Politics has become one of the defining conversations of our age. Christians wrestle with questions about religious liberty, patriotism, Christian nationalism, civic engagement, the role of government, and the church's public witness. While these debates are often driven by current events, they are ultimately theological questions. Scripture teaches that Jesus Christ is Lord over all things, yet he rules the church and the civil magistrate in distinct ways.
Political theology seeks to answer these questions by asking what Scripture teaches about God's kingdom, the church, the state, justice, citizenship, and the mission of God's people. The books below offer thoughtful introductions and deeper studies from an evangelical perspective, with several reflecting Baptist convictions.
How the Nations Rage: Rethinking Faith and Politics in a Divided Age — Jonathan Leeman
Leeman examines why political disagreements have become increasingly divisive and argues that many Christians have misunderstood the nature of political authority and the mission of the church. Drawing from Scripture and a two kingdoms framework, he calls believers to recover their primary identity as citizens of Christ's kingdom while engaging faithfully in civic life. More practical than The Political Church, this volume applies Leeman's ecclesiology to today's polarized political climate.
Politics after Christendom: Political Theology in a Fractured World — David VanDrunen
VanDrunen presents a comprehensive Reformed political theology for the post-Christendom West. Grounding his argument in the biblical covenants, particularly the Noahic Covenant, he contends that civil government serves God's common kingdom rather than the redemptive kingdom of Christ. The book offers a thoughtful account of natural law, justice, religious liberty, and Christian citizenship, making it one of the most important contemporary works in Reformed political theology.
Political Gospel: Public Witness in a Politically Crazy World — Patrick Schreiner
One of the most accessible introductions to evangelical political theology. Schreiner argues that the gospel is inherently political because Jesus is the risen King, while carefully distinguishing Christ's kingdom from earthly political movements. He provides a balanced framework for faithful citizenship that avoids both political withdrawal and political idolatry.
Political Church: The Local Assembly as Embassy of Christ’s Rule — Jonathan Leeman
Leeman argues that the local church is itself a political institution governed by King Jesus. Rather than seeking cultural transformation primarily through elections or legislation, the church exercises its unique political witness through preaching, membership, discipline, discipleship, and the ordinances.
Empowered Witness: Politics, Culture, and the Spiritual Mission of the Church — Alan D. Strange
Strange surveys the biblical and historical foundations of religious liberty and church-state relations. Writing from the Reformed tradition, he argues for robust religious freedom while defending the church's independence from state control.
Baptist Political Theology — Edited by Thomas S. Kidd, Paul D. Miller, Andrew T. Walker, and Brent E. Parker
A substantial collection of essays examining political theology through a Baptist lens. Contributors address biblical foundations, Baptist history, natural law, religious liberty, church-state relations, and contemporary political issues.
In Defense of Christian Patriotism: Equipping Believers for Political Theology, Civic Duty, and Love of Nation — Daniel Darling
Darling argues that Christians may rightly love their nation while rejecting nationalism. He distinguishes patriotism from the tendency to treat one's country as an object of ultimate loyalty, encouraging believers to pursue the common good while remembering that their citizenship in heaven comes first.
God and Country: Upholding Faith, History, and National Identity — John D. Wilsey
Wilsey offers a historical and theological account of patriotism rooted in what he calls "open nationalism." This is love for one's country ordered beneath allegiance to Christ. He contrasts this with forms of nationalism that elevate the nation to a quasi-religious status and argues for civic engagement shaped by Christian virtue.
The City of God — Augustine of Hippo
No work has shaped Christian political theology more profoundly than Augustine's City of God. Written after the sack of Rome in AD 410, Augustine distinguishes between the City of God and the Earthly City. Christians belong ultimately to God's eternal kingdom while living faithfully within earthly societies. His vision continues to shape Protestant, Catholic, and evangelical political theology today.
Although lengthy, The City of God remains essential reading for understanding how Christians have historically thought about politics, history, and God's providential rule over nations.
Politics and the Christian Life - For the Church Institute
Not every valuable resource on political theology comes in book form. This video course from the For the Church Institute features Dr. Jason Duesing, Dr. Thomas Kidd, and Dr. Patrick Schreiner, who explore the relationship between politics and the Christian life from a biblical and Baptist perspective.
This free course emphasizes that every party, regime, and government in this world is flawed, temporary, and fleeting. Only the kingdom of God is eternal, and the church's ultimate allegiance belongs to King Jesus. Rather than encouraging political disengagement or partisan activism, the sessions help Christians think carefully about faithful citizenship while keeping the church's mission central.
For readers who want a concise, accessible introduction before diving into the books on this list, Politics and the Christian Life serves as an excellent starting point.
Together, these resources provide a strong foundation for thinking biblically about politics without reducing Christianity to partisanship. They remind us that while governments matter, Christ's kingdom is not established through earthly power. The church's primary calling remains the faithful proclamation of the gospel, the making of disciples, and the visible demonstration of Christ's reign until he comes.