Usually I try to keep this blog fairly free of politics. But I’ve been mulling over some thoughts that I decided I’d share. No political incidents or people prompted this post. I’ve been contemplating it for months, if not years.

I’m one of the most unpolitical people on the planet.

One reason is that I didn’t grow up in a politically-minded family. I don’t remember politics ever coming up except for an occasional gripe about something the government was doing. I don’t even know if my parents ever voted when I was a child.

The first election I took part in was the 1980 election between Ronald Reagan and Jimmy Carter. And I have noticed, in the 46 years since then, that much of the rhetoric seems the same. Yes, new issues and emphases come and go. But many of the same promises and accusations arise each election cycle.

Often, politics seems to be more about posturing than actually getting anything meaningful done. Or rushing to do something so it looks like a politician is getting things done, without considering the bigger or longer-term picture. Or blaming the other side for not getting anything done or doing the wrong thing.

I wonder, too, how much the American public actually knows about anything going on behind the scenes of our national legislature (and to a degree, state and local legislatures as well). Most news outlets are biased one way or the other. How do we know whom to believe?

I also avoid politics because it is so divisive. It always has been, but it seems exponentially more so now. I don’t want someone to miss what I have to say about the Lord because they’re sidetracked by what candidate I vote for.

Ultimately, I don’t believe the answer to our country’s (and the world’s) problems are political, but spiritual. We can make laws to rein in evil, but laws can’t change people’s hearts. If we make disciples, as Jesus told us to, they are changed from the inside out. Even if we had the most perfect government (and there will always be a debate about what that would look like), if people are not saved, they’ll still be in bad shape when they die.

However. . .

All of that said, that doesn’t mean politics doesn’t have its place. We have a hard-won voice in this country and the responsibility to steward it wisely. So it behooves us to be as informed as we can about issues and candidates and vote our conscience.

Some people are called to be more involved in politics than others. And that’s okay. Some might run for office themselves or help finance or promote particular candidates.

Once when we were asked to share prayer requests in a small group meeting at a former church, my husband asked prayer for a particular candidate and expressed the need to try to get good people in office. Another man in the group immediately ranted about how as Christians we don’t need to be involved in things like that. Then he continued his rant in his prayer. And to top it all off, ever afterwards, when he and my husband passed each other in the hallway, this man wouldn’t look at him or greet him.

That’s an extreme example. But it’s certainly not wrong to try to get good people in office. I’ve often lamented that none of the choices for some offices are ones that I would want. It makes sense to support the candidates you’d like to vote for rather than just waiting to see who ends up on the ballot.

A friend who is active in the pro-life movement told me about being in a meeting where she asked prayer for a certain piece of legislation that would affect the unborn. Someone said to her, “That’s just politics.” Perhaps that person felt like we should only pray and not be involved in legislation.

Certainly prayer is the first priority. The Bible tells us that “that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way” (1 Timothy 2:1-2).

But it’s not wrong or faithless or trusting in man instead of God to let our voices be heard on issues, especially in this country, where the government is supposed to be representative of what the people believe. Romans 13:1-5 says God put government authorities in place to do good and punish evildoers. Encouraging them and informing them of the needs of people for protection is not faithless.

The defeat of slavery in England was largely a political victory. William Wilberforce spent most of his career fighting this issue. Yes, he and Hannah More and others prayed and raised awareness. But slavery likely would not have stopped without legislation.

Do we have examples of people trying to influence government authorities in the Bible? Yes, even those under a dictatorship. Here are a few:

• Joseph advised Pharaoh about the best way to manage the coming famine. His governmental service was primarily secular, yet he did it in a way that pointed to the one true God.
• Moses confronted Pharaoh to let Israel leave Egypt.
• Nathan confronted King David with his sin.
• Elijah confronted King Ahab with his sin.
• Esther intervened for her people with the king, at great risk to herself, and revealed Haman’s wicked conspiracy.
• Daniel was in governmental service to Nebuchadnezzar but also counseled him spiritually.
• John the Baptist spoke out about Herod’s wrongdoing in having his brother’s wife.

These days, people are so afraid of Christian nationalism, or being accused of it, that they stay as far away from it as possible. One problem is that there are so many different thoughts about what Christian nationalism even is. Sometimes people discussing it will have totally different concepts in mind.

If Christian nationalism means striving to turn the country into a church with the president as its pastor, that’s going too far. God never told us to establish Christian countries. He told us to make disciples.

All Christians are called to pray, respect, and obey authorities unless they tell us to do or not to do something against God’s word. Some are called to write letters, raise awareness, campaign, donate, even run for office. None of us can be involved in everything, so I am thankful for those who know more about issues than I do so I can consult with them.

Christians also need to maintain spiritual unity even when they differ politically. I was recently struck anew by the fact that Jesus chose two men of opposite politics as His disciples. Before he followed Jesus, Matthew was a tax collector, a Jewish man who taxed his own people for Rome and then charged more for his own pockets. Simon the Zealot wanted to overthrow Rome. I would love to have more information about how they adapted to each other and what kind of conversations they had. Evidently God didn’t deem that we know any more about them. Perhaps after the both became Christ-followers, they were able to put aside their political differences to work together for His kingdom.

We each need to steward the voice and influence we have as we feel led by God. Praying for a political outcome is not wrong. It’s the very thing we should do. We shouldn’t trust politics in place of God, but God can work through politics.