American Christians with his answer: the church’s task is to preach the word of God.

Asked whether churches should urge members to enlist, buy war bonds, and preach the issues of the war, Barth answers with a counter-question: does the church know its mission is to preach the word of God according to Scripture? From there he supports the fight against Hitler while refusing to let the church become an instrument of the state, rejecting both identification with any political party and a “timeless” spiritual ministry cut off from the present. James and Ashish connect this to the Barmen Declaration, Stanley Hauerwas, and the German Christians’ surrender to Nazism.

Barth challenged 93 American Protestant leaders who claimed that Christian principles depended on winning the war, and the same reasoning returns in every “most crucial election.” James and Ashish argue that the church must speak its own language rather than a party’s talking points, loving the world on God’s terms rather than its own. Being in the world but not of it, they suggest, is a matter of allegiance, not only personal morality.

In this episode:
What is the true function of the church in wartime, according to Karl Barth?
Should the church identify with any political party?
Why Barth rejects a “timeless” spirituality and calls the present God’s time
The Barmen Declaration and the German Christians’ capitulation to Nazism
Speaking the church’s own language instead of a political party’s talking points

Go deeper: Christians and Politics

Thinking Christian is hosted by Dr. James Spencer, president of the D. L. Moody Center and author of Digital Discernment (InterVarsity Press). Each conversation reads the Bible as the final authority for life and faith, questioning the assumptions of our culture, even our Christian culture, so that we don’t settle for a narrower vision than God’s word offers.

Unsettling convention. Cultivating conviction.
Episodes, articles, and questions: thinkingchristian.org
About James Spencer: thinkingchristian.org/james
The Thinking Christian Framework: thinkingchristian.org/framework
Order Digital Discernment: amazon.com

Subscribe: YouTube · Apple Podcasts · Spotify
Advertising and partnership inquiries: info@thinkingchristian.org

American Christians with his answer: the church&rsquo;s task is to preach the word of God.
Asked whether churches should urge members to enlist, buy war bonds, and preach the issues of the war, Barth answers with a counter-question: does the church know its mission is to preach the word of God according to Scripture? From there he supports the fight against Hitler while refusing to let the church become an instrument of the state, rejecting both identification with any political party and a &ldquo;timeless&rdquo; spiritual ministry cut off from the present. James and Ashish connect this to the Barmen Declaration, Stanley Hauerwas, and the German Christians&rsquo; surrender to Nazism.
Barth challenged 93 American Protestant leaders who claimed that Christian principles depended on winning the war, and the same reasoning returns in every &ldquo;most crucial election.&rdquo; James and Ashish argue that the church must speak its own language rather than a party&rsquo;s talking points, loving the world on God&rsquo;s terms rather than its own. Being in the world but not of it, they suggest, is a matter of allegiance, not only personal morality.
In this episode:
<ul dir="ltr">
<li>What is the true function of the church in wartime, according to Karl Barth?</li>
<li>Should the church identify with any political party?</li>
<li>Why Barth rejects a &ldquo;timeless&rdquo; spirituality and calls the present God&rsquo;s time</li>
<li>The Barmen Declaration and the German Christians&rsquo; capitulation to Nazism</li>
<li>Speaking the church&rsquo;s own language instead of a political party&rsquo;s talking points</li>
</ul>
Go deeper: <a href="https://www.thinkingchristian.org/politics">Christians and Politics</a>
Thinking Christian is hosted by Dr. James Spencer, president of the D. L. Moody Center and author of Digital Discernment (InterVarsity Press). Each conversation reads the Bible as the final authority for life and faith, questioning the assumptions of our culture, even our Christian culture, so that we don&rsquo;t settle for a narrower vision than God&rsquo;s word offers.
Unsettling convention. Cultivating conviction. Episodes, articles, and questions: <a href="https://www.thinkingchristian.org/">thinkingchristian.org</a> About James Spencer: <a href="https://www.thinkingchristian.org/james">thinkingchristian.org/james</a> The Thinking Christian Framework: <a href="https://www.thinkingchristian.org/framework">thinkingchristian.org/framework</a> Order Digital Discernment: <a href="https://amzn.to/4zf0Xsm">amazon.com</a>
Subscribe: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/@ThinkingChristian?sub_confirmation=1">YouTube</a> &middot; <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/thinking-christian-clear-theology-for-a-confusing-world/id1712162582">Apple Podcasts</a> &middot; <a href="https://open.spotify.com/show/3PCi6K1PjPXzhrNVGAPTLX">Spotify</a> Advertising and partnership inquiries: <a href="mailto:info@thinkingchristian.org">info@thinkingchristian.org</a>

Thinking Christian is a podcast hosted by Dr. James Spencer, president of the D. L. Moody Center and author of Digital Discernment (InterVarsity Press), with co-host Dr. Ashish Varma. Reading the Bible as the final authority for life and faith means questioning the assumptions of our culture, even our Christian culture, so that we don't settle for a narrower vision than God's word offers.

James and Ashish talk with scholars, pastors, and authors about Scripture and theology, biblical manhood and discipleship, technology and AI, Christian nationalism and politics, church history, and faith and mental health. 

Unsettling convention. Cultivating conviction.

Episodes, transcripts, articles, and questions: https://www.thinkingchristian.org

Thinking Christian is a podcast hosted by Dr. James Spencer, president of the D. L. Moody Center and author of Digital Discernment (InterVarsity Press), with co-host Dr. Ashish Varma. Reading the Bible as the final authority for life and faith means questioning the assumptions of our culture, even our Christian culture, so that we don't settle for a narrower vision than God's word offers.
James and Ashish talk with scholars, pastors, and authors about Scripture and theology, biblical manhood and discipleship, technology and AI, Christian nationalism and politics, church history, and faith and mental health.&nbsp;
Unsettling convention. Cultivating conviction.
Episodes, transcripts, articles, and questions: https://www.thinkingchristian.org

Christians shouldn’t just think. They should think Christian. Join Dr. James Spencer and guests for calm, thoughtful, theological discussions about a variety of topics Christians face every day. The Thinking Christian Podcast will help you grow spiritually and learn theology as you seek to be faithful in a world that is becoming increasingly proficient at telling stories that deny Christ.

Thinking Christian with Drs. James Spencer and Ashish Varma

Christians shouldn’t just think. They should think Christian. Join Dr. James Spencer and guests for calm, thoughtful, theological discussions about a variety of topics Christians face every day. The Thinking Christian Podcast will help you grow spiritually and learn theology as you seek to be faithful in a world that is becoming increasingly proficient at telling stories that deny Christ.

Find more from James at https://www.thinkingchristian.org/.

Christians shouldn&rsquo;t just think. They should think Christian. Join Dr. James Spencer and guests for calm, thoughtful, theological discussions about a variety of topics Christians face every day. The Thinking Christian Podcast will help you grow spiritually and learn theology as you seek to be faithful in a world that is becoming increasingly proficient at telling stories that deny Christ.
Find more from James at <a href="https://www.thinkingchristian.org/">https://www.thinkingchristian.org/</a>.

Thinking Christian: Clear Theology for a Confusing World

Karl Barth on Church and Politics: Is the Church at War? | Faith & Politics #10

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/5e27a451-e6e6-4c51-aa03-a7370003783c/clips/15595c89-6e99-4acc-a073-b4e9000f04e5/transcript