- How to Confront a President
- George W. Bush
- Bush’s Defining Moment
- The Bush Doctrine: The Moral Vision That Launched the Iraq War
- Barack H. Obama
- Election Honeymoon
- Civil Religion’s Sharper Teeth
- 2016 Presidential Election
- “Why I’m Voting for Hillary Clinton”
- “Why I’m Voting for Donald Trump”
- “Why I’m Voting for Neither Candidate”
- Dwight D. Eisenhower
- Chapter 2: Religious Right and Evangelical Left
- Carl McIntire’s Victory: “In This Sign Conquer”
- The Great Contender
- Evangelical Social Concern
- On Being a Christian Radical
- Campaign Countdown: “Bloc Busters”
- Is Morality All Right?
- The Christian as Citizen: Three Views
- Dear Pat: Winning Isn’t Everything
- Home to Lynchburg
- Quick Change Artists
- Putting Out a Contract
- Evangelicals Are Not an Interest Group
- Spoils of Victory
- Chapter 3: Communism and Foreign Policy
- Christian Responsibility and Communist Brutality
- Christ and the Atom Bomb
- Why Communism Is Godless
- The Communist Menace: Red Goals and Christian Ideals
- Facing the Anti-God Colossus
- Halting Red Aggression in Viet Nam
- Refining Czech Communism
- Plain Talk on Viet Nam
- The Demands of Détente
- If Communism Fails, Do We Win?
- War Cry
- Tyranny by Any Other Name
- Does Kosovo Pass the Just-War Test?
- Into All the World: Think Globally, Love Globally
- Just War in Iraq
- Why ISIS Must Be Stopped
- Chapter 4: Domestic Affairs
- Segregation and the Kingdom of God
- The Church and the Race Problem
- Race Relations and Christian Duty
- Christians and the Crisis of Race
- Desegregation and Regeneration
- The White Man’s Dilemma
- Tragedy in Retrospect
- Flood Tide in Selma
- A Cordial Welcome—If You’re White
- Race and Economics
- Abortion at Issue
- Abortion and the Court
- Decision ’76: What Stand on Abortion?
- Is Every Life Worth Living?
- Up in Smoke
- Abortion Clinic Obsolescence
- Estranged Bedfellows
- Our Selective Rage
- The Abortion Debate Is Over
- Changing Hearts and Laws
- The Power of Pro-Life Women
- Chapter 5: God and Country
- Worship in the Life of the Nation
- Government Service as a Christian Vocation
- Is America Losing Her Cultural Distinctives?
- America’s Future: Can We Salvage the Republic?
- The Role of Religion in Civic Life
- We’re Still One Nation Under God
- When Should Christians Stand Against the Law?
- The Wall That Never Was
- Too Much Democracy
- The School Prayer Temptation
- Pander Politics
- Rally Round the Flag
- Contract Killer
- Title: Dual Citizens: Politics and American Evangelicalism
- Editor: Timothy D. Padgett
- Series: The Best of Christianity Today
- Publisher: Lexham Press
- Publication Date: 2020
- Page Count: 424
- Format: Logos Digital, Hardcover
- Trim Size: 5x8
- ISBN: 9781683594079
About Christianity Today
Since 1956, Christianity Today has been the voice of evangelicalism in America—a bellwether of theology, politics, and culture for evangelicals. Some of the most influential and respected modern evangelical leaders have written for Christianity Today, shaping the minds and hearts of millions of Christians for more than half a century.
About Timothy D. Padgett
Timothy D. Padgett (PhD, Trinity Evangelical Divinity School) is Resident Theologian of BreakPoint.org with the Colson Center for Christian Worldview. His research interests focus on the way Christians argue for diverse viewpoints while sharing a common biblical foundation—particularly regarding the relationship between church and state, Christ and culture, and war and peace.
Sample Pages from Dual Citizens
Reviews
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Whyndell Grizzard
4/30/2024
I read through the listing of Presidents- I'll just mention one LBJ- he was a consummate liar, would stab you in the back in a heartbeat. All politics and political parties are corrupt- Worldwide- they all succumb to the evil natures of their participants. As one example look at one of the most corrupt Nations on the earth, the USA. The farse that has been fed to millions over the last two centuries is unbelievable.
