Politics and Pulpits

Do Politics Belong in the Church?

When is my least favorite time to be a pastor? Every four years or so—right around this time.

Opinions start flying in from every direction. Everyone seems to have an opinion on what should be said from the pulpit. It reminds me of the early days of COVID-19. On the same day, one person told me they’d leave the church if we required masks, while another said they’d leave if we didn’t. Talk about a lose-lose situation! Or, maybe it’s a win-win if both left? But I digress...

The question of the hour is this: Should politics be discussed from the pulpit?

That’s a riveting and divisive question. The biggest challenge here is that it’s not black and white. The gray areas in ministry are always the hardest to navigate. In fact, some of you are probably reading this just to see if you agree with where I stand in all of this.

Well, you might have to stick around until the end to find out.

Should Politics Have a Place in the Church? Let’s take a look at both sides of the aisle.

For It

There are strong biblical cases for believers engaging in the political sphere. Jesus called us to be the "salt of the earth" and the "light of the world" (Matthew 5:13-16). Salt preserves, and light illuminates. These metaphors suggest that Christians should be active in society, protecting and guiding with moral clarity. Ignoring politics, which shapes values and justice, would mean missing a crucial opportunity for Christians to be the salt and light we are called to be in a lost and dark world.

The Bible also commands believers to seek the welfare of their communities. In Jeremiah 29:7, God tells His people to seek the prosperity of the city: “If it prospers, you too will prosper.” Engaging politically is a practical way to pursue the common good, advocating for laws that reflect God’s justice, such as protecting the vulnerable.

Additionally, Romans 13:1-7 teaches that governing authorities are instituted by God to maintain order and justice. If the church steps back from politics, it forfeits its ability to influence leaders toward righteousness and justice.

There are many examples of leaders in the Bible getting involved with politics. Daniel, for instance, was promoted to a high position in Babylon, where he advised kings and influenced political decisions, all while remaining faithful to God's laws. Joseph became very political, rising to the ranks of second only to Pharoah. Esther, as queen, navigated the Persian political landscape and risked her life to intervene for her people, boldly confronting royal decrees that sought to annihilate the Jews. Elijah stood against King Ahab and Queen Jezebel, challenging their political and religious corruption. Elisha, his successor, offered counsel to kings and provided divine strategies that shaped military outcomes for Israel. Moses, raised in Pharaoh’s palace, confronted one of the most powerful rulers in the ancient world, demanding the liberation of the Israelites with God’s authority.

These leaders weren’t only spiritual figures but were also deeply involved in the political affairs of their time, using their positions to fight for God’s order within the systems of earthly rule. They played critical roles in engaging with the rule of law, influencing national policies, and guiding kingdoms back to righteousness.

Against It

Now, let’s consider the other side. While a scriptural case can be made for political involvement, it’s more difficult to find examples in the Gospels or the early church in the Book of Acts. Instead, the focus is primarily on building the Kingdom of God, despite what is happening in the earthly kingdom around them.

The backdrop of the Gospels is set in a very politically charged time, with Rome controlling Jerusalem through political appointees like Pontius Pilate, who maintained order and enforced Roman law. Pilate was responsible for taxation and quelling rebellions, and we see his political authority clearly during Jesus’ trial (John 18:28-40).

Before Jesus arrived, the Jewish people were living under Roman occupation. Rome’s appointment of Herod as ruler over Judea further demonstrated the political structure. Rome controlled governance, and the economy, imposed heavy taxation, and enforced brutal suppression of any dissension that might arise. Roman soldiers were a constant presence, a daily reminder of this political oppression.

In light of this, many Jews—including Jesus’ own disciples—expected the Messiah to deliver them from Roman rule. They thought Jesus would be a political savior. For instance, after His resurrection, two of His disciples expressed disappointment, saying, “We had hoped that He was the one who was going to redeem Israel” (Luke 24:21). They were expecting political redemption, not understanding that Jesus came for a different kind of redemption: salvation.

Even after His resurrection, the disciples asked, “Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?” (Acts 1:6). They still hoped for political deliverance. But Jesus redirected their focus. His mission wasn’t about restoring Israel politically; it was about spreading the gospel to the ends of the earth. Jesus continually spoke of a different kind of kingdom—the Kingdom of Heaven. When Pilate questioned Him, Jesus clarified that His kingdom was not of this world (John 18:36). His mission wasn’t to gain political power but to establish a spiritual reign that transcended earthly governments.

In 12 different parables, Jesus spoke of this Kingdom, expressing its importance over an earthly one.

The Parable of the Sower (Matthew 13:3-9, 18-23)

The Parable of the Weeds (Matthew 13:24-30, 36-43)

The Parable of the Mustard Seed (Matthew 13:31-32)

The Parable of the Yeast (Matthew 13:33)

The Parable of the Hidden Treasure (Matthew 13:44)

The Parable of the Pearl of Great Value (Matthew 13:45-46)

The Parable of the Net (Matthew 13:47-50)

The Parable of the Workers in the Vineyard (Matthew 20:1-16)

The Parable of the Two Sons (Matthew 21:28-32)

The Parable of the Tenants (Matthew 21:33-46)

The Parable of the Wedding Banquet (Matthew 22:1-14)

The Parable of the Ten Virgins (Matthew 25:1-13)

Jesus taught about a kingdom that was not of this world, a kingdom that would outlast every earthly government. As Christians, we are aliens in a foreign land (1 Peter 2:11). While we are in this world, we are not of it.

Where do I Stand?

Still with me? Have I upset anyone yet? So, where do I land in all of this?

Honestly, it depends on the day.

I love this country. I’m as patriotic as the next person. I get chills when the national anthem plays, and I never pass a veteran without stopping to thank them for their service. I vote—in fact, I’ve already voted. I stand for the unborn, I believe marriage is between a man and woman, I support free speech, and I believe in the right to bear arms. I am deeply concerned about the eroding of our nation, its values, and its foundation on Biblical values.

Some days I lean toward keeping politics out of church. I want to model Jesus, who didn’t make His time on earth about earthly matters. He focused more on a Heavenly Kingdom. Some days I find myself more focused on the Kingdom of God than on the kingdoms of this world, where I’m merely a temporary resident. Some days I feel like the early believers, who were far more interested in what God was doing in their midst than what was happening outside of it.

But then there are other days—days when I believe we must act. Days when my values and morals compel me to speak up. After all, Jesus taught us to pray, “Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven” (Matthew 6:10, KJV). So perhaps part of our responsibility is not only to pray but to act, striving to make this earthly kingdom resemble the Heavenly Kingdom as much as possible.

I recently heard a pastor say, “It’s not that we’re bringing politics into the church; it’s that they’ve brought theology into politics.” I can get behind that.

So where do I officially stand?

I want to stand as Jesus stood, knowing that when I take that stand, there are implications.

Did Jesus get involved politically? In a traditional sense, no. Jesus didn’t campaign or advocate for political reform. His mission was about establishing the Kingdom of Heaven, a spiritual reign. However, His actions and teachings had political implications. He challenged unjust systems, exposed hypocrisy in leadership, and redefined authority and kingship. Also, keep in mind, that He challenged the religious people far more than He did the sinners. While He didn’t align with political movements, His message confronted both spiritual and political powers, each of which had implications.

The truth is, neither of these candidates is perfect. Neither of them is our next “savior” that will deliver us, and many are simply choosing not to vote at all. This is not wise either. Christians must vote. According to a recent study by the Cultural Research Center at Arizona Christian University, an estimated 41 million Christians will not vote in this election cycle.

Should Politics Be in Church or Not?

I don’t think it’s an either/or discussion. It’s not a tension to be resolved but a tension to be managed. The Body of Christ must be mature enough to handle both sides of this argument. We must stand for what we believe in. When we do, it’s not political—it just has political implications. We vote, and we stand for biblical morals and values from the pulpit, and when we do, it has political ramifications. This doesn’t mean we are bringing politics into the pulpit, it means they have brought theology into politics.

At the same time, we must be FAR MORE concerned with what’s happening in the Kingdom of God than in the kingdoms of this world. This world is not our home. Yet, I know some Christians who seem to be far more passionate about our nation than about the Kingdom of God, and that’s a real tragedy. I’ve had many more people confront me in the church lobby, urging us to hand out voter cards, than I’ve ever had approach me to ask how we can better serve widows and orphans. It’s rare for someone to ask, “How can we deepen our discipleship efforts?” or “What can we do to reach the lost?” We must never forget that we are aliens here, and our life on this earth is but a vapor. This is not our home.

Like it or not, America will eventually fall. Wait, wait, wait, before you stone me, hear me out. Matthew 24:35 (NIV) says, “Heaven and earth will pass away, but God’s words will never pass away.”

What does that mean? It means that America, like every other nation, will pass away. Whether it’s in 4 years or 4,000, America will fall. But you know what will not pass away? The Kingdom of God.

So, as Christians, why would we devote more time and energy to a kingdom that is shakable, rather than one that is unshakable?

I think that’s all I want to say.

My goal was to share my heart, without causing a divisive conversation. I will attempt this same approach this weekend from the pulpit.

Feel free to share your thoughts in the comments.