🕊️Should Politics Be Part of the Christian Life?

Posted on May 26, 2025March 5, 2026 by Don Bland

An Opinion from the Fence Line, the Pew, and the Porch Swing

Let me say this straight out—I’m a Christian, an elder, a veteran, and a farm-town kind of man. I’ve seen elections come and go, parties rise and fall, and people get riled up about things that don’t matter near as much as they think. And yet, I’ve also seen what happens when good people say nothing. So let me walk you through what I believe about politics and the Christian life—not as some high-flying scholar, but as a man who’s been down the road a bit and still believes Jesus is Lord no matter who’s in office.

🌾 Living Between Two Worlds

We live in a small rural community. Folks around here grow things, fix things, raise kids, and try to honor God. But we’re also not cut off from the world. We’ve got tourists on the weekends, commuters during the week, and the internet bringing big-city arguments right into our kitchen tables.

And you know what’s on everyone’s mind come election time?
“Should my faith affect how I vote?”
“Does Jesus care about politics?”
“Should the Church get involved, or stay out of it altogether?”

Now, I’ve heard all sorts of opinions. Some say, “We’re citizens of heaven, so let the world burn.” Others say, “If you’re not politically active, you’re part of the problem.” But here’s the truth I’ve come to: politics is not the Gospel, but the Gospel affects everything—including politics.

🗳️ Tim Keller: Don’t Marry Your Faith to a Party

One man I’ve always respected is the late Tim Keller. He pastored in New York City—worlds away from our quiet backroads—but he understood people, especially when it came to how the church deals with culture.

Keller used to say, “To not be political is to be political.” What he meant is, if you ignore justice, poverty, racism, or life issues, you’re taking a political stance whether you mean to or not. Silence, in many cases, speaks volumes.

But he also warned about fusing our faith to a political party. No matter what side you lean, there’s no such thing as a perfect political expression of Christianity. Some parties care about the unborn but ignore the poor. Others cry out for the oppressed but shrug at sexual sin. Keller urged Christians to engage politics with integrity, but not idolize it.

“The early Church didn’t go left or right—they were a new kind of community altogether,” he said.

So in our town, that means this: vote your conscience, but keep your cross higher than your campaign signs.

🏛️ Tony Evans: Kingdom Voting, Not Culture Wars

Then you’ve got Dr. Tony Evans down in Texas—fiery, smart, and rooted deep in the Word. Dr. Evans doesn’t say Christians should ignore politics. In fact, he says we ought to be involved, but from a “Kingdom-first” perspective.

He coined a term I like—“Kingdom Voting.” That means when you vote, speak, or act in public life, you do so based on the values of God’s Kingdom, not just your own comfort or tradition.

Evans says:

“Kingdom voting is the opportunity and responsibility of committed Christians to partner with God by expanding His rule in society through civil government.”

That doesn’t mean we’re trying to set up a theocracy. We’re not electing Jesus to be president—He already rules the universe. But it means we care about what God cares about—justice, life, family, order, compassion, and truth.(Micah 6:8; Proverbs 14:34)

Here in the valley, that might look like showing up to a school board meeting to stand up for Christian values. Or volunteering to help fix a neighbor’s roof instead of just ranting online about government waste. Your faith should influence how you vote, but more importantly, how you live.

🔥 Beth Moore: Prophetic, Not Partisan

Now let’s talk about Beth Moore. She’s been a voice for women, for truth, and for integrity in the Church. And she’s also taken some hits for calling out political idolatry.

Moore’s message is loud and clear:

“Jesus isn’t riding a donkey or an elephant—He’s on His own throne.”

She warns that some Christians have sold their souls for political power, aligning themselves so tightly with a party or politician that they’ve lost sight of Jesus. And when that happens, you stop speaking prophetically.

You see, the prophets in Scripture didn’t pander to kings. They called them out. They held them accountable. They stood in the gap when no one else would.

That’s what the Church should do—not play politics, but speak truth with love, no matter who it offends. We ought to be known more for our courage and compassion than for our party platforms.

So in our community, let’s not be folks who get loud only every four years. Let’s be consistent, year-round truth-tellers who live what we preach.

📜 John MacArthur: Preach the Gospel, Not Politics

Then there’s John MacArthur. Now, he’s no stranger to controversy, but he’s always been steady in one thing: the primacy of the Gospel.

MacArthur warns that when churches get too deep into politics, they risk confusing their mission. He’s not against voting or civic life, but he doesn’t believe the pulpit is the place for political rallies.

He says:

“The church’s responsibility is not to change the culture but to preach the gospel.”

And that’s a warning worth hearing. In some churches, sermons sound more like stump speeches. And when unbelievers walk in, they leave thinking Jesus came to save America, not their souls.

Now, I believe the Gospel changes lives, and changed lives do change the world. But we’ve got to keep our priorities in line. You can’t preach Jesus and a party platform at the same time. One will always overshadow the other.

So from a pastor’s heart, I say this: let your politics flow from your faith, but don’t let your faith be defined by your politics.

🤲 Russell Moore: Stay Faithful in Babylon

Last one I’ll bring up is Russell Moore—a sharp thinker, soft-spoken, but not afraid to take a stand. He talks a lot about what it means to live in exile, like Daniel in Babylon.

“The Church must never become a political action committee,” Moore says. “But neither can it be a political non-entity.”

That’s a balanced word for our time. Christians aren’t meant to hide from society, nor are we supposed to blend in so well that no one notices. We’re meant to be salt and light (Matthew 5:13–16)—preserving what’s good, exposing what’s dark, and pointing to what’s eternal.

Moore says we need to live as faithful exiles—not always comfortable, often misunderstood, but always loyal to the King of Kings. That means showing up, speaking out, and sacrificing when needed. It means not being surprised when we don’t fit in with the left or the right. After all, our true citizenship is in heaven (Philippians 3:20).