Published 22 Nov 2024
Our primary citizenship
Let's give thanks for God's Kingdom
A blog post Women Scholars and Professionals
What does it mean to live as faithful Christians within the political framework of our nation? Author and professor Miranda Zapor Cruz joined our Fall Book Club members for a conversation on her book, Faithful Politics. In the interview, Miranda helps us to envision what faithful citizenship looks like, beginning from the primary lens of citizenship in God’s kingdom. She talks about the reality of Christians who share a common faith thinking very differently about politics. She discusses the kind of spiritual disposition we need to exhibit in the wake of the elections and offers us practical advice on how we can have constructive conversations in our churches with Christians who think differently from us. She reminds us of the mission of the Church and our witness in how we engage with politics.
This conversation with Miranda offers a snapshot of the experience of participating in a Women Scholars and Professionals book club — plus, you’ll enjoy getting to know Miranda and the ideas in her book. This conversation is great to listen to, even if you weren't able to participate in the book club! As we consider the divisiveness of the November 5 election, we recommend this interview as a tool for moving forward.
“We need to be cautious about hyperbole, about dramatizing things before they are reality. One of the major issues we are facing in politics … is the erosion of truth, … the misrepresentation of one another and the ways that fear is evoked in people is extremely powerful and can be dangerous.”
For those of us in the United States, we’re beginning to turn our minds toward the celebration of Thanksgiving next week. How might God be inviting us to share our gratitude? We’re reminded of Karen Guzmán’s encouragement toward radical hospitality — the kind that doesn’t have anything to do with matching napkins, but everything to do with the warmth of welcome in our hearts. How can you show hospitality to those near and far this Thanksgiving? Let’s watch for the invitation of the Holy Spirit — with a readiness to act.
“It’s fine if your skills do not include cooking. Many grocery stores now offer entire prepared Thanksgiving meals, so you don’t even have to know how to cook a turkey. Hospitality doesn’t mean your home needs to look like a magazine spread — it can just be your home.”
Holiday Prayer Schedule: no prayer meetings on Friday, November 29. But we’ll return on December 6! Join our online, 30-minute guided prayer meetings on Fridays at 8 am, 9 am, and 12 pm (Eastern). Can’t come? Send your prayer requests anyway by emailing us at wsap@intervarsity.org. Ready to pray? Join the Zoom meeting here for those Friday meetings.
Looking for an Advent devotional? We at Women Scholars and Professionals are planning to follow the 2024 Advent Project, available for free online and produced by the Biola University Center for Christianity, Culture, and the Arts. Join us if you like, and watch for opportunities to connect with us during the season with this simple practice!
IVP Faculty exam copies. Professors can request a free exam or desk copy for InterVarsity Press titles adopted for classroom use up to three times a year. Your free exam or desk copy will be sent to you within four weeks. Register for a professional account to access this benefit!
Are you an InterVarsity alum? Use promo code IVCFALUMNI to get a 25% discount at ivpress.com.
Downloadable Pocket Prayer Card from Graduate Healthcare Ministries. Medical students at Brown asked for a small resource that would prompt them to pray throughout the day. Colleague Renee Nicholas created this card with psalms and short prayers to support them — and you’re invited to use it too! Thanks, Renee!
Calling All Scientists! The American Scientific Affiliation is hosting their Winter Symposium on Saturday, January 25, 2025 at 1:00 pm ET/10:00 am PT. The topic is "AI & Christianity" and features speakers Joanna Ng and Rosalind Picard. Register for this online event here.
Save the Date: February 21-22, 2025 for Believers in Business. As the largest Christian MBA gathering in the country, the 2025 Believers in Business Conference is a key intersection of the Christian MBA and Christian professional communities. Mark your calendars to join them in New York this February!
Are you a new graduate student? We invite you to subscribe to a unique newsletter from InterVarsity’s Graduate and Faculty Ministries designed to support and encourage first-year grad students as they embark on the next step of their academic journey. If you’re a first-year graduate student, click here to subscribe.
Four More Things We Loved This Week
Brain rot, anyone? Vote now for the Oxford “Word of the Year.”
Carmen Imes writes on being “agents of reconciliation instead of polarization.” (Christianity Today, unlocked)
We love this clever and literary homegrown Advent calendar idea — customizable for kids and adults alike! Note: Advent begins on December 1, 2024 — the Sunday after Thanksgiving.