Christian Citizenship
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Published by: Wipf and Stock
Release Date: March 25, 2026
Pages: 162
ISBN13: 979-8385270200
Overview
Concern for an extreme form of Christian nationalism influencing the current American administration’s decisions led Mary Theresa Webb to revisit over two thousand years of Christian history. She reminds today’s believers why God chose to send his Son to be born at the time of the Roman occupation of Palestine and what we can learn about how to live in the domain of God (since America was founded to get away from kings and kingdoms). She explores the role of the Beatitudes as a compass for following the Christian way, truth, and life. Before addressing the danger now to American Christianity, Webb reviews eschatology terms and heresies that have led to the formation of the creeds. Her examples of the entwinement of church and state are warnings for American Christians to bring us back from the cliff we are headed toward. In true prophetic style, hope comes in the last chapter with suggestions for specific actions church leaders can take to bring us back from disaster.
Praise
"Terry Webb makes the essential point: Whenever Christians seek to exercise dominion over society, they have abandoned the way of Jesus. This message is the antidote to Christian nationalism."
—Greg Carey, Provost, Moravian Seminary, Lancaster Campus
"The book is rich with stories, illustrations, and quotations that help the reader understand the complications in the history of the church and could serve as a textbook for an introduction to church history or supplement a New Testament survey course. It is also suitable for adult Sunday School and other study settings. The author's aim is not just to present facts, but to help followers of Jesus use them to address current challenges facing Christians."
—Dr. Alex Awad, Founder, Shepherd's Society
"This challenging book presents one vision of Christian citizenship grounded in the Scriptures and history of the Christian church including its creeds, while criticizing the recent redefinition of Christian identity based on an often judgmental and false view of Christian theology. The exegesis of Jesus' parables provides an excellent basis for the core of a lived and vibrant faith though some may disagree with the author's conclusions about their application."
—Abigail Rian Evans, Senior Scholar, Pellegrino Center for Clinical Bioethics, Georgetown University Medical Center
"Both evocative and provocative, Christian Citizenship makes a strong case for how Christians are called to live in the world. It also provides a timely and urgent warning of the dangers of Christian nationalism, while insightfully tying that movement to historical examples of the enmeshing of church and state."
—Adam Russell Taylor, President, Sojourners
"Mary Theresa Webb offers a sweeping and accessible journey through Christian history that illuminates how religious nationalism has repeatedly distorted the heart of the Gospel. With clarity and pastoral wisdom, she equips readers to recognize the dangers of church-state entanglement in our own time and to reclaim a faith rooted in the Beatitudes. A timely and readable guide for Christians seeking to resist distortion and live with courage and hope."
—Jen Butler, Founding CEO, Faith in Democracy
"Webb's winsome introduction to Christian citizenship combines colorful images and bite-sized chapters. Webb is uncompromising in her call to Christians to return to the Christ who said, 'my kingdom is not of this world.' But her book--which ends with a practical guide to dialogue--is, at root, an invitation to a conversation, from one Christian to another."
—David Ney, Associate Professor of Church History, Trinity Anglican Seminary
