The Liturgy of Politics
Spiritual Formation for the Sake of Our Neighbor
Kaitlyn Schiess
InterVarsity Press, 216 pages
Editor’s Note: In the Evangelical Covenant Church, we embrace a diversity of views around faith and politics. This series aims to reflect that variety, acknowledging that no single perspective captures the full truth. As Scripture reminds us, we see only in part—each voice adds to our understanding as we seek to navigate these important conversations together.
For further exploration, the Covenant has curated a list of recommended resources for this season: Christian Faith and Politics.
What and who forms you? We are surrounded by voices, thoughts, and ideas constantly. We consciously and subconsciously absorb these thoughts and ideas that affect how we view the world and operate in it. It is easy to find ourselves inundated with multiple voices that all say the same thing. A few years ago, I realized I had curated for myself the perfect social media feed of friends, theologians, thought leaders, and influencers. Each gave me what I was looking for: someone who agreed with me and aided in upholding my beliefs. As I became aware of the echo chamber I had created, I intentionally began to follow people who voiced opinions different from my own. What ended up happening was my compassion and understanding for people grew. I was challenged to wrestle with whether I believed certain things just because I thought I was “supposed to” or because they reflected the character of God.
As tensions in our nation continue to rise and we approach the election, I find myself asking, “How might I intentionally consider the voices I am listening to when it comes to shaping my political views?” In The Liturgy of Politics: Spiritual Formation for the Sake of Our Neighbor, author Kaitlyn Schiess writes that the most important task of the evangelical church in America is to examine our spiritual formation in a political direction. Schiess begins by examining some key moments in American history, how the evangelical church responded, and how we have arrived where we are today.
Schiess grounds her points in Scripture, occasionally sharing reflections from her time as a student at Liberty University. Ultimately, this book does not tell readers what to believe or how to vote (there are plenty of other voices to do that for you). It does call us to reflect as we move from understanding the past to breaking down false gospels popular in our culture, to how spiritual formation forms us, and how spiritual formation should shape us politically.
Schiess challenges the individualistic tendencies of American culture with an invitation to consider our broader community. Voting gives us an opportunity to shape policy and laws. Investing in our communities through voting and civic involvement directly impacts our neighbors. Schiess invites us to reflect on how we might leverage our right to vote to bless our community.
Ultimately, this book is for those ready to wade into murky waters, hold some convictions loosely, and consider how our lived theology is reflected in our political involvement.
