OpenTheo

Why Christians Should Be More Involved with Politics, with Jeff McAlvey

Life and Books and Everything — Clearly Reformed

Why Christians Should Be More Involved with Politics, with Jeff McAlvey

October 21, 2020
Life and Books and Everything
Life and Books and EverythingClearly Reformed

In this episode of Life and Books and Everything, Jeff McAlvey joins Kevin and Justin to discuss the Christian’s role in politics. Jeff worked closely with Michigan Governor John Engler in the 90s, oversaw the state appropriations process when Governor Engler was the Senate Majority Leader, and started a lobbying group after his time in Washington DC. Listen in as Kevin, Justin, and Jeff unravel some of the misconceptions around politics in America and offer advice on how church members can love their neighbors and be more politically involved in their local communities.

This episode of Life and Books and Everything is brought to you by Crossway. The Crossway book we want to highlight this week is, When the Stars Disappear: Help and Hope from Stories of Suffering in Scripture (Suffering and the Christian Life, Volume 1) by Mark Talbot. When the Starts Disappear engages the topic of suffering, not only through Reformed theological and philosophical insights but with profound biblical reflection and personal experience through the author himself.

Book recommendations

Kevin:

God's Design for the Church: A Guide for African Pastors and Ministry Leaders by Conrad Mbewe

Lost in Thought: The Hidden Pleasures of an Intellectual Life by Zena Hitz

Jesus and the Forces of Death: The Gospels' Portrayal of Ritual Impurity within First-Century Judaism by Matthew Thiessen

Ten Global Trends Every Smart Person Should Know: And Many Others You Will Find Interesting by Ronald Baily and Marian Tupy

Justin:

What It Means to Be Human: The Case for the Body in Public Bioethics by O. Carter Snead

Self-Portrait in Black and White: Unlearning Race by Thomas Chatterton Williams

Jeff:

Absolute Surrender by Andrew Murray

Share

FacebookTwitterRedditCopy Link

Transcript

More From Life and Books and Everything

The Trinity and Evangelicalism, with Dr. Scott Swain
The Trinity and Evangelicalism, with Dr. Scott Swain
Life and Books and Everything
October 28, 2020
In this episode of Life and Books and Everything, Dr. Scott Swain—Professor of Systematic Theology at Reformed Theological Seminary—joins Kevin, Justi
What the 2020 Election Means
What the 2020 Election Means
Life and Books and Everything
November 9, 2020
In this episode of Life and Books and Everything, Kevin, Collin, &Justin wrestle with the current state of the 2020 election. Why doesn’t it seemto be
Live Conversation with J. Ligon Duncan, III
Live Conversation with J. Ligon Duncan, III
Life and Books and Everything
November 17, 2020
In this episode of Life and Books and Everything, Kevin DeYoung interviews Dr. J. Ligon Duncan, III, chancellor of Reformed Theological Seminary. This
Team Compassion vs. Team Courage
Team Compassion vs. Team Courage
Life and Books and Everything
October 7, 2020
In this episode of Life and Books and Everything, Kevin, Justin, and Collin are back together to discuss some of the more pressing issues facing the c
'Bavinck: A Critical Biography,' with Dr. James Eglinton
'Bavinck: A Critical Biography,' with Dr. James Eglinton
Life and Books and Everything
September 30, 2020
In this episode of Life and Books and Everything, Dr. James Eglinton joins Kevin to discuss his latest work, Bavinck: A Critical Biography. Listen in
The Religious Fervor of American Politics
The Religious Fervor of American Politics
Life and Books and Everything
September 23, 2020
In this episode of Life and Books and Everything, Kevin, Collin, and Justin discuss the death of Ruth Bader Ginsburg and her vacant seat on the Suprem
More From "Life and Books and Everything"

More on OpenTheo

Why Would Any Rational Person Have to Use Any Religious Book?
Why Would Any Rational Person Have to Use Any Religious Book?
#STRask
December 8, 2025
Questions about why any rational person would have to use any religious book, whether apologetics would be redundant if there were actually a good, un
Why Should We Pray If God Already Knows What’s Going to Happen?
Why Should We Pray If God Already Knows What’s Going to Happen?
#STRask
January 29, 2026
Questions about why we should pray if God already knows what’s going to happen, how the effectiveness of prayer is measured, and whether or not things
Brian Miller: Fine-Tuning and the Multiverse Theory
Brian Miller: Fine-Tuning and the Multiverse Theory
Knight & Rose Show
March 7, 2026
Wintery Knight and guest host Terrell Clemmons welcome Dr. Brian Miller to discuss the the evidence for fine-tuning in physics and cosmology and the m
How Could One Person Trust Another Person on the Topic of God?
How Could One Person Trust Another Person on the Topic of God?
#STRask
March 5, 2026
Questions about how one person could trust another person on the topic of God, how STR obtained information about God that others haven’t obtained, an
Why Is There No Effort Towards a Neutral Interpretation of Scripture?
Why Is There No Effort Towards a Neutral Interpretation of Scripture?
#STRask
March 9, 2026
Questions about why there is no effort towards a neutral interpretation of Scripture that doesn’t take denominational preferences into account, and ho
Is It Possible There’s a Being That’s Greater Than God?
Is It Possible There’s a Being That’s Greater Than God?
#STRask
February 5, 2026
Questions about whether it’s possible there’s a being that’s greater than God and that’s outside of God’s comprehension and omniscience, and how to ex
What Tools of Reasoning Help You Know What’s True, Right, and Good?
What Tools of Reasoning Help You Know What’s True, Right, and Good?
#STRask
December 4, 2025
Question about what tools of reasoning help us determine whether something is true or false, right or wrong, good or bad before bringing Scripture int
Would You Say God’s Primary Object Is to Not Be Found?
Would You Say God’s Primary Object Is to Not Be Found?
#STRask
March 19, 2026
Questions about whether God’s primary object is to not be found, how one can say God doesn’t make mistakes if the percentage of Christians in the worl
Did Jesus Prove He Wasn’t Sinless When He Overturned the Tables?
Did Jesus Prove He Wasn’t Sinless When He Overturned the Tables?
#STRask
December 29, 2025
Questions about whether Jesus proved he wasn’t sinless when he overturned the tables, whether Jesus’ response to the Pharisees in Mark 3:22–26 was a b
Protestants and Catholics: What’s the Difference? With Chad Van Dixhoorn, Blair Smith, and Mark McDowell
Protestants and Catholics: What’s the Difference? With Chad Van Dixhoorn, Blair Smith, and Mark McDowell
Life and Books and Everything
November 26, 2025
How should Protestants think about the Catholic Mass? About the Eucharist? About the history and development of the papacy? In this panel discussion,
Are You Accursed If You Tithe?
Are You Accursed If You Tithe?
#STRask
December 15, 2025
Questions about whether anyone who tithes is not a Christian and is accursed since Paul says that if you obey one part of the Mosaic Law you’re obliga
What About Those Who Never Heard the Name of Jesus?
What About Those Who Never Heard the Name of Jesus?
#STRask
December 22, 2025
Questions about what will happen to those who never heard of Jesus or were brought up in a different faith, whether there’s biblical warrant to think
When I Can’t Stop Thinking About Something, Is That God Speaking?
When I Can’t Stop Thinking About Something, Is That God Speaking?
#STRask
December 1, 2025
Questions about whether having a recurring thought is an indication God is speaking to you, what to say to someone who says they sinned because “God t
Why Does the Bible Teach You How to Be a Proper Slave Owner?
Why Does the Bible Teach You How to Be a Proper Slave Owner?
#STRask
November 13, 2025
Question about why it seems like the Bible teaches you how to be a proper slave owner rather than than saying, “Stop it. Give them freedom.”   * It s
Why Do We Say Someone Was Saved on a Particular Date If It Was Part of an Eternal Plan?
Why Do We Say Someone Was Saved on a Particular Date If It Was Part of an Eternal Plan?
#STRask
November 24, 2025
Questions about why we say someone was saved on a particular date if it was part of an eternal plan, the Roman Catholic view of the gospel vs. the Bib