Do churches and politics mix?
Once I thought politics and churches don’t mix.
At my previous job as a pastor, it was an unwritten rule that we didn’t engage in political, controversial topics.
I don’t believe that any longer.
I’m not talking about churches that parade politicians on stage. Blah.
I’m talking about churches that, by “loving people,” have avoided addressing hot-topic issues deemed too contentious for a congregation. “People might leave!”
That, and a poor job of discipleship, has left us with a generation of church-goers who have no clue what scripture teaches about abortion, gender ideology, homosexuality, and even fiscal responsibility. Being bold on these issues might make them lose friends, status, or business. Most don’t even know that the Bible speaks clearly on cultural matters (which it does, btw).
I love Allie Beth Stuckey‘s line, “Politics is downstream from culture, and culture is downstream from religion,” aka our core beliefs.
We aren’t facing a political battle. It’s a spiritual battle. The tactics used by Progressive Humanism are evangelism -> conversion -> discipleship. And they’re VERY good at it – better than Christians have been for 40+ years.
Progressivism has infiltrated every institution – government, education, tech, business, healthcare, and even churches. Have you noticed the “open and affirming” churches popping up?
As a body, we have to
- Be aware of biblical doctrine on these issues.
- Stop using the wimpy “love God, love people” approach to engaging the world. Pretending that these issues aren’t an assault on the Bible and Christ isn’t helping anyone, especially non-believers.
- Engage in our local community – churches, businesses, schools, and boards. Every step we apathetically fail to take, the other side advances two.
- Disciple our kids in true “Shema” fashion.
Finally (yet most importantly), we must return to prayer. Are we at the point of Abraham negotiating with God about Sodom and Gomorrah? Maybe, I don’t know.
Unfortunately, it didn’t end well for them.
Is revival possible, or is it too late? God knows. For now, the call to obedience is clear, and I’m not ready to give up.