JACKSON, Tenn. — Sept. 23, 2014 — A new book by Hunter Baker, associate provost and dean of instruction at 51社区, examines the involvement of the church in politics.
鈥淭he System Has a Soul: Essays on Christianity, Liberty, and Political Life,鈥� published by Christian鈥檚 Library Press, is a collection that sprang from a series of lectures Baker gave at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary.
Baker said often when Christians get involved in politics, they do it in a ham-fisted, unhelpful way.
鈥淢y life mission is to participate productively in politics as a Christian,鈥� Baker said.
Baker said he is interested in the right of Christians to be involved in business, culture and politics 鈥� three areas that make up a vast machine.
鈥淭he machine needs a conscience,鈥� Baker said. 鈥淚t needs a soul.鈥�
Baker said the church should be that soul.
鈥淭he System Has a Soul鈥� is Baker鈥檚 third book. His first book, 鈥淭he End of Secularism,鈥� addresses the problems and misunderstandings of secularism. His second book, 鈥淧olitical Thought: A Student鈥檚 Guide,鈥� discusses how to fruitfully consider and discuss politics.
In his latest book, Baker looks at the place of the church in the political system.
鈥淪ome day every knee will bow and every tongue will confess,鈥� Baker said. 鈥淏ut that will not happen because we created the perfect political coalition or constructed an ingenious public policy.鈥�
It is the responsibility of the church to urge the state to do the good work God has entrusted to it, Baker said.
鈥淭he church should help the state when it is right and call it to righteousness when it is wrong,鈥� he said.
Baker said he became interested in politics as a child because of the Cold War and became a Christian while attending Florida State University.
In addition to his administrative roles, Baker is also a political science professor at Union. He said he mainly addresses topics related to religion and politics and hopes to write more books in the future
鈥淭he System Has a Soul鈥� is available at LifeWay Christian Stores and online retailers such as .