Join Doug Stuart in reading Caesar and the Sacrament, by R. Alan Streett

Book Description

When the earliest Christ-followers were baptized they participated in a politically subversive act. Rejecting the Empire’s claim that it had a divine right to rule the world, they pledged their allegiance to a kingdom other than Rome and a king other than Caesar (Acts 17:7). Many books explore baptism from doctrinal or theological perspectives, and focus on issues such as the correct mode of baptism, the proper candidate for baptism, who has the authority to baptize, and whether or not baptism is a symbol or means of grace. By contrast, Caesar and the Sacrament investigates the political nature of baptism. Very few contemporary Christians consider baptism’s original purpose or political significance. Only by studying baptism in its historical context, can we discover its impact on first-century believers and the adverse reaction it engendered among Roman and Jewish officials. Since baptism was initially a rite of non-violent resistance, what should its function be today?

Length: 202 pages

Book Club Details

  • $25 to join (is actually a donation to LCI)
  • Cost of the book itself (Amazon link)
  • 5 one-hour discussion sessions (see dates below)

Discussion Session Dates

All session times 6-7pm EST

  • May 2 – Chapters 1-2
  • May 9 – Chapters 3-4
  • May 16 – Chapters 5-6
  • May 23 – Chapters 7-8
  • May 30 – Chapters 9-11

Deadline to Join:  April 26

What others have said about the book club

David MarinoTexas
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I have found the book clubs to be of great value in expanding my ability to share the message of liberty with my fellow Christians and the message of Christ with my fellow Libertarians. The different perspectives, opinions and knowledge that is brought to the weekly meetings, are truly enlightening.
John OdermattPennsylvania
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I've participated in all three LCI book clubs reading The Prophetic Imagination by Walter Brueggemann, Jesus is Lord, Caesar is Not by various authors, and An Ethic for Christians & other Aliens in a Strange Land by William Stringfellow. These are three books that I very likely would not have read on my own and if I did, I would have struggled to keep myself accountable to finish each. While I liked and disliked parts of each book, the best part of the book club was the conversations during our weekly Zoom calls. It was extremely helpful to be able to bounce difficult sections or interesting critiques off of fellow book club attendees and to hear the same in return. Overall, I can confidently say that the books clubs have deepened by libertarian philosophy and strengthen my faith.
JasonOhio
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Over the past year and a half I have moved from circumspectly examining Libertarian ideas to embracing a great deal of Libertarian philosophy. Because my faith is more central to my life than my relationship with politics and the state I have spent a great deal of time reflecting and synthesizing how these new ideas intersect with my Christian worldview and the Biblical framework I have long utilized for living out my faith in the world. LCI Book Club has provided a critical venue for verbalizing and testing my understanding of Libertarian and Christian ideas. More importantly, it has provided access to the valuable insights of fellow travelers sharing their own unique wisdom along this non-traditional path. Thanks LCI for sponsoring this excellent and important opportunity!

LCI Book Club Frequently Asked Questions

Do I have to attend every meeting to participate?

In order to ensure the best possible discussion for every meeting, we encourage every participant to make as many of the meetings as possible. 

However, you will not be denied access if you are unable to attend all meetings. 

Will the discussions be recorded?

Yes. We have learned in previous months that recording the discussions did not impede the quality of the meeting, and allows those who were unable to attend to participate asynchronously. 

How will the reading assignments be divided?

Each book is unique and does not match up equally based on chapter to the week we discuss. Reading assignments will be sent out to the group at least a week in advance of the first meeting. 

What does the participant fee cover?

Your participant fee covers your access to the book club for the month you are participating in. You will be responsible for acquiring a copy of the reading material ahead of time. 

Your fee actually is considered by the IRS a tax-deductible donation to the Libertarian Christian Institute. 

Do you offer any discounts for joining multiple clubs?

We do not currently have a mechanism for offering discounts, since the fees are considered tax-deductible donations to LCI. 

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