In today’s polarized world, it can be challenging to balance faith and politics. Many Christians struggle to understand how their beliefs should influence their political views without aligning with any particular party or candidate. The key isn’t about choosing sides but about reflecting God’s principles in everything we do. In this blog, we’ll explore biblical principles that guide us to reflect Christ in politics.
Reflect Christ in Politics: Choosing God’s Side
“Are you for us, or for our adversaries?” And he said, “No; but I am the commander of the army of the Lord.” – Joshua 5:13-14
When the Commander of the army of the Lord appeared to Joshua to give him the instruction to conquer the city of Jericho, Joshua asked him, a question we ask too often, “are you for us or against us?” And the Angel responded “No.” When we side with God, we choose to side first and only, with God. We cannot be with God and against someone else. God does not takes sides and does not represent any political party.
1. Reflect Christ’s Humility, Prayer, and Repentance
As we discussed in our previous blog post, our political engagement starts with us looking inside ourselves and inside the church. The Bible calls believers to a life of humility, prayer, and repentance. In 2 Chronicles 7:14, God’s people are called to humble themselves, pray, seek His face, and turn from their wicked ways. As Christians, we are to approach political engagement with a spirit of humility and a prayerful heart. Rather than arguing or dividing, we should seek God’s wisdom and ask Him to guide our political choices in a way that brings honor to Him.
2. Reflect Christ’s Political Perspective
In Mark 12:13-17, Jesus taught about the role of government and our responsibility to it. When asked about paying taxes, Jesus responded, “Give to Caesar what belongs to Caesar, and to God what belongs to God.” His words remind us to respect authority but also challenge us to reflect on what belongs to God—our very lives.
Before Jesus gave that response, he asked them “Who’s image is on the coin?” He wanted to get these religious experts thinking about image. A theological belief that they would have been very familiar with is the “Imago Dei,” that every human was created in the image of God, based on the creation story in Genesis. So when Jesus made the statement “Give to God what belongs to God,” they would have connected the dots, to realize God was saying thats not the only thing that is owned to an “authority.” Your entire life is God’s.
Not only are we to give our lives to God, we are to give everything that is God’s to God. All humans were created in the image of God, and we must realize our call to reconcile everyone to Christ. We are called to use our lives, and the authority we have been given, for His purpose, striving to bring others to Christ and living as ambassadors of God’s Kingdom.
3. Reflect Christ’s Commission: A Mission Beyond Politics
The Great Commission (Matthew 28:18-20) calls us to use our authority in Christ, to make disciples of all nations, transcending any political boundaries. Our mission as Christians goes beyond political parties or national borders; it’s about bringing light to the world. Political engagement should reflect this purpose, prioritizing love, compassion, and truth. When we engage politically, we should focus on promoting values that uplift others and reveal Christ’s love.
“You are the salt of the earth. But what good is salt if it has lost its flavor? Can you make it salty again? It will be thrown out and trampled underfoot as worthless. You are the light of the world—like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden. No one lights a lamp and then puts it under a basket. Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand, where it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father.
– Jesus (Matthew 5:13-16)
4. Reflect Christ’s Respect for Authorities
“For the Lord’s sake, submit to all human authority.” – Peter
“I urge you, first of all, to pray for all people.” – Paul
The Bible emphasizes the importance of respecting and praying for those in authority. In 1 Peter 2:13-17 and 1 Timothy 2:1-4, Christians are reminded to submit to governing authorities and pray for leaders. This isn’t just something we should consider, but look at the weight of the language used. “I URGE you.” and “For the LORD’S SAKE.” This isn’t a light matter. Literally for the “sake of the Lord”, we are called to submit, respect, and pray for our leaders. This doesn’t mean we blindly follow or agree with everything, especially if it goes against biblical principles, but we should engage with a spirit of humility and respect, seeking to be a positive influence in society.
“This is good and pleases God our Savior, who wants everyone to be saved and to understand the truth.”
– Paul in 1 Timothy 2:3-4
5. Reflect Christ’s Stewardship of Creation
Environmental stewardship is often overlooked in the context of politics, but Genesis 1:28 reminds us that God entrusted His creation to us. Our choices, including voting, should reflect a commitment to preserving and protecting the earth. When Christians consider the environment in their political decisions, they honor God’s creation and demonstrate care for future generations.
“They know the truth about God because he has made it obvious to them. For ever since the world was created, people have seen the earth and sky. Through everything God made, they can clearly see his invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature. So they have no excuse for not knowing God.” – Romans 1:19-20
Creation is one of the natural ways that people can come to know God. When we destroy creation, not only are we not being good stewards, but we are limiting the opportunities for people to come to know God. Which is against our command to “Give to God what is God’s.”
6. Reflect Christ’s Love
Above all, Christians are called to love. Jesus taught us to love God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength and to love our neighbors as ourselves. (Mark 12:30-31). When we engage politically, we should prioritize love for God and for others over political wins. This love guides us to work for justice, peace, and unity, reflecting God’s character in all areas of life. When you are making a political choice you are acting in your God-given authority. We were not given authority to create a comfortable life for ourselves, but to create a world where people experience God’s love through us. When we love like Christ loved, they actually see God.
“No one has ever seen God. But if we love each other, God lives in us, and his love is brought to full expression in us.” – John (1 John 4:12)
Books I enjoyed on this topic
Ballot and the Bible
The Liturgy of Politics both by Kaitlyn Schiess
(Affiliate Links)
Practical Steps to Reflect Christ in Politics
- Pray Regularly for Wisdom: Before making political choices, seek God’s guidance and ask for wisdom to discern His will.
- Engage with Humility: Approach political discussions with humility, focusing on listening and understanding rather than arguing or proving a point. Philippians 2 tells us to view everyone as greater than us, and to take an interest in their interests.
- Educate Yourself on Issues. Learn about issues from a biblical perspective, considering how each aligns with values like justice, mercy, and stewardship for all nations.
- Prioritize the Well-being of Others. Reflect God’s love by prioritizing policies and leaders that seek the common good and promote the welfare of the community of everyone created in God’s image.
- Vote Responsibly: Voting is a significant way to reflect God’s principles. Make choices that align with biblical values, such as justice, compassion, and stewardship. Exercise your God-given authority.
Conclusion: Reflecting Christ in All Areas of Life
As Christians, our faith should be evident in every part of our lives, including our political engagement. To reflect Christ in politics doesn’t mean following a particular party but living out biblical principles of humility, love, and justice. As you consider your political involvement, ask yourself: How can I use my influence to reflect God’s love and justice in the world?
Final Prayer
Heavenly Father, guide us as we navigate the complexities of politics. Help us to reflect Your love and justice in all we do. May our actions and decisions bring glory to You and lead others to know You. Amen.