Join Dean Taylor as he surveys the landscape of Christian involvement in politics throughout history. This series exposes the devastating results when Christians get involved in the political arena using a historical approach.

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Course Content

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Part 1: The Paradigm is Changing
Part 2: Biblical, Patristic, and Early Anabaptist Perspectives
Part 3: A Warning from History
Engage the Faith Q&A: David Bercot & Dean Taylor on Voting & Politics
Course: Christian Citizenship
Survey: Christians & Politics
Free Course Guide

What This Free Course Covers

Christians & Politics: A Challenge From History is a free course in which Dean Taylor asks how Christians should think about political involvement in light of Scripture, early Christian witness, and Anabaptist history. The series begins by describing a changing paradigm, especially as some Christians reconsider older assumptions about church, state, and culture.

It then turns to biblical passages, patristic sources, and early Anabaptist perspectives to argue for a kingdom-centered way of engaging the world without adopting the politics of the world. The third main session gives historical warnings, especially from Mennonite and Anabaptist settings, about how political involvement can confuse the church’s witness.

A Q&A session with David Bercot and Dean Taylor addresses practical questions about voting, Christian citizenship, public issues, and how to discuss these matters with others. Two final items are listed without transcripts: a Christian Citizenship course link and a Christians & Politics survey.

Kingdom worldview Church and state Constantinianism Early Christianity Anabaptist history Voting and citizenship Christian witness Romans 13 Sermon on the Mount Allegiance to Christ

What You Will Study

  • A historical challenge to Christian involvement in partisan politics
  • The idea of a changing paradigm around church, state, and culture
  • Constantinianism and the concern that church-state synthesis corrupts Christian witness
  • Biblical passages such as Romans 13, Matthew 22, and the Sermon on the Mount as discussed in the lessons
  • Early Christian and patristic perspectives on public affairs and allegiance
  • Early Anabaptist and Mennonite examples used as both models and warnings
  • Practical questions about voting, citizenship, political issues, and conversations with other Christians
  • The call for the church to live as an embassy of the kingdom of heaven

Questions This Course Helps Answer

  • Why does Dean Taylor say the paradigm around Christians and politics is changing?
  • What is meant by a kingdom worldview of politics?
  • How does the course describe Constantinianism and the Constantinian synthesis?
  • How does Romans 13 fit with a non-worldly understanding of Christian political involvement?
  • What does “render to Caesar” mean in the course’s discussion of church and state?
  • How did early Christian writers speak about public meetings, honor, glory, and affairs of state?
  • Why does the course warn that political involvement can damage the church’s witness?
  • What historical examples does Dean Taylor use from Mennonite and Anabaptist communities?
  • Does the course simply say voting is a sin, or does it frame voting as part of a larger concern?
  • How should Christians talk about issues such as abortion, border control, and healthcare without treating worldly politics as the answer?
  • How did the Q&A address Paul’s use of Roman citizenship?
  • How does Daniel 4 shape the discussion about rulers and elections?

Lesson-by-Lesson Guide

Part 1: The Paradigm is Changing

Dean Taylor introduces the need to talk about an Anabaptist kingdom perspective on politics and compares early Christian and historic Christian approaches with later church-state patterns. He focuses on Constantinianism, Augustine’s use of coercion in the Donatist controversy, and the danger of importing political power into Christian theology.

  • Why does the course say Christians need to reconsider political involvement?
  • What is the Constantinian synthesis?
  • How does Dean Taylor connect Augustine, coercion, and later Christian history?
  • Why is political power described as a temptation for the church?

Part 2: Biblical, Patristic, and Early Anabaptist Perspectives

This lesson turns to Scripture, early Christian writings, and early Anabaptist perspectives to explain a kingdom worldview of politics. Dean Taylor discusses passages such as Romans 13 and Matthew 22, while arguing for a radical separation from the politics of the world without retreating from engagement with people.

  • What does a kingdom worldview of politics look like?
  • How does the lesson understand Romans 13 and governing authorities?
  • How does “render to Caesar” relate to Christian allegiance?
  • What did early Christian voices such as Tertullian contribute to this discussion?

Part 3: A Warning from History

Dean Taylor gives historical warnings about Anabaptist and Mennonite communities that became entangled with politics and, in his view, harmed their witness. He frames voting as a symptom of a larger issue and calls the church to remember the kingdom of heaven and its calling to be salt and an embassy of heaven.

  • What warnings does Anabaptist history offer about political involvement?
  • Why does Dean Taylor speak of the “leaven of Herod” in this lesson?
  • How can political involvement confuse a church’s witness?
  • What does it mean for the church to be an embassy of heaven?

Engage the Faith Q&A: David Bercot & Dean Taylor on Voting & Politics

This Q&A session with David Bercot and Dean Taylor addresses Christian citizenship, voting, political issues, and how believers might speak with others about these concerns. The discussion includes questions about Paul’s Roman citizenship, modern public issues, and God’s rule over the kingdoms of men.

  • How should Christians discuss voting and politics with other believers?
  • How does the Q&A address Paul’s use of Roman citizenship?
  • How should Christians think about public issues without making worldly politics the answer?
  • How does Daniel 4 inform the discussion of rulers and elections?

Course: Christian Citizenship

This item is listed in the course as “Course: Christian Citizenship,” but no transcript sample was supplied. Its title indicates a connected resource on Christian citizenship, though the specific contents are not available in the provided metadata.

  • What additional Christian citizenship material is connected to this course?
  • How does this listed item relate to the Christians and Politics series?

Survey: Christians & Politics

This item is listed as a Christians & Politics survey, but no transcript sample was supplied. The metadata does not provide details about the survey questions or how responses are used.

  • What survey is connected to the Christians & Politics course?
  • How can students respond to the course topic through the listed survey?

What students are saying

4.82 out of 5 — 49 reviews
Jasmin Fisevic Sep 1, 2026
★★★★★
This was very interesting and informative. Thank you!
Daniel Segura Aug 14, 2026
★★★★★
Very interesting insights and totally new ideas for me. I grew up very involved in politics, and it is strange how I am only now seeing the inherent problems addressed here.
Godsway Mensah Vondee Jul 15, 2026
★★★★★
The lesson explains that early Christians were cautious about political involvement because they believed their primary loyalty was to Christ’s kingdom. It highlights concerns that politics could influence Christian thinking, divide priorities, and distract from the church’s mission.
Jonathan Richardson Mar 21, 2026
★★★★★
Very good to learn the reasons about politics and the two Kingdoms. Thanks!!!!
Verified Student Sep 17, 2025
★★★★★
This was a fun course to go through on Christian's and politics' and would definitely recommend.
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Christians & Politics: A Challenge From History

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Course Includes

  • 6 Lessons
  • 4 Quizzes
  • Course Certificate