Today I advance in his book to his approach to discipleship, or what he calls “Christian morality,” as he makes his plea for reforming American evangelicalism into a more responsible theopolitics. Calling out American evangelicalism's political idolatry is easier than constructing an alternative pattern of teaching and preaching and living that will nurture a completely different culture. Mikels frames one approach to a theopolitical discipleship.
He sketches no fewer than Twenty Values Central to Christian Living. His list is an attempt to sketch nothing less than a set of biblical ethics framed by the New Testament. His approach at times is supersessionist when it comes to what Jesus “did” to the law or how Jesus practiced the law, and those in his list that are like this are noticeable.
Each of the items listed below is a quotation from Mikels. While listings like this can become tedious or legalistic or too much, Mikels genuinely wants to frame a New Testament/Christian approach to a church-and-state set of principles for American evangelicals. I believe his list, even with demurral here and there, a choice of expression here and there, would still prove fruitful for a fresh theopolitical discipleship.
(1) Christians demonstrate a life-consuming love for God, placing him above all other things in every aspect of their lives.
(2) Christians demonstrate a practical love for the people around us, whether like us or not, near or far.
(3) Christians live in humility before God, realizing our spiritual poverty, our need for forgiveness, and our utter dependency on our Father.
(4) Christians live as agents of Christ and his Kingdom, sprinkling the salt and shining the light of God's goodness into a dark and tasteless world for the sake of others and the glory of God.
(5) Christians live in holiness, keeping God's word in both thought and deed, neither adding to it nor working around it, and not for earthly recognition but for eternal rewards.
(6) Christians embody service, sacrifice, and forgiveness, deferring to those around us even if they accuse us, strike us, ask of us, steal from us, hold something against us, or otherwise and against us. We are intentional losers living in a world obsessed with winning because our Father in Heaven is generous, just, and good.
(7) Christians embrace exclusive allegiance to Jesus himself as our only Savior, true Lord, ultimate authority, and model for life.
(8) Christians embrace a sacrificial love for one another that sets them apart from the rest of the world.
(9) Christians spread the influence of Jesus around the world by living how he lived and taught, sharing the message of his life and teaching, and leading others to do the same.
(10) Christians sacrifice their own resources to care for the poor, especially those in the family of God.
(11) Christian submit to earthly authorities in everything that doesn't conflict with the lordship of Christ.
(12) Christians discard Old Testament commands that were specific to ancient Israel (circumcision) or that were superseded by Christ's direct teaching or his example (capital punishment for adultery, food restrictions, the temple, and the sacrificial system) but do so in ways and timings that respect the sensibilities of others (recall the guidelines in Acts 15).
(13) Christians retain Old Testament commands that were confirmed by Jesus as expressing the heart of God for his people (like avoiding both idolatry and sexual immorality).
(14) Christians reject selfishness, pride, and all their fruits–greed, sexual exploitation, unedifying speech, foolish arguments, defending one's own rights, flaunting one's own liberties, and more.
(15) Christians love each other through worship, teaching, fellowship, mutual edification, and mutual submission in the family of believers–this is the Spirit’s work.
(16) Christians rejoice in what is true, noble, right, pure, excellent, and praiseworthy, seeing all of creation through the lens of the Creator and experiencing peace by trusting his goodness.
(17) Christians must be culturally astute so they can engage the culture around them with an authentic expression of the gospel without adopting, absorbing, or aligning themselves with that culture.
(18) Christians should apply Christian values to those who claim to be believers, should not condemn unbelievers, and should always offer forgiveness and reconciliation to anyone who repents.
(19) Christians exercise dominion over the Earth not for our own benefit but as those who bear God's image, valuing both what and whom he has made.
(20) Christians bear the burden and take up the cause of the needy within our sphere of influence, especially orphans, widows, foreigners, and those who are impoverished or oppressed.
He writes, in conclusion to his long chapter on values, the following:
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