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September 5, 2020 - September 4, 2023
Showing kindness means being able to unconditionally accept people for who they are without approving of their choices, even if we believe those choices are outside of God’s will according to our understanding of God’s Word.
Political actions have started wars and defined certain people as property, but they’ve also fed the hungry and provided care for the sick. Christians must be faithful and thoughtful in how we choose to wield our influence and political power.
Accordingly, we should participate in politics primarily to help others and to represent our Lord and Savior in the public square.
our public witness is more important than winning a political battle.
Injustice is a form of disorder because it fails to respect the rights, property, and worth of others.
The civic practices of confident pluralism build upon three aspirations: tolerance, humility and patience. . . . It might seem less obvious that we would pursue tolerance, humility, and patience in light of our firmly held convictions. But it is in fact the confidence in our own views in the midst of deep difference that allows us to engage charitably with others.
we can pursue dialogue and coexistence even when (and perhaps especially when) we believe that our views are in fact the better ones.
It’s impossible to separate the values of the people from their laws. Laws are always an application of some group’s values.
We do this by orienting our politics toward a vision of what is truly good for all the people, even those who hold very different beliefs or interests. This is what it means to love our neighbors in politics.
the gospel should be the foundation and starting point of our political decisions. Our preferences, interests, and sociopolitical ideologies aren’t the ultimate authority and can’t take precedence over biblical principles. Outside ideologies and philosophies can inform us, but they should never be the masters of our political action.
The goal is not to have all Christians share the same exact politics but to have all Christians think Christianly about politics. Thinking about politics from a biblical framework doesn’t mean we’ll always agree, but it does exclude some policies and forms of advocacy that are counter to our beliefs.
support social justice, morality, and family values. I don’t affirm ungodly behavior, nor do I hate the individual; I affirm the human dignity of all people. I love and care for the poor, and I believe in personal responsibility.”
It is possible, and perhaps inescapable, for public policy to either promote or undermine moral order.
If the law teaches that human life is disposable, that will corrode the nation’s moral infrastructure. If the law teaches that sexual freedom is an ultimate end, that will corrode the nation’s moral infrastructure. If the law teaches that economic profit is society’s chief aim, that will corrode the nation’s moral infrastructure.
Indeed, sometimes it is wise to accept that the best use of the law in a given situation is not to enforce morality but rather to allow for the freedom to be moral.
Be certain that you’re not more eager to invoke God’s moral order for others than you are for yourself.
Christians must recognize the failings and blind spots in their own political party and ideological tribe in order to avoid indoctrination and to faithfully correct unexamined assumptions.
When it comes to political ideology, to be conservative or progressive at all times and on every issue is not only to be intellectually lazy and easily manipulated, but also it’s unfaithful.
When conservatism means preserving unjust systems and institutions, it must be opposed. When progressivism means moving from God’s truth, it too must be opposed.
Some Christians are more willing to defend their ideological tribe than the Christian faith. It’s imperative that Christians are deliberate about avoiding partisan and ideological indoctrination.
On certain issues it’s almost expected that Christian politicians and civic leaders will endorse policies that directly conflict with their Christian principles. It has become the norm. We allow ourselves to be indoctrinated by political, academic, and pop culture leaders and to surrender our convictions to avoid disassociation and criticism. In many cases our perspective has been so thoroughly shaped—or even discipled—by worldly ideologies that we mistake our flawed ideological positions for Christian positions.
Our partners often try to convince us that our opponents are so evil—and the moment is so urgent—that to question the group’s tactics or refuse to endorse its strategies is to do a great disservice to the cause. This is “ends justify the means” thinking that we as Christians cannot accept. Under no circumstances should Christians blindly follow our partners or overlook immorality and bad tactics or strategies for the sake of the movement.
We hurt the cause most when we fail to be its moral anchor and moral compass.
Partnering with another group or person should never be seen as an endorsement of their entire agenda. Be clear about what you agree on while emphasizing that you can overcome your differences for the common good.
No issue is an island. Every issue affects others, and there can be unintended consequences. You might be called to focus on one issue, while someone else is called to focus on another. Instead of seeing other issues as competition, recognize that there is much work to be done and support the labor of others when you can. Injustices are connected to other injustices anyway: education is tied to the criminal justice system, which is tied to poverty, and so on. We can’t focus on every issue, but when we isolate an issue and ignore all others, we can lose perspective and end up damaging our
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Sociopolitical partnerships are not all-or-nothing propositions. You’ll disagree with your partner on certain issues—or at least you should if you haven’t taken on their identity.
Anytime someone knows you’ll agree with everything they say, they’ll very quickly lose respect for you.
Christians cannot accept the philosophies or tactics of any group uncritically or completely. We must enter politics with a healthy skepticism—always questioning assumptions and evaluating the methods and outcomes of those around us.
civic space is full of hidden agendas and corrupt activity; it’s no place to timidly accept the assertions of others. It’s intellectually lazy to agree with the same political party on every single issue. That’s a clear indication that we’ve been indoctrinated, which should never be an option for Christians.
