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

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
Keri Ingraham: School Choice and Education Reform
Keri Ingraham: School Choice and Education Reform
Knight & Rose Show
January 24, 2026
Wintery Knight and guest host Bonnie welcome Dr. Keri Ingraham to discuss school choice and education reform. They discuss the public school monopoly'
How Can I Explain Modesty to My Daughter?
How Can I Explain Modesty to My Daughter?
#STRask
November 27, 2025
Questions about how to explain modesty to a nine-year-old in a way that won’t cause shame about her body, and when and how to tell a child about a pre
Can You Recommend Good Books with More In-Depth Information and Ideas?
Can You Recommend Good Books with More In-Depth Information and Ideas?
#STRask
January 22, 2026
Questions about good books on Christian apologetics, philosophy, and theology with more in-depth information and ideas, and resources to help an intel
An Invitation to the 2026 Coram Deo Pastors Conference
An Invitation to the 2026 Coram Deo Pastors Conference
Life and Books and Everything
February 18, 2026
"I love being a pastor, and I love pastors, which is why I hope you will consider joining us at the Coram Deo Pastors Conference in 2026." —Kevin DeYo
The Making of the American Mind with Matthew Spalding
The Making of the American Mind with Matthew Spalding
Life and Books and Everything
February 2, 2026
The United States is unique in how much attention it pays to its founding, its founders, and its founding documents. Arguably, the most famous and mos
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
How Should I Respond to an LGBTQ Person Who Says He Feels Good About Who He Is?
How Should I Respond to an LGBTQ Person Who Says He Feels Good About Who He Is?
#STRask
March 2, 2026
Questions about responding to an LGBTQ person who says he feels good about who he is, and whether—since we all have sin in our life we don’t consider
Life and Ministry in Charlotte and in the SBC with Clint Pressley
Life and Ministry in Charlotte and in the SBC with Clint Pressley
Life and Books and Everything
December 15, 2025
In a rare cultural anomaly that may never be repeated in our lifetimes, the current SBC President and current PCA Moderator live in the same neighborh
How Do You Justify Calling Jesus the Messiah?
How Do You Justify Calling Jesus the Messiah?
#STRask
December 18, 2025
Questions about how one can justify calling Jesus the Messiah when he didn’t fulfill the Hebrew messianic prophecies, and whether the reason for the v
Isn’t the Covenant in Scripture Explicitly with Israel and Not the Gentile Nations?
Isn’t the Covenant in Scripture Explicitly with Israel and Not the Gentile Nations?
#STRask
March 12, 2026
Questions about what gives modern Christians confidence that they’ve inherited the Jews’ covenant with God if Scripture explicitly says it was with Is
E. Calvin Beisner: Climate and Energy Policy
E. Calvin Beisner: Climate and Energy Policy
Knight & Rose Show
January 4, 2026
Wintery Knight and Desert Rose welcome Dr. E. Calvin Beisner to discuss climate and energy policy. They explore Biblical dominion and stewardship, con
Who Wrote the Gospels? Michael Licona vs. Bart Ehrman - Part 1
Who Wrote the Gospels? Michael Licona vs. Bart Ehrman - Part 1
Risen Jesus
March 11, 2026
Did Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John write the gospels that bear their names? The texts themselves do not name them as the authors and were published and
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
Prove to Me That Jesus Is Not a Created Being
Prove to Me That Jesus Is Not a Created Being
#STRask
January 26, 2026
Questions about why we should think Jesus is not a created being, and what it means to say God became fully human if part of being human means not bei