"Citizenship Without Illusions" (David Theodore Koyzis)

TITLE: Citizenship Without Illusions - A Christian Guide to Political Engagement
AUTHOR: David Theodore Koyzis
PUBLISHER: Downers Grove, IL: IVP Academic, 2024, (168 pages).
 

The year 2024 is an Election Year in America. How do we vote? What guidelines are there to help us decide on which candidates are best for the country? What is the role of the Church in society? Should Christians get involved in politics at all? After the election, what should we do when our candidates of choice get outvoted? At the core of the discussion is the question of citizenship. Author David Koyzis is convinced that citizenship not only has its privileges, it carries a heavy responsibility. With this in mind, many are aware of the deep divisions in the country over the different political affiliations. With a keen awareness of the political turmoil happening throughout the country, he explores the nature, meaning, and history of citizenship matters. He looks at what it means to be a good citizen. That includes standing up for justice, being informed of matters around us; supporting our communities; volunteering in needy areas; and the courage to engage in activities that honour God. On voting, Koyzis first affirms one's right to vote and offers his perspectives on the issue of wasting one's votes. He regularly compares the political systems of Canada and the US to give context before providing his views. He even offers caveats for anyone wanting to set up a "Christian" political party. Recognizing that there will always be diverse views, the author urges all to maintain open conversational channels regardless of political alliances. 

There is the issue of whether it is ok for Christians to mobilize for political action. He warns us about the dangers of accumulating hundreds of friends on our social media profiles which could build personal virtual tribes that isolate ourselves from real communities. If there is one common denominator in both Canada and the US, it is the ideologies of progressives vs conservatives. He admits that key issues like abortion and gay marriage will remain controversial. Any semblance of peace is just temporary truce. Koyzis then expands his coverage toward what it means to be a global citizen. In an increasingly secular world environment, there are still opportunities for Christians to do all the good they can in various segments of society. He then provides some guidelines on how to pray for our world, leaders, and the Church. 

My Three Thoughts

First, this book addresses what it means to be a dual citizen: On Earth as it is in Heaven. In politically charged atmospheres, earthly concerns can overwhelm our heavenly awareness. While some claim that we cannot be too heavenly-minded till we have no earthly use, the fact is that too many people are too earthly-minded without heavenly considerations. The chapter on "When Kingdoms Collide" gives us an overview of such a conflict. Whether the difference is over policies, parties, principles, or people, just saying the nation is divided is already an understatement. Christians are also caught up in the mess. One can easily come across differing views on candidates and ideologies throughout social media. Some can become highly contentious, leading to factions that paint opponents as pariahs. The way to avoid political illusions is to remember, that any election win for any one party is temporal. Only the Kingdom of God is eternal.

Second, this book clears any fog or illusions at many levels. Apart from political illusions, Koyzis looks at other aspects including cultural, historical, religious, social, and national boundaries. He warns against "Christian Nationalism" before providing a way ahead for ways to set up parties that are faithful to Christian principles. For some, this might be difficult to achieve, especially when emotions are involved. The chapter on "Mobilizing for Christian Action" speaks to this need. Social responsibility is another way in which we can practice kingdom citizenship without the need to be tied to political alliances. When we are focused more on common needs, we will be less combative about personal views. Justice is a key principle both biblically and practically. On voting, he makes a case for us to vote regardless of outcome. He helps to dispel the myth of thinking our votes do not matter. We ought to be careful about virtual illusions, to avoid letting social media become our reality. We also need to beware of religious illusions. Whether it is the "conservative" idol, a "democratic" idol, a "progressive," "socialist," "independent," or a "liberal" idol, we need to take a step away to clear away any illusions we might have on them.  

Third, citizenship without illusions requires us to see everything from God's perspective. The battle is less about votes or democracy, and more about principles and values. It is less about political alignment and more about the spiritual realm. For the spiritually discerned, It is about discerning the difference between the Kingdom of God and the world. On justice, we can learn from our predecessors like Dr Martin Luther King Jr's civil disobedience movements. Whether we see ourselves as conservatives or progressives, being a Christian means learning to live peaceably with all, including those who we disagree with. 

Overall, this book is a sensitive treatment of the issue of politics and citizenship to expand the middle line in our increasingly pluralistic and politically-charged environment. The principles in this book offer a useful way for us to have open conversations about our allegiances. My takeaway is this: For those whose alliances won, stay humble. For those who lost, stay hopeful for earthly things are and will always be temporal.

David T. Koyzis is a Fellow in Politics at the St. George’s Centre for Biblical and Public Theology and taught politics for thirty years at Redeemer University College. He is the author of the award-winning Political Visions and Illusions (also translated into Portuguese) and We Answer to Another: Authority, Office, and the Image of God. He lives in Hamilton, Ontario, with his wife and daughter.

Rating: 4 stars out of 5.

conrade

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This book has been provided courtesy of IVP Academic via NetGalley without requiring a positive review. All opinions offered above are mine unless otherwise stated or implied.