Redeeming Politics: An Appraisal of the Wesleyan Political Theology of Theodore R. Weber in a Time of Christian Nationalism

Theodore R. Weber, founding member and past president of the Society of Christian Ethics, developed a distinctive political theology based on John Wesley’s soteriology. Weber argued that a fully developed concept of the political image of God, which humans reflect in their social and institutional contexts, would move beyond the individualistic focus of Wesley’s ordo salutis, allowing Wesleyans a shared language to talk about political institutions and social ethics distinct from the order of preservation and order of creation approaches. Weber’s understanding of political sanctification, in which individuals and institutions contribute to God’s redemptive work of reconciliation, is a unique contribution to political theology. Weber argued that politics is part of discipleship but cautioned against attempts to Christianize society. His Wesleyan political theology provides parameters for faithful political action in refuting and working against a Christian Nationalist agenda in the United States of America. This article offers an appraisal of Weber’s Wesleyan political theology through an extensive review of his writings on the topic. The method engages in close textual readings of Weber’s publications, providing a clear synthesis of the major themes in his scholarly writings spanning over four decades. The purpose is to provide a cogent overview of Weber’s perspective and approach so that his legacy of writings may continue to inform new scholarly audiences.