Faith & Politics: Boston’s Christian Leaders Speak Out

The months leading up to the election have been intense, and Pew Research has pointed out that the alignment of ideology, race and religion makes America’s divisions run deeper. But how have Boston’s Christian leaders responded? Today we want to highlight a variety of sermons and seminars that address the intersection of the Christian faith & politics.

(Note: This is a partial list and we’re always looking for more great resources; if you have a suggestion of one to add, email Kelly at kelly@uniteboston.com!)

Pastor Bryan Wilkerson from Grace Chapel moderates a panel featuring keynote speakers Nikki Toyama-Szeto and Andre Henry from Christians for Social Action. They speak on the unity that we are called to that is deeper than agreement, the movement of power within social policies, and restoring the ground of truth. Nikki Toyama-Szeto shares that without talking to others of different perspectives, we are at risk of making God into our image, rather than humbly recognizing the manifold image of God.

Josh Wilson, pastor of The Table, offered a three-part sermon series on “Following Jesus toward a Different Kingdom,” which shows how “Jesus invites to follow a challenging path that resists partisan pressures and witnesses to a different Kingdom.” He points out that Esther brings forth a downward mobility by leveraging her own privilege to advocate on behalf of others. The video also includes an interview of CJ Jean Lewis from Andrea Campbell’s team on civic engagement. Their office helps citizens to affect change in their communities by helping people get informed and feel empowered.

Pastor Brynn Harringon from Highrock North Shore shares a sermon on political unity (Sermon begins at 36 minutes). She shares that we all have our Ninevahs – the people who threaten our ideology or politics: “Rather than being God’s witness of love to a hurting world, Jonah insists on condemning the world of the world’s wrongness, and he ends up as an angry and bitter man. I’m not saying we shouldn’t take a stand on truth. We are called to stand up against injustice and abuse in the world, but how we take that stand matters. What we see in Jonah is that you can focus so hard on what is right in you and wrong in the world that you can miss what is right in the world and wrong in you.”

Click on the image above to watch “Election Day,” Caleb McCoy ‘s latest release of The Resistance, which is “an encouragement, a challenge, and a reminder that Jesus will continue to rule before, during, and after the election.” He shares: “So educate yourself and vote your convictions, but take heart and find peace because Jesus overcome the world and this isn’t any different.” Caleb is a local Christian Hip-Hop artist; click here to learn more about Caleb and support his music ministry.

Pastor Bryan Wilkerson from Grace Chapel shares that, “What politics does is allows us to love our neighbor at a systemic level… When you head into the voting booth, don’t ask what party/candidate will be right by me, but what party/candidate will do right by my neighbors, especially neighbors in need.”

National Conversations on Civic Engagement / Faith & Politics

Two of America’s best-known faith leaders, The Most Rev. Michael Curry, presiding bishop and primate of The Episcopal Church, and Dr. Russell Moore, executive director of the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission of the Southern Baptist Convention, engaged in a conversation moderated by broadcaster Krista Tippett. These two Christian leaders represent denominations with largely different theological and cultural perspectives and model how to engage one another with dignity and respect. Moderated by On Being broadcaster Krista Tippett.

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