Subjects and Citizens

Michael writes to help Christian rediscover “a truly Christ-centred vision for human politics”. The heart of that vision is based around a careful study of Romans 12-15, calling Christians to be who they are as the church: “subjects of the Lord Jesus and citizens of the kingdom of heaven”. The aim is that this perspective will help Christians to navigate the alienation and anxiety that dominate contemporary debates, providing a fresh way to think about contemporary politics.

Michael distinguishes ‘Politics 1.0’, the politics of this world (where temporary, earthly kingdoms exist within the present age), from ‘Politics 2.0’, “where Jesus Christ reigns in the Kingdom of God” (which exists here and now within the church, but will continue into the world to come when Christ returns). The book argues that ‘Politics 1.0’ has its place, but also its limitations.

‘Politics 2.0’, meanwhile, is distinguished by three points (drawn from Romans 12-15):

• Jesus is Lord; no other ruler is Lord
• Worshipping Jesus is a political statement because he is Lord
• Jesus is a crucified Lord who rules his kingdom by humble service.

The book calls on Christians to rethink what politics is: it is not wrong to be involved in the ‘party politics’ of this world, but this kind of politics has its limits. Our focus should be on ‘Politics 2.0’—namely, “living together as the people of God as we worship and revere Jesus Christ as Lord, and call others to join us”.

1. A new kind of politics
2. The politics of sacrificial nonconformity
3. The politics of peace
4. The politics of respect
5. The politics of love
6. The politics of selflessness
7. The politics of hospitality
8. Terms of engagement

Michael Jensen is the Rector of St Mark’s Anglican Church, Darling Point, and he teaches theology at the Sydney College of Divinity. He was awarded his doctorate from Oxford University in 2008. He regularly appears in national media commenting on current social and political issues from a Christian perspective. He has authored several books, including You: An Introduction and Martyrdom and Identity. He chairs the Board of Publica, a research and public policy organization devoted to strengthening family and community relationships throughout Australia. Michael appears on the podcast With All Due Respect.

Dr Michael Jensen has written in a lively manner of the Christian approach to politics. Based on Romans 12–15, it is not party political but intensely practical, and cleverly explains that living out the gospel has quite an impact on earthly politics. It is a great read.

—Hon John Howard OM AC, Former Prime Minister of Australia (1996–2007)

The question of how to live today as subjects of Christ and citizens of the heavenly city requires a rich, biblical wisdom. In an age of politicized faith when we are all tempted to find our identity through what we denounce and reject, it can be hard to distinguish allegiance to Christ from alignment with one of our culture’s political package deals. Taking account of the deep rhythms of the Bible’s story from Genesis to Revelation, and drawing out distinctively biblical patterns of power, peace, grace, and disadvantaging ourselves for the sake of others, Michael Jensen helps us to reflect on how the Scriptures shape a rich posture of wise Christian citizenship in our present political and cultural age, as we await the city with foundations whose architect and builder is God.

—Associate Professor Christopher Watkin, ARC Future Fellow, European Languages, Monash University; Author, Biblical Critical Theory: How the Bible’s unfolding story makes sense of modern life and culture

Political systems across the world are desperate for people of conviction, and people with a conscience have a moral duty to participate in democracy. That is why we need thoughtful contributions, like Subjects and Citizens, to offer wisdom and guidance as to how to do this effectively.

—Kate Forbes, Member of the Scottish Parliament for Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch; Former Cabinet Secretary for Finance and the Economy

Michael Jensen has given us two gifts in one: a penetrating study of what it means for Christians to be citizens in a broken and complex world, and a sparkling exposition of Romans 12–15. I found fresh insight on every page. This will help us to be better equipped to engage our society faithfully and to help our churches be places of unique relational health and love. Essential reading for our times.

—Sam Allberry, Associate Pastor, Immanuel Nashville; Co-author, You’re Not Crazy: Gospel Sanity for Weary Churches

This is the kind of politics book Christians need right now: one that reminds us that, because Christ is Lord, Christianity is inherently political while simultaneously enabling Christians to sit loosely to any particular party or government. Through a close and practical reading of Romans 12–15—arguably the richest source of political wisdom in the New Testament—Michael Jensen guides readers out of the anxieties of our moment into the cheerful confidence and humble activism that has always marked the church at its best. This book is part balm, part stimulant. It is as much needed in my new home of America as it is in my homeland of Australia.

—The Rev Dr John Dickson, Author, Bullies and Saints: An honest look at the good and evil of Christian history; Distinguished Professor of Biblical Studies and Public Christianity, Wheaton College, Illinois; Host, Undeceptions podcast

This book sets out a way of approaching politics from a Christian perspective which is radical, thoughtful and deeply rooted in Scripture. Dr Jensen gives us permission to relax, to rest in the sovereignty and faithfulness of God, and to commit to living for Jesus, reassuring us that “following Jesus is a political statement”.

—Tim Farron, MP for Westmorland and Lonsdale, UK

This compelling and challenging account of how to approach politics as a Christian is a thoughtful, informative and helpful discussion from Michael Jensen. Because he starts in the right place—that simply proclaiming the lordship of Christ is itself a political act, and the sovereignty of God is our primary assumption—he points to a very different politics: humble, just, and without rancour. An excellent guide.

—Barney Zwartz, Senior Fellow, Centre for Public Christianity; Religion Editor, The Age (2002–2013)

Michael Jensen engages in a noble service by offering a reading of Romans 12–15 for our time, showing us how to pursue the things that make for peace and mutual encouragement in a fragmented and fratricidal age. He deftly shows the connection between submission to Jesus’ Lordship and love for others, and how discipleship requires a politics of peace. A timely word indeed!

—The Rev Dr Michael F Bird, Deputy Principal, Ridley College, Melbourne, Australia

Dr Jensen helpfully invites us to look at our political moment through the lens of the letter to the Romans. He gently guides us to re-examine some of our political and theological assumptions in the light of Scripture. I can think of many small groups that would benefit greatly from this honest and disarming book.

—Dr Krish Kandiah OBE, Foster parent, adoptive father, broadcaster; Director of the Sanctuary Foundation, a national charity in the UK supporting refugees

Michael Jensen provides an immensely thoughtful application of Romans 12–15 to the circumstances of today. Emphasizing that to call Jesus ‘Lord’ is an inherently political statement, he shows how the Christian way is to build an alternative community that focuses on self-sacrifice, peace, and love. What does that mean for politics in today’s world? Michael offers helpful guidance on such issues as civil disobedience, what it means to respect and honour governments, and the limitations of governmental authority.

—Patrick Parkinson, Emeritus Professor, University of Queensland School of Law

Politics has become a disordered love within much of the modern church. In Subjects and Citizens, Michael Jensen helps put things back in order by encouraging us to return to our first love and to bring the soundness of scriptural wisdom back to our understanding of our duties in this world as subjects and citizens of the next.

—Dr Karen Swallow Prior, Author, The Evangelical Imagination: How stories, images and metaphors created a culture in crisis

In the last few years, we Christians have changed what we fight over. We used to fight about doctrine; now we fight about politics. Our divisions used to be reliably along theological lines: Calvinist or Arminian, Pentecostal or Cessationist, Premillennial or Amillennial. But today, churches and Christian leaders are much more likely to come into conflict over vaccine mandates, immigration, or LBGT-related instruction in state schools. Often we change churches, follow leaders, and subscribe to podcasts not so much on their specific content but on their mood or posture on these matters.

In this context, Michael Jensen has written a sure-footed, biblical guide to Christian thinking about politics. Based in exegesis of Romans 12–15, Dr Jensen takes the reader through a journey of understanding—both of what politics in fact is, and how the Christian faith addresses it. Jensen is careful not simply to scratch where we itch with hot takes on the issues of the day. Rather, by carefully walking through the apostle Paul’s message to the Christian community in pagan, imperial Rome, Jensen helps us to think Christianly via the lived example of a church whose experience of the state and the surrounding culture was surely more challenging than our own.

Dr Jensen is both a scholar and a pastor, and this book benefits from that intersection. It is theologically rich and pastorally shaped. And timely. Highly recommended.

—Rory Shiner, Senior Pastor, Providence Church Network, Perth, WA; Author, Forgiven Forever: Living in the Death of Jesus

Just when it feels like we’re drowning in politics of the most divisive kind, Subjects and Citizens helps us get our heads above water—way above. By showing us the Lordship of Christ, Michael Jensen gives a wise and liberating vision for living out kingdom faithfulness as earthly citizens.

—Glen Scrivener, Author, The Air We Breathe: How we all came to believe in freedom, kindness, progress, and equality and the 321 course

The church desperately needs more resources on politics that are deeply informed by the biblical text and attentive to the questions and concerns of the moment—and Subjects and Citizens delivers. Michael Jensen pushes readers to think about politics from a wider theological lens and respond to their political contexts with hospitality and charity.

—Kaitlyn Schiess, Author, The Ballot and the Bible: How Scripture has been used and abused and where we go from here

This is a book that someone needed to write, and Michael has done a great job of writing it. As well as being a beautifully crafted piece of writing, Subjects and Citizens adds yet another title to a growing list of new Australian reformed evangelical books that provide sharp theological and practical guidance on living faithfully in a rapidly changing world.

—Mikey Lynch, Editorial Director, The Gospel Coalition Australia; Campus Director, University Fellowship of Christians, UTAS, Hobart; Author, The Good Life in the Last Days: Making choices when the time is short