Podcast Summary: Jack Hibbs Podcast – “Jesus Has His Politics”

Host: Jack Hibbs
Air Date: November 17, 2025
Main Theme: Exploring the relationship between Christianity, government, and politics, emphasizing the biblical origins of government and the imperative for believers to engage in their communities without conflating earthly nations with God’s kingdom.

Episode Overview

Pastor Jack Hibbs approaches the often-contentious relationship between faith and politics, arguing it is both biblical and essential for Christians to understand and participate in government. He distinguishes between God-ordained government and human political systems, explains the concept of Jesus’s future political reign, and encourages Christians to engage with society in ways that reflect God’s justice and order. Hibbs stresses that while Christians live in specific nations (such as America), they belong first and foremost to God’s kingdom—which will ultimately have its physical seat in Jerusalem, not in any human-constructed governmental system.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

The Return of Christ: Two Distinct Events

• Eschatology Basics: Hibbs clarifies theological distinctions regarding Christ’s return, emphasizing the need to differentiate between Christ’s appearance for His church ("rapture") and His second coming in judgment.
  • Notable Quote:
    “Don’t confuse that with the second coming of Christ… The great second coming is when Christ comes in vengeance to the earth. … If you’re a believer today, you will have nothing to do with that but be a spectator.” (Jack Hibbs, 03:00)

The Kingdom of Christ and Its Politics

• Christ as Political King: For there to be a kingdom, Hibbs asserts, requires a king, subjects, a throne, and a realm—and that “Jesus has his politics” that He will implement.
  • Notable Quote:
    “Bluntly put, Jesus has his politics—he’s coming to implement those.” (Jack Hibbs, 06:39)
• No Earthly Party or Nation Establishes It: The true kingdom is not ushered in by America, any earthly party, or movement, but by Christ himself, from Jerusalem.
  • “Do you think you’re going to achieve it through any human party? None whatsoever… The answer is no way.” (Jack Hibbs, 09:09)

God’s Three Primary Institutions

• Marriage (Home Life): God’s first creation, foundational to society.
• Government: Established by God for righteousness and order, not invented by humans. Man’s natural inclination is toward anarchy until checked by divine institution.
  • “Man did not invent government. In fact, by nature, man is opposed to government. Man is more inclined to anarchy. But God’s grace intervenes and God implements governments among the nations.” (Jack Hibbs, 11:39)
• The Church and Israel: Both together, encompassing all who believe in Jesus as Messiah—Jew and Gentile alike.
  • “It’s the church and Israel … all those who believe in the Lord Jesus Christ.” (Jack Hibbs, 13:18)

Christian Involvement in Government and Politics

• Should Christians Participate?: Strongly affirms this, distinguishing between “government,” which people view positively, and “politics,” which many disdain.
  • “Politics is the implementation of what someone views as government.” (Jack Hibbs, 14:35)
• Scriptural Mandate for Civic Engagement: Jeremiah 29:7—God commands believers to seek the peace and pray for the cities in which they live, even under captivity or less than ideal conditions.
  • “We are commanded by God to pray for the city we live in… For its peace you will have peace if you pray and get involved in the city.” (Jack Hibbs, 16:43)

The Biblical Origin of Justice and Government

• Justice As Divine Concept: Hibbs asserts the universal longing for justice—reflected in images like Lady Justice with her scales and blindfold—comes from God, not evolution or atheism.
  • “Even today, when people who are godless are yelling, ‘I demand justice,’ they have no idea that in their godlessness, they are asking for God to manifest his balance, his fairness, his presence.” (Jack Hibbs, 18:37)
• Purpose of Government: To establish order, punish evil, and promote justice. Without God, these aims are undermined.
  • “It’s to punish evil and promote justice—that’s what government’s for according to the God of the Bible.” (Jack Hibbs, 19:19)

Difficult Truths: Justice, Punishment, and Social Order

• On Capital Punishment: Hibbs references Genesis 9:6 to explain the biblical warrant for the severest forms of justice, responding to criticism for his views on capital punishment.
  • “God says a human life is so valuable that when they take a human life by murder … their blood must be taken. Because that’s the value of a human life.” (Jack Hibbs, 21:09)

Observations on Modern Culture and Law

• Moral Decline and Politics: Hibbs laments the removal of the Ten Commandments from schools and what he sees as a cultural rejection of God’s order, linking this to rising crime and societal confusion.
  • “The politics that prevails in America today says you can’t do that. Somebody might feel bad if they read the Ten Commandments and so they remove it. That’s politics messing with government, folks.” (Jack Hibbs, 23:20)
• Parallel Between Faith and Engagement: Christians should not separate their faith from participation in society and should instead seek to influence leaders and culture.
  • “You and I believe bringing about his plan on earth until he comes again for us is us influencing the leaders that are around us in life, and that is politics. Influence the leaders. We are commanded to do this.” (Jack Hibbs, 28:29)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Christ’s Political Reign:
  “Jesus has his politics—he’s coming to implement those.” (06:39)

• On Ushering in God’s Kingdom:
  “Do you think you’re going to achieve it through any human party? None whatsoever … The answer is no way.” (09:09)

• On the Biblical Command to Engage Locally:
  “We are commanded by God to pray for the city we live in … and get involved in the city in which you live in by number one, praying.” (16:43)

• On the Origin of Justice:
  “That whole concept comes from God, initiated by God, given to us by God.” (18:37)

• On the Purpose of Government:
  “It is to punish evil, and promote justice.” (19:19)

• On the Problem with Modern Political Discourse:
  “That’s politics messing with government, folks.” (23:20)

Important Segment Timestamps

• Opening and Distinction Between Returns of Christ: 01:28 – 07:00
• Discussion on the Attributes of a Kingdom and Christ’s Political Reign: 06:39 – 09:09
• Three God-Orchestrated Institutions: 11:39 – 13:18
• Christian Involvement in Government & Politics: 14:35 – 16:43
• Civic Engagement and Jeremiah 29:7: 16:43 – 17:20
• Biblical Origin of Justice: 18:37 – 19:19
• Purpose and Authority of Government: 19:19 – 21:09
• Capital Punishment and Divine Justice: 21:09 – 23:20
• Faith, Politics, and Cultural Engagement: 23:20 – 28:29

Conclusion

Jack Hibbs uses scripture and poignant cultural critique to urge Christians not to shy away from politics or civic engagement but to participate in a way that reflects their ultimate citizenship in God’s eternal kingdom. Only Christ will bring perfect justice and rule, but until then, believers are called to pray for and work toward the peace and righteousness of their communities, always influenced first by God’s Word—not by party loyalty or nationalism.