The Why and How of Christian Political Engagement
Instead of escaping from politics and social realities, Christians have historically served their neighbors as various kinds of civil servants.
Over the last few weeks, recognizing the unique challenges we are facing in 2024, I have sought to help us center Jesus—to clarify what God was doing in and through Jesus’ life.
But I want to be specific about something: Centering Jesus does not mean the surrounding social issues are unimportant. I am not saying, “Have nothing to do with civic or political engagement.” Putting Jesus at the center simply requires putting other priorities and actions in their proper secondary-but-still-important place.
You and I both know that politics are a significant part of our real lives. We cannot escape political life. A sect of Jews tried to do so in Jesus’ time, and he had to challenge their escapism because the work of God’s kingdom is public. It is among named people who live in a fallen world. Dallas Willard helps us grasp why escapism is spiritually dysfunctional:
Human beings are situated in a world structured by small and large systems of hidden powers.
A Call to Love and Serve
Instead of escaping from these powers, Christians have historically served their neighbors as various kinds of civil servants. We should not judge or condemn these Christians because there are bad actors associated with a given political party, police department, court system or school system. Our civic calling as Christians is to recognize the existence of social powers and, as servants, to intelligently rely upon the Kingdom of God. Within the social powers, we are to seek dignity, love and provision for everyone. When we center Jesus and see ourselves as subjects of God’s kingdom, our civil engagement will align to Jesus’ aims and ethics.
The Old Testament character Joseph, the most beloved of Jacob’s sons, modeled this well. Mistreated, Joseph did not retaliate. He worked diligently to care for and provide for others. When tempted with sexual sin, Joseph centered God and God’s kingdom. He replied: How could I do such a wicked thing and sin against God? (Genesis 39:9). As a political figure, Joseph had his priorities straight: Serve God and others—and don’t do things that pull you away from those priorities.
Citizenship in Another World
Loving and serving God and others isn’t always easy. And when it’s not, we remember that engaging any aspect of civic life requires allegiance to another world. Paul’s words describe how to be faithful and fruitful in a world that refuses the cruciform way of Jesus:
Our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ (Philippians 3:20).
Paul understands our earthly predicament:
Many live as enemies of the cross of Christ. Their destiny is destruction, their god is their stomach, and their glory is in their shame. Their mind is set on earthly things (v. 18,19).
But we are different! Paul is saying that our commonwealth, realm, state, constitution, polity or system of government is in heaven. We are passing through this world. We came from God and will return to him. Thus, we pursue social engagement based on another reality, another world: heaven, which is the realm of God. The perfections of heaven give a vision for the true social good—and motivate us to become the kinds of people who instinctively do what is right.
What in this political season has been scaring you, making you nervous, kicking up your anxiety? Is it accompanied by anger or resentment? Does it cause you to be dismissive of others? See if you can name these things, and then place them in a new context: citizenship in heaven. Make your citizenship in heaven your first priority. From that context, receive fresh hope as you eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ. We await a Savior, not a candidate.
Then simply follow Jesus. Become his student, his apprentice, in moral and wise kingdom living. With that orientation, we will be free to be good citizens—wholesome, virtuous agents of repair.
Larry, your sentiments make sense indeed! I am reading Michael Wear's "The Spirit of our Politics" and it is helping me deal with the issues you raise.
Thank you, Bishop Todd. I have become increasingly conflicted about the political process and system. While I have always voted in elections, I have increasingly less confidence in its efficacy. Most of my life I have identified with Sojourners. It was my view that there are two "lists" of moral issues and concerns: the peace and justice list and the sanctity of human life and relationships. The Democratic party was committed to the first list but not the second, and the Republican party was committed to the second list but not the first. So, I chose the peace and justice agenda. Now I see significant power plays, dishonesty, and corruption on both sides. Now it just seems like there is a need to discern the overall moral and leadership effectiveness of individual candidates. What to do if none of the candidates seems to be worth voting for. For us, the key is the Kingdom of God and the need to represent the values and priorities of that Peaceable Kingdom, participating in civic affairs while speaking truth to power. Does any of this make sense?