With a major election a little more than a week away, you may have noticed a dramatic increase in political coverage. With that comes increased political tension, and partisanship heightens as we retreat to our own private, political camps. But, it doesn’t have to be that way, says at least one graduate faculty member at Baylor. Greg Garrett, a professor in Baylor’s doctoral program in English, released a new book earlier this year that offers a Christian alternative. The book, Faithful Citizenship: Christianity and Politics for the 21st Century, takes readers through the battleground state that really matters - the one within ourselves where our faith and our American identity can be at odds.
For example, in a lecture on his research, Garrett shared the story of his family’s Thanksgiving dinner. His grandmother opened the conversation with a strong, polarizing political opinion. Garrett notes that if she had been a political opponent instead of someone he loves and respects he might have been reactive. Instead, he tailored his response to honor her beliefs without sacrificing his own. Later, he recounts, they had a long conversation where their political differences were shared.
Applying this model to our daily lives takes courage, but being a Christian is a courageous act, says Garrett. “If we follow the Christian example,” says Garrett. “We must put our love for God and our love for our neighbor ahead of our desire to be right.” Ultimately, he says, the book is not a call to change America’s political culture. It is a call to change ourselves.
In addition to his duties at Baylor, Dr. Garrett writes a weekly columns for Patheos and has authored several books.
