OpenTheo

Politics after Christendom with David VanDrunen

Life and Books and Everything — Clearly Reformed

Politics after Christendom with David VanDrunen

November 29, 2023
Life and Books and Everything
Life and Books and EverythingClearly Reformed

Any Christian trying to formulate a political theology cannot afford to ignore the impressive work done by David VanDrunen over the past decade. In this long-ish interview, Kevin asks Dave about two kingdoms theology, natural law, the purpose of government, and the importance of the Noahic Covenant. Stick around and you'll also learn what VanDrunen means by "conservative liberalism" and "legal polycentrism." You'll also hear what Kevin and Dave would do (or not do) if they were starting a Presbyterian colony on Mars.

Chapters:

0:00 Intro

2:30 Politics after Christendom

16:45 Covenants and Reformed Theology

31:10 Sponsor Break | Crossway

32:00 Does Christ Redeem Political Institutions?

36:00 Responding to Criticism

43:10 A Presbyterian Colony on Mars?

55:00 Does Government Protect, Perfect, or Provide?

1:03:40 Sponsor | DesiringGod

1:04:10 A Conservative Liberalism

1:11:10 Legal Polycentrism

1:20:55 Until Next Time

Books & Everything:

Politics after Christendom: Political Theology in a Fractured World

O Come, O Come, Emmanuel: A Liturgy for Daily Worship from Advent to Epiphany

Ask Pastor John Podcast

Ask Pastor John: 750 Bible Answers to Life's Most Important Questions

Share

FacebookTwitterRedditCopy Link

Transcript

More From Life and Books and Everything

Life and Ministry with Alistair Begg
Life and Ministry with Alistair Begg
Life and Books and Everything
December 7, 2023
If you ever wanted to be in the room as two minister friends talk about preaching and pastoral ministry, this is the episode for you. Kevin asks Alist
A Very Merry Midwestern Christmas
A Very Merry Midwestern Christmas
Life and Books and Everything
December 20, 2023
Even though only Justin still lives in the Midwest, this episode has a distinctly Midwestern flare as the three amigos reminisce about favorite Christ
What Happened to Young, Restless, and Reformed?
What Happened to Young, Restless, and Reformed?
Life and Books and Everything
January 24, 2024
In this extra-long episode, Kevin teams up with Justin and Collin to talk about something they were all deeply involved in: the movement known as the
Life and Ministry with Carl Trueman
Life and Ministry with Carl Trueman
Life and Books and Everything
November 21, 2023
In this fun and frank discussion, Kevin and Carl talk about everything from Billy Graham to Pride Month to Christian Nationalism. Along the way Carl r
The Two-Parent Privilege with Melissa Kearney
The Two-Parent Privilege with Melissa Kearney
Life and Books and Everything
October 26, 2023
In this episode, Kevin talks with Melissa Kearney, professor of economics at the University of Maryland, about her new book, The Two-Parent Privilege:
The Rise of Contemporary Critical Theory with Neil Shenvi and Pat Sawyer
The Rise of Contemporary Critical Theory with Neil Shenvi and Pat Sawyer
Life and Books and Everything
October 12, 2023
We've heard the terms before: cultural Marxism, socialism, intersectionality, microaggressions, standpoint epistemology, the Frankfurt School, Critica
More From "Life and Books and Everything"

More on OpenTheo

The Man on the Middle Cross with Alistair Begg
The Man on the Middle Cross with Alistair Begg
Life and Books and Everything
November 10, 2025
If you haven’t seen the viral clip, go see it right now. In this episode, Kevin talks to Alistair about the preaching clip he didn’t intend to give, h
Did God Create Us So He Wouldn’t Be Alone?
Did God Create Us So He Wouldn’t Be Alone?
#STRask
November 3, 2025
Questions about whether God created us so he wouldn’t be alone, what he had before us, and a comparison between the Muslim view of God and the Christi
How Would You Convince Someone That Evil Exists?
How Would You Convince Someone That Evil Exists?
#STRask
November 17, 2025
Questions about how to convince someone that evil exists, whether Charlie Kirk’s murder was part of God’s plan, whether that would mean the murderer d
Could the Writers of Scripture Have Been Influenced by Their Fallen Nature?
Could the Writers of Scripture Have Been Influenced by Their Fallen Nature?
#STRask
October 23, 2025
Questions about whether or not it’s reasonable to worry that some of our current doctrines were influenced by the fallen nature of the apostles, and h
How Can I Improve My Informal Writing?
How Can I Improve My Informal Writing?
#STRask
October 6, 2025
Question about how you can improve your informal writing (e.g., blog posts) when you don’t have access to an editor.   * Do you have any thoughts or
How Could the Similarities Between Krishna and Jesus Be a Coincidence?
How Could the Similarities Between Krishna and Jesus Be a Coincidence?
#STRask
October 9, 2025
Questions about how the similarities between Krishna and Jesus could be a coincidence and whether there’s any proof to substantiate the idea that Jesu
How Can I Showcase God’s Goodness When I’m Struggling in My Suffering?
How Can I Showcase God’s Goodness When I’m Struggling in My Suffering?
#STRask
September 8, 2025
Questions about how to showcase God’s goodness when we’re really struggling in our suffering, an explanation of God’s response at the end of the book
The Historical Reliability of the Gospels: Licona vs. Ehrman - Part 1
The Historical Reliability of the Gospels: Licona vs. Ehrman - Part 1
Risen Jesus
September 3, 2025
In this episode, frequent debate opponents Dr. Michael Licona and Dr. Bart Ehrman face off on the historical reliability of the gospels. Held in 2018
Corey Miller: The Progressive Miseducation of America
Corey Miller: The Progressive Miseducation of America
Knight & Rose Show
September 27, 2025
Wintery Knight and Desert Rose welcome Dr. Corey Miller to discuss The Progressive Miseducation of America. They examine how universities promote scie
If We Don’t Need to Learn to Hear God’s Voice, How Do You Explain These Verses?
If We Don’t Need to Learn to Hear God’s Voice, How Do You Explain These Verses?
#STRask
September 11, 2025
Questions about why, if we don’t need to learn to hear God’s voice, there’s a command to earnestly desire the gift of prophecy, why we would need to l
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
Conservatism and Religious Freedom with John Wilsey
Conservatism and Religious Freedom with John Wilsey
Life and Books and Everything
October 27, 2025
What is conservatism? And why does it go hand in hand with religious freedom? How should we think about the American experiment of ordered liberty? Ha
John Thomson and the Shaping of American Presbyterianism with Stephen A. Fix
John Thomson and the Shaping of American Presbyterianism with Stephen A. Fix
Life and Books and Everything
September 29, 2025
If you are looking for a deep dive into the history of early American Presbyterianism, you have come to the right place! Listen in as Kevin talks with
The Historical Reliability of the Gospels: Licona vs. Ehrman - Part 2
The Historical Reliability of the Gospels: Licona vs. Ehrman - Part 2
Risen Jesus
September 10, 2025
In this episode, frequent debate opponents Dr. Michael Licona and Dr. Bart Ehrman face off on the historical reliability of the gospels. Held in 2018
What Are Some Good Ways to Start a Conversation About God with Family Members?
What Are Some Good Ways to Start a Conversation About God with Family Members?
#STRask
October 30, 2025
Questions about how to start a conversation about God with non-Christian family members, how to keep from becoming emotional when discussing faith iss