Reviewed by: Jessica Dundas, an English literature major at Taylor University, Upland, Indiana

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Introduction

Title: How the Nations Rage: Rethinking Faith and Politics in a Divided Age

Author: Jonathan Leeman

Publisher: Nelson Books

Publication Date: 2018

Format: print, paperback

Length: 240 pages

OVERVIEW

Jonathan Leeman dares us to think carefully and deeply about our nation’s approach to politics. He points out our tendency to think that politics is the stuff of congressmen, school boards, and voting booths, when, in fact, it is the stuff of our everyday life: politics is how we arrange our lives to get what we worship. He reminds us that we cannot go into the public square and leave our religion behind. Everyone worships something, whether God or gods—often the god of self.
Leeman, a scholar of political theology, walks us through this book with the goal of teaching us to rethink faith and politics, invest our political hopes first in the church, learn to be before we do, and prepare for battle and for rage. “How the nations rage” is a reference to Psalm 2, which he examines to illustrate how the nations can too often turn against God. He shows how that rage is futile, for the victory belongs to Christ. Leeman reminds us that we are first citizens of God and His ambassadors on earth and, as such, our posture ought to be to represent Him. According to Leeman, we ought to work to support a government giving peace and order so that Christians are better able to point people to the way of salvation.

ASSESSMENT

Rating (1 to 5)

5 stars

Suggested Audience

This book is aimed at Christians who are frustrated with the divisions of our age and want suggestions for uniting as a nation in loyalty to the Lord.

Christian Impact

How the Nations Rage challenges Christians to live as citizens of another kingdom and offer the world a new kind of politics.

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