How do we approach politics with a biblical worldview? As a church, we desire to lead and care for people in our church and the communities we serve by encouraging people to follow Jesus in an ever-changing and polarized culture. Therefore, we want to speak with truth and grace, encouraging others to represent Christ in these cultural moments. Here is a biblical framework for understanding government and politics.
1. Submit to the government but keep God primary.
Governments have authority from God that we are to obey – unless they order us to do something contradictory to God’s law. We are to be respectful of government except when it forbids us from doing what God commands or tells us to do. If forced to choose between God or government, we are to choose God. Then, we are commanded to obey God before man.
Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego in Daniel 3 and Peter and John in Acts 4 and 5 are examples of God-fearing people who chose to keep God primary when governing officials asked them to go against what God had asked them to do. They were willing to receive the punishment for their actions, but ultimately God received the glory because they chose to keep Him primary.
“Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. Therefore, whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment.” (Romans 13:1-2)
2. Recognize that God appoints a nation’s leaders not always to bless a nation but sometimes to judge the people.
Politics is always downstream from the culture. What is happening in politics is already happening in the culture. How a culture lives according to or against what God desires will be judged by God. God can use a nation’s leaders to bless the nation, but God can also use them to judge a nation.
“For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. Would you have no fear of the one who is in authority? Then do what is good, and you will receive his approval, for he is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword in vain. For he is the servant of God, an avenger who carries out God’s wrath on the wrongdoer. Therefore, one must be in subjection, not only to avoid God’s wrath but also for the sake of conscience.” (Romans 13:3-5)
3. Remain humble.
Jesus largely stayed out of politics and was always more concerned with the heart. The way we approach political conversations matters. Remaining humble will always be best. Listen to others with different politics than you for the sake of learning and loving them. In humility, choose not to allow the political views of others to be a roadblock to a relationship. God does not force faith. This is seen in the ministry of Jesus. He came to earth and invited people to receive Him and, at the same time, allowed people to reject Him. We have a choice to trust Him, knowing God is in control of elections and the decisions made in government.
“Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.” (Proverbs 16:18)
4. Be salt and light.
As Christ-followers, we are called to participate in the decisions made in our political system. We are to engage in voting and advocating for laws that promote values that honor what God desires. This means we will stand for issues that much of the culture will be against. But in our advocacy, we are called to be salt and light. We are to bring out God’s goodness and illuminate the darkness in our world.
“You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled under people’s feet. You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.” (Matthew 5:13-16)
5. Stand for the poor and oppressed.
We are called to care for the forgotten, oppressed, and downcast. We are called to stand against political policies that cause suffering for the poor and oppressed. We are called to support political policies and politicians who are committed to taking care of the poor and standing up for the rights of the oppressed. By doing this, we show care for every life.
- “Whoever oppresses a poor man insults his Maker, but he who is generous to the needy honors him.” (Proverbs 14:31)
- “Open your mouth for the mute, for the rights of all who are destitute. Open your mouth, judge righteously, defend the rights of the poor and needy.” (Proverbs 31:8-9)
- “Whoever despises his neighbor is a sinner but blessed is he who is generous to the poor.” (Proverbs 14:21)
- “Learn to do good; seek justice, correct oppression; bring justice to the fatherless, plead the widow’s cause.” (Isaiah 1:17)
6. Pray
Prayer is an expression of faith in God’s power. Leaders shape people. So, we are called to pray for our leaders, regardless of political party or whether we agree with their policies or not. We are called to pray for unity in our country, our city, and our world. Pray that hatred, discord, and animosity wouldn’t divide us but that the love of God would be a uniting force in our lives. Pray that God’s will would be done, our leaders would seek God, and would know the forgiveness and love of Jesus. Pray that a biblical worldview would be on their minds and hearts as they lead.
James 5:16 says, “The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.”
7. Stand for Jesus.
We are to stand and vote for those who best promote Christ. We are to choose those who live in humility, those who value every life, those that stand for the poor, and those that stand for biblical marriage. Those are not Republican or Democratic values. They are biblical values. So, no matter who our state officials are, no matter who our Governor is, no matter who the President is, we stand for Jesus. We stand for Jesus in the posts we share, in the hearts we convey, in the conversations we have, and in the votes we cast. It is our honor and joy to stand for Jesus.
