An invitation to "The After Party": Reframing Christian engagement in politics with David French and Curtis Chang
“We want to inject spiritual formation on politics into small groups.”David French, Curtis Chang, and Russell Moore have launched a new, free, online resource for Christians called The After Party: Toward Better Christian Politics.In this engaging and timely conversation, as we begin a presidential election year, French and Chang delve into the intersection of politics and faith within American society. They unpack the need for Christians to engage in politics with humility and hope, grounded in the teachings of Jesus.They also explain the origins and aims of The After Party, a small group curriculum designed to rejuvenate political discussion within Christian communities.Their goal?To move Christians toward Jesus-centered, compassionate, and civil political engagement.Topics(01:51): The Backstory of 'The After Party'(02:57): The Need for a New Approach to Politics(03:55): The Challenges of Discussing Politics in Church(05:14): The After Party: A New Approach to Christian Politics(05:24): Addressing Objections and Clarifying the Project's Goals(06:42): The Importance of 'How' in Christian Politics(10:12): The Role of Humility and Hope in Christian Politics(12:55): The After Party Curriculum: What to Expect(18:11): The Role of Justice, Kindness, and Humility in Christian Politics(24:22): The Connection Between Anxiety, Fear, and Politics(26:42): Engaging in Politics Amidst Personal Anxiety(28:05): Understanding the Big Sort and the Law of Group Polarization(31:04): The Impact of Echo Chambers and Group Polarization(39:33): The Role of Politics in Shaping Identity and Future Security(41:11): The Challenge of Balancing Character and Policy in Politics(44:15): The Call for Christians to Bring Virtue into Politics(49:36): The Role of Pastors in Shepherding Their People Through Election SeasonResources☑️ The After Party🎧 Anxiety is an opportunity: A conversation with Curtis Chang🎧Can you trust American institutions? A conversation with Curtis Chang🎧Faith in the public square: A conversation with David French🎧Should Christians pursue power? A conversation with David French📖 In “The Anxiety Opportunity,” Curtis Chang says that worry opens doors to our best selves↘️ Podcast transcript (PDF)About David FrenchDavid French is an opinion columnist for the New York Times, where he writes about law, culture, religion, and armed conflict. He also serves as senior editor of The Dispatch and occasionally writes for The Atlantic. French is the author of Divided We Fall: America's Secession Threat and How to Restore Our Nation, and he has argued high-profile religious liberty cases.About Curtis ChangCurtis Chang is the founding executive director of Redeeming Babel and host of the Good Faith podcast. He bridges the worlds of secular institutions and theology. In the former world, he is the founder and CEO of Consulting Within Reach (CWR), a firm serving nonprofits and government agencies. His consulting work has won an award in social innovation from the Obama White House, and he teaches strategic planning as a faculty member of American University’s School of International Service. In the Christian world, he is a consulting professor at Duke Divinity School and a Senior Fellow at Fuller Theological Seminary. Curtis is also a former senior pastor of an Evangelical Covenant Church in San Jose, California. He is the author of the book The Anxiety Opportunity: How Worry Is the Doorway to Your Best Self.About Dr. Mark TurmanDr. Mark Turman is the Executive Director of Denison Forum and Vice President of Denison Ministries. Among his many duties, Turman is most notably the host of The Denison Forum Podcast. He is also the chief strategist for DF Pastors, which equips pastors and church leaders to understand and transform today’s culture.About Denison ForumDenison Forum exists to thoughtfully engage the issues of the day from a biblical perspective through The Daily Article email newsletter and podcast, The Denison Forum Podcast, as well as many books and additional resources.