Is the Church a Place for Politics?

by Brad Manley

Propositions, measures, bills, petitions, referendums, recalls and candidates: The daunting task of being a responsible participant in the democratic process can be overwhelming.

But, should the church be a place where people find help in being good citizens? Is it appropriate for churches to endorse specific candidates? Where does political involvement fit in the mission of Christ’s Church?

Several observations might help us answer these questions.

First, however a church decides to address politically related issues, it must not lose sight of its mission in the world to display the glory of God through the gospel of His Son, Jesus.

This means that when people come to the meeting place of a local church the preeminence of God must be evident.

The church should not be first of all be perceived by people as a social gathering, a political agent or a venue for self-improvement.

When God’s people gather, they gather to exalt, extol and exult in the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Nothing should obstruct this supreme focus nor distract from its pursuit.

With regard to people, the church is called to make disciples of Jesus Christ who, in turn, can disciple others. Christ’s Church is not called to be a political agency or enroll people in political parties or movements. Making disciples of the nations is the necessary obligation of the church which must not be derailed by obsession with political issues.

So what is the church to do to help its people in the challenging task of being responsible citizens? Simply put, the church is to give people a controlling and compelling center for all decisions—including political ones. That center is God Himself as revealed in Holy Scripture.

Discernment within the people of God must arise from proper under-standing of the character, works and will of God along with their deepening affection for Him.

Because we honor God by caring about the moral atmosphere of our community, we should appropriately use our legal options in a democratic society to support those laws that facilitate the blessing of future generations and oppose those laws that will harm them.

To this end, the church should indeed help people understand the moral issues involved in any given legislation or proposed legislation.

However, not all aspects of the political process are black and white. As in much of life, a thousand shades of grey obscure our choices. It is for this reason the church is unwise to endorse specific candidates.

The views and future choices of any given candidate can never be perfectly known, and in every case will always be an admixture of views and opinions—some which we will agree with, and others of which we will not. A politician’s true impact can never be reduced to their view of any single issue.

So while the church must avoid specific endorsements, it must continue to educate and encourage people in their knowledge, love and obedience to God so that from that center they can make wise, personal decisions regarding political candidates.

As Americans, we have the high privilege of expressing our will in the political process. As agents of salt and light, we should faithfully exercise this privilege for the glory of our God and the good of our community, state and nation.