As Political Chaos Rages: 5 Ways Early Christians Bucked Roman Insanity

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As Political Chaos Rages: 5 Ways Early Christians Bucked Roman Insanity

What would ****** do amid an ********* political crisis that feels more fragmented and splintered than it has been in generations?

That’s the central question pastor and author Joshua Ryan Butler dealt with in his latest book, “

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.”

Butler, who has been pastoring for two decades, said the past two election cycles have seen a “fracturing” and division that everyone has obviously felt.

“The political divide is wider than ever,” he said, noting it has cracked “families, and friendships, and even churches.”

Seeing the pain of ******* divides resulting from this chaos, Butler wanted to write the book to offer people resources and helpful tips on navigating complex political seasons. This, of course, becomes increasingly important in a culture that seems to be treating politics like a religion.

Watch Butler discuss:

“Historically, the root of the term ‘religion’ actually had to do with devotion, like, what you were most devoted to, and devotion, and the social obligations and expectations that came with that devotion,” Butler said. “And I would argue that, for many people today, there’s no greater devotion or zeal that they’re showing than to their political ideology … so I think that there’s a religious nature to it.”

Butler believes Christians should take their cues from the early ******* when it comes to modeling behavior.

“There’s been historians who have looked at the early ******* and [saw] how they modeled kind of this countercultural posture when it came to … their civic presence in the world,” he said, noting the late historian Larry Hurtado pinpointed five particular elements that made the early ******* unique.

Early *******

The first marker was the building of a multiethnic community, where slaves and free men and women — Jews and Gentiles — dined together “around the table in *******.”

“This was this ******** countercultural presence,” Butler said.

Listen to them on the latest episode of “Quick Start”

Care for the poor was another differentiator. With no social safety nets, the ******* cared for those in need. Next came what Butler called a “high ******* ethic,” something deeply divergent from the Romans.

“The Romans were famous for being kind of generous with their ****, so to speak, and stingy with their money,” he said. “Whereas, the ******* was famous for the opposite of being stingy with their **** — like reserving **** for the marriage bed — but generous with their money and their finances.”

The fourth differentiator was being distinctly pro-life, especially at a time when Butler said “infanticide was common.”

“Infants would just be left out for exposure to ****,” he said, noting Christians would rush to take these children into their own homes, adopt them, and raise them as their own.

The early *******’s fifth and final unique attribute was its willingness to forgive and love enemies, praying for persecutors and showing otherworldly devotion to doing so.

“Even as they’re being martyred, they responded with [the] love of *******, because that was how ******* had treated them,” Butler said.

Ultimately, he said, it’s essential to focus on these values, among others, and to try and live them out.

“I think we need to stand with conviction … in areas where ******* is clear, where the Gospel is clear,” he said. “Such as care for the unborn. I am very concerned about the impact of gender ideology today, particularly on youth and the way that that is having just a massive impact.”

Butler said it’s important to defend what’s biblical while also looking to find openings to speak with others constructively and meaningfully.

Handling the Divides

While it’s natural to care deeply about politics and for diverse opinions to take form, Butler wants to help churches avoid unhealthy handling of such divides.

The preacher said it’s, of course, important to stand firm on specific issues that truly matter. But he said he holds his cards “a little close” to the vest when announcing his voting preferences.

“I do want to disciple our people in the values of the kingdom,” Butler said. “[There are a] number of specific issues where I think these are places to be bold on, to plant a flag, to take a stand against where our culture is at.”

He continued, “I found … trying to create an environment where were ****** first discipleship and then hoping to cultivate the values that can get people to what I think would be a biblical vision for those things.”

The problem with starting out by announcing his chosen candidate is that it can “shut down some of the discipleship process” and halt the “deeper foundational work that needs to happen” to reach people.

“But I do try and disciple in terms of what I think some of the values … that should shape and inform how we vote.”

Healthy Engagement

With all of this in mind, how do Christians engage in politics in a healthy way, balancing truth and love? Butler said it’s all about bringing one’s “political leaning to the table of *******, and His kingdom, and the *******.”

“It’s our ultimate allegiance to ****** that can keep us with humility, and at the table together, and as curious learners who are pressing in together as the body of *******,” Butler said. “A lot of the book is trying to get practical.”

Ultimately, he hopes “

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” helps people solidify their commitment to ****** and love **** and others. One goal is to work against anything that might alter one’s character or pull them away from the “fruit of the spirit.”

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