God is a God of order, and nothing in the universe occurs without His permission. He has provided us with a constitution from our founding fathers that sought His guidance in forming our country.
God has provided our governmental structure, and as Christians, we are to fall under the government authority as is written in Romans 13:1: “Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God.”
Some Christians, however, struggle with how to engage in the political process while staying true to their faith. Let’s explore the biblical perspective on faith and politics and see what practical steps there are for us to be salt and light to a broken world by engaging in the public realm.
Our Identity is in Christ First!
Being a Christian and sharing the good news of Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection with everyone that we interact with, far supersedes any political affiliation. We should continue to seek God’s will for every aspect of our lives, including our engagement in politics.
In Galatians 2:20, Paul proclaims, “I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.” This means that our Christian worldview should influence how we approach and thoroughly evaluate each candidate running for public office.
What Does Our Dual Citizenship Mean to Us?
As Christians, we have a Dual Citizenship. We are born into this world, but when we repent and accept Christ as our Lord and Savior, we become citizens of an eternal kingdom where our Father God is the King. Christians possess a unique dual citizenship. While we are citizens of our earthly home, our ultimate loyalty lies with the Kingdom of God. Philippians 3:20 reminds us of this: “For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ.”
This dual citizenship creates a struggle within us, and we must trust the Holy Spirit to help us navigate. As Christians, we are called to be “in the world but not of the world”, according to John 17:14-15: “I have given them Your word; and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. I do not pray that You should take them out of the world, but that You should keep them from the evil one.” This means we should be actively involved in our communities, school boards, county commissions, and city councils, while maintaining our primary allegiance to God’s eternal kingdom.
The Christian’s Responsibility in Government
The Purpose of Government is to restrain evil and promote good according to 1 Peter 2:13-14 “Therefore submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord’s sake, whether to the king as supreme, or to governors, as to those who are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers and for the praise of those who do good.”
As believers in Christ, we have a responsibility to exercise our right to vote and participate in the process, helping to shape laws and policies that affect our daily lives while aligning with our biblical values. Romans 13:1-7 provides us with further guidance on the role of government and our relationship to it.
While we are called to submit to elected governing authorities, this doesn’t mean blind obedience without having a questioning attitude and conducting our own independent research on important topics. When laws and the government officials contradict God’s word, we must obey God according to Acts 5:29: “But Peter and the other apostles answered and said: We ought to obey God rather than men.”
What Should Christians Base Their Vote On?
Christians should vote based on their biblical worldview. While Jesus, nor any of the 12 disciples, will ever appear on any ballot, quality candidates are running for public office, and it is our responsibility to vet them thoroughly.
Christians should approach voting not based on personality, the best yard sign or billboard, who our neighbor or family tells us to vote for, or party loyalty, but on the candidate that most closely aligns with our values. We should value our vote and participate in every local election that we can. This means researching candidates and policies to determine how they align with God’s Word on some key issues, such as:
- The sanctity of life (Psalm 139:13-16)
- Marriage and family (Genesis 2:24, Ephesians 5:31)
- Religious liberty (1 Timothy 2:1-2)
- Stewardship of the resources that God has provided (Genesis 1:28)
- Praying and supporting Israel (Genesis 12:2-3)
Practical Steps to Put Your Faith to Work in the Public Realm
Please review and consider these Practical Steps to assist you in becoming more active in the public realm:
- Register to vote and vote in every local election. If you are new to Tennessee, ensure that you have a valid Tennessee driver’s license and register to vote.
- Stay informed. Research candidates, policies, and ballot measures from reliable sources. Attend public meetings such as school board, county commission, or city council meetings. Consider joining a club or group that aligns with your biblical values.
- Pray for wisdom. Ask God for discernment in making voting decisions. James 1:5 states, “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him.”
- Engage in respectful dialogue. Discuss political issues with fellow believers and non-believers alike, always speaking the truth boldly and in love (Ephesians 4:15). We may not win every political argument. But these discussions can lead to a Gospel conversation, and our great commission is to share the good news of eternal life through a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. Here’s a gentle reminder: we are representatives of Christ and need to reflect His Character.
- Pray for all of our leaders, regardless of party. Regardless of election outcomes, commit to consistently praying for those in authority (1 Timothy 2:1-2).
As Christians, we have both the right and the responsibility to engage in the political process. As we engage and actively participate in the public arena, let us be about our Father’s business, keeping our eyes fixed on Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior. By doing so with wisdom, grace, and relying on our firm foundation in the Lord and in biblical truth, we can be salt and light in our communities and nation.