Redekop was talking to the very audience targeted in his most recent book, "Politics Under God," those in his own faith tradition: Anabaptists. A quote from Chuck Colson on the back of the book warns that the message will, "surprise readers who expect a conventional Anabaptist prospective."
Professor emeritus of political science at Wilfrid Laurier University, Waterloo, Ontario, Redekop unveiled that surprise during "Political Reality Today: Challenge or Opportunity for the Church?" a presentation sponsored by the FPU Council of Senior Professionals.
What exactly is the "conventional Anabaptist prospective?" In his book, Redekop outlines some of the Anabaptist beliefs taken from the Schleitheim Confession of 1527, a declaration of Anabaptist theology, written during a time of intense persecution.
"The drafters of the document referred to the political order as the kingdom of 'darkness,'" Redekop notes. Because of this belief, Anabaptists have historically avoided military service as well as political office.
It is this latter avoidance that Redekop takes issue with. "I can understand it [the refusal to participate in politics] then [when the early Anabaptists were being persecuted]," Redekop said. "But not in the U.S. today."
In Redekop's view, Scripture refers to three kingdoms: the heavenly kingdom, the worldly kingdom (which includes government) and the kingdom of darkness. Too often in Anabaptist circles the worldly kingdom and the kingdom of darkness have been fused. This troubles Redekop.
The State was created by God because of sin, and is affirmed repeatedly throughout Scripture, according to Redekop. "It can be corrupted," he said. "I believe I heard of a pastor down in Colorado who was corrupted too." Despite the State's corruption, he feels it is essential to have Christians in its midst. "Affirm when you can, so you can critique when you must," he urged.
Some in the FPU audience said Redekop was walking a fine line between the "kingdom of darkness" and the "kingdom of the world." Others stated that they did not believe such godly politicians were actually electable.
Redekop answered their questions with grace and tact, pointing out cases he knew of where politicians had remained in office even when they voted against the will of the majority of their constituents. Integrity, he claimed, is attractive.
Redekop has always questioned the status quo in religion and politics, according to Richard Unruh, a political science professor at FPU who was once Redekop's student at FPU. "[Redekop's class] was my first introduction to an Anabaptist perspective on the relationship between religion and politics," Unruh said. "But as I recall it was a perspective that John began to critique way back then."
Among Redekop's other books are "Labour Problems in Christian Perspective," "Approaches to Canadian Politics" and "A People Apart: Ethnicity and the Mennonite Brethren." He received the Canadian Leslie K. Tarr Award "in recognition of outstanding contribution in the field of Christian writing" and Commemorative Confederation Medal from the Canadian government.
His critique of both the historical Anabaptist perspective and the government do not always make Redekop popular in either group, but his careful use of Scripture keeps his message strong.