#011: ”Jesus for President” by Shane Claiborne (with guest host, Seth Showalter)

Michelle and guest host, Seth Showalter, discuss Jesus for President: Politics for Ordinary Radicals by Shane Claiborne. Their conversation covers politics, the church, and more.

From the back cover: "Jesus for President is a radical manifesto to awaken the Christian political imagination, reminding us that our ultimate hope lies not in partisan political options but in Jesus and the incarnation of the peculiar politic of the church as a people "set apart" from this world. In what can be termed lyrical theology, Jesus for President poetically weaves together words and images to sing (rather than dictate) its message. It is a collaboration of Shane Claiborne's writing and stories, Chris Haw's reflections and research, and Chico Fajardo-Heflin's art and design. Drawing upon the work of biblical theologians, the lessons of church history, and the examples of modern-day saints and ordinary radicals, Jesus for President stirs the imagination of what the Church could look like if it placed its faith in Jesus instead of Caesar. A fresh look at Christianity and empire, Jesus for President transcends questions of "Should I vote or not?" and "Which candidate?" by thinking creatively about the fundamental issues of faith and allegiance. It's written for those who seek to follow Jesus, rediscover the spirit of the early church, and incarnate the kingdom of God."

About Seth: "Seth grew up in a small town in Northwest, Missouri. He was on track for a future in the ministry, when he came to the conclusion that he was gay. Cue: long, draught out coming journey. Ministry was pushed to the side for a career in social work. If he couldn’t serve in the Church, he definitely could by being the hands and feet of Christ in the world. Seth is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and holds a second master’s in Healthcare Administration. Seth can be a bit too serious at times but the cast knows how to put him in his place."