In Peace in the City: Alexis de Tocqueville and the Church in America (MI255) Dr. Jim Belcher—drawing from Jeremiah 29:7—explores how the church in America can live out the mission to “seek the welfare of the city” in which it lives. He looks at important questions like: What does it mean to be missional? How do we engage the world? and How do we get involved in our local communities? To answer these, Dr. Belcher looks at the writings of Alexis de Tocqueville, specifically his Democracy in America. Using de Tocqueville’s analysis, the course provides insight on American culture and shows how the church can speak into that culture effectively.
Introduction
Introduction
Introducing the Speaker and the Course
4m
Why Study Alexis de Tocqueville?
The Challenge to Engage the World: Important Questions
2m
The Challenge to Engage the World: The Loss of Truth and Morality
4m
The Challenge to Engage the World: Maintaining a Faithful Presence
6m
What Is Democracy in America?
3m
The Modern Use of Democracy in America
4m
My Personal Experience with Tocqueville
6m
Relevance for Pastors and Church Planters
7m
Who Is Alexis de Tocqueville?
Background
3m
Writing the Masterpiece
3m
The Uniqueness of America: Exegeting American Culture
First Impressions
6m
Explanations for American Exceptionalism: Geography?
4m
Explanations for American Exceptionalism: Laws and Mores?
3m
Equality
3m
Freedom
4m
The Genius of the American Constitution
4m
The Sovereignty of the People
5m
Danger Ahead
6m
Major Threats to the Survival of Democracy
Individualism: The Unencumbered Self
6m
Individualism: When Tragedy Hits
5m
Individualism and Community
3m
Dangers of Wealth: Equal Opportunity for Wealth
6m
Dangers of Wealth: Working at a Feverish Pace (Part 1)
8m
Dangers of Wealth: Working at a Feverish Pace (Part 2)
9m
Dangers of Wealth: Melancholy and Discontent (Part 1)
6m
Dangers of Wealth: Melancholy and Discontent (Part 2)
7m
Dangers of Wealth: Lots of Ambition, but Little Great Ambition (Part 1)
5m
Dangers of Wealth: Lots of Ambition, but Little Great Ambition (Part 2)
9m
Dangers of Wealth: Loosening Our Bonds with Others
7m
Dangers of Wealth: Political Obligations as Distraction
5m
Dangers of Wealth: Results of Individualism and Wealth
6m
The Lonely Self: Now Attached and Dependent
6m
The Lonely Self: Individualism Pulled in Wrong Directions
6m
The Lonely Self: Tyranny of the Majority (Part 1)
7m
The Lonely Self: Tyranny of the Majority (Part 2)
7m
Administrative Centralization: The Loss of Freedom
5m
Administrative Centralization: Despotism
8m
Administrative Centralization: Summary
3m
The Solution
Ordered Liberty
3m
Local Government: Local Liberties
4m
Local Government: Democracy Trickles Up
7m
Local Government: Frequent Elections
4m
The Power of Local Government
8m
Reenergized Local Government
9m
The Church’s Role in Reenergizing Local Government
4m
An Independent Judiciary
11m
Freedom of Speech and Freedom of the Press
8m
America and Freedom of the Press
6m
The Role of the Church in Protecting Freedom of the Press
4m
Religion and Liberty
4m
Associations
10m
Associations as Protection against Tyranny
3m
The Role of Pastors in Associations
6m
Restoring Mores
5m
How Mores Are Cultivated
8m
The Role of the Pastor and the Church in Cultivating Mores