Current state of affairs
Is politics our new national religion?
Political movements and parties have become the place where people find their identity and their community. It is a point of pride to announce which candidate you support, whether or not you had THE vaccine, what you think of the latest national policy, or which flag you’re flying in front of your home.
But how should Christians approach government and politics, and more importantly, what are we supposed to be teaching our children about the role of civic engagement within their daily lives? Is it something to be embraced? Worshipped? Scorned?
With the rise of celebrity politicians and identity politics (think MAGA, the Squad, and the never Trumpers, only amplified by social media and their associated echo chambers), we need to carefully examine our own approach to politics and civic engagement so we can help our children form a solid biblical foundation for being active citizens.
Biblical and historical perspectives
Governments and rulers are instituted by God to help constrain evil and promote good so that humanity may flourish in its call to rule and subdue the earth. Romans 13:1-4 (ESV) states,
“Let everyone 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 authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment. [. . . H]e 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.”
History teaches us that not all governments and civic institutions fulfill their role of constraining evil and promoting good: think of the evils of the Roman Empire, the atrocities committed by the Nazi regime in Germany, and the failure of the United States to protect and value life. However, we learn through Scripture that even evil government regimes can serve the purposes of a sovereign God (Ezra 1:1-3, Proverbs 21:1, Isaiah 10:5).
Article 36 of the Belgic Confession includes these words about civic leaders: “We believe that because of the depravity of the human race our good God has ordained kings, princes, and civil officers. He wants the world to be governed by laws and policies so that human lawlessness may be restrained and that everything may be conducted in good order among human beings. For that purpose he has placed the sword in the hands of the government, to punish evil people and protect the good.”
“The king’s heart is a stream of water in the hand of the LORD; he turns it wherever he will.”
Proverbs 21:1
Understanding that our civil institutions are ordained by God should spur us to participate and engage. It is crucial that we remember the sovereignty of God throughout the ages. All things are done for our good and for His glory, including the placement of rulers he places over us. What then shall we do?
As believers, we can use our Christian influence in this secular sphere. We can advocate for those less fortunate, we can speak out against injustice, we can fight for those whose voices are not being heard. Through it all we can show Christ’s love for God’s creation and our fellow created beings, fulfilling our calling as image bearers of Christ.
What I’ve experienced
As an Idaho state senator for the past decade, I have seen people replace their personal faith with the idol worship of political candidates and movements, believing that their candidate or movement will be the source of their salvation from the next disaster. I’ve seen individuals place party over people and selfish motivations outweigh caring for constituents.
Conversely, I have also witnessed Christians fight both quietly and loudly for the rights and dignity of the most vulnerable in our society because they understand that all people have inherent worth and value. While we can respectfully debate how we help those most in need, we should never dismiss our call to help them because Christ’s example shows us that He did not ignore the poor, the sick, and the hungry.
“Understanding that our civil institutions are ordained by God should spur us to participate and engage.”
I cannot separate my faith from who I am as an elected official, but that does not mean I can’t talk to or learn from others with different faith traditions or no religious faith at all. I have learned that listening to those with a different or unique perspective and genuinely seeking to understand them as individuals has enabled me to be a better legislator and has given me the opportunity to share my Christian witness.
Guidance for the future
In a world where God is sovereign and controls all things, it is crucial to teach our children about the role of government and their place within it. This sphere should not be ignored in our children’s education. Teach them to think critically, disagree with grace, fight against injustice, call out evil, speak the truth in love, pray for their leaders and elected officials, and most of all remember that we serve a faithful and sovereign God.
