Let’s deal with the question “should Christians vote or be involved in politics?” Questions like these evoke very strong opinions from people as some people feel Christian involvement constitutes spiritual harlotry, while others see it as their moral duty to be “salt and light”.
One of the reasons why these questions inspire so many different answers is because the Bible doesn’t give direct answers to these questions. Therefore, answering these questions requires us to reason our answers from Biblical wisdom. For this reason I am approaching my answer to these questions as a matter of conscience. My goal is to have the Bible inform our conscience without imposing our conclusions on others.
Worldly Entanglement VS Holy Leaven
First I’m going to lay out two arguments and then cross examine both positions. Once I’m finished I will provide my personal conclusions and invite your insights and opinions in the comments below for anyone who is interested in my opinion.
Worldly Entanglement
Arguing against Christian political involvement is the view that Christians become entangled in the world when they enter the political sphere and inevitably begin to justify things that go against their values for the sake of political gain. Our values are so important to us that we will inevitably use our moral and spiritual reasoning to select the candidates that we support, which will lead us to either “justify” or “turn a blind eye” to their shortcomings in order to achieve our political goals. Based on this line of reasoning, the observation is made that it is very difficult to “keep ourselves unstained from this world” when we are partnering with the world. Accordingly, this view sees the Kingdom of God as fundamentally separate from this world.
One of the strongest arguments against worldly entanglements comes from the apostle Peter’s sojourners admonition:
1st Peter 2:11-17 (CSB) – 11 Dear friends, I urge you as strangers and exiles to abstain from sinful desires that wage war against the soul. 12 Conduct yourselves honorably among the Gentiles, so that when they slander you as evildoers, they will observe your good works and will glorify God on the day he visits. 13 Submit to every human authority because of the Lord, whether to the emperor as the supreme authority 14 or to governors as those sent out by him to punish those who do what is evil and to praise those who do what is good. 15 For it is God’s will that you silence the ignorance of foolish people by doing good. 16 Submit as free people, not using your freedom as a cover-up for evil, but as God’s slaves. 17 Honor everyone. Love the brothers and sisters. Fear God. Honor the emperor.
The apostle Peter characterizes Christians as sojourners (i.e. “exiles” and “foreigners”) in this world because we are citizens of the heavenly Kingdom and not citizens of this world. Based on this line of reasoning, how can “exiles” behave like “citizens” and take active roles in the politics of this world? Instead, their obligation is to pursue peace with the peoples among whom they reside, submitting to their rules as best they can so that there will be no cause for accusation against God because of them, and keeping themselves pure in God’s sight.
Central to this argument is the case that Christians are not called to change this world through political mechanisms, but are to win the world through spiritual means. Our warfare is against Satan and the forces of darkness (2 Pe 2:4), who is the ruler of this world (Jn 14:30 See also Isa 14:12-15; Eze 28:12-19). Satan is the one who persecutes the Church (Rev. 12:13), and he can only be disarmed by Christ (Col 2:15; Rev 12:7-9). And as Christians it is the gospel – not civil legislation – that has the power of the Kingdom (Rom. 1:16; See also 2 Co 4:4; Mt 13:19, 38-39; 1 Th 2:2,18).
Holy Leaven
Arguing in favor of Christian political involvement is the argument that Christians are the “salt and light” of the world. We cannot simply lay down when facing the onslaught of evil in this world. Christians must “overcome evil with good” because history has taught us that “evil triumphs when good people do nothing.” Based on this line of reasoning, Christians are morally obligated to use their voice to take up the cause of the oppressed, relieve human suffering, and form a more “just” and “equitable” society for everyone. As children of the light, Christians are best suited to advance the cause of righteousness and establish just societies. Therefore, when Christians withdraw from the world, they take their testimony of all that is “good” and “true” from the world and abandon the souls of the lost to the oppressive power of evil.
One of the strongest arguments against “withdrawing from the world” comes from Jeremiah’s instructions to the exiles:
Jeremiah 29:4-7 (CSB) – 4 This is what the Lord of Armies, the God of Israel, says to all the exiles I deported from Jerusalem to Babylon: 5 “Build houses and live in them. Plant gardens and eat their produce. 6 Find wives for yourselves, and have sons and daughters. Find wives for your sons and give your daughters to men in marriage so that they may bear sons and daughters. Multiply there; do not decrease. 7 Pursue the well-being of the city I have deported you to. Pray to the Lord on its behalf, for when it thrives, you will thrive.”
When God deported Israel into Babylonian captivity for their sins, he essentially told them to “assimilate” into Babylonian society and seek not only their own prosperity, but also the well-being and prosperity of Babylon itself. Seeing how the apostle Peter characterizes Christians in this world as “exiles”, these instructions are taken as informing the manner in which we should “live as exiles” in this world. Christians should settle down, multiply, and pursue the well-being of the world around us. Accordingly, this line of reasoning recalls how the prophet Daniel rose to high rank in Babylonian court and Nehemiah served in a high position in Persia. Therefore, like Daniel and Nehemiah, Christians are not meant to withdraw from the complexities of this world, but to seek in all things to be faithful witnesses of Christ wherever their journey in this world takes them.
God set his people free from their political captivity so that they could become his people (Ex 19:4; Hos 13:4) and worship him (Lev 25:55; Isa 43:21). Their civil freedoms were given to them so that they could live holy lives (Lev 11:45; Dt 28:9-10), which is why Christians are told to pray extensively for political rulers so that we might have civil peace (1 Tim 2:1-2). Therefore, true freedom is a blessing from God and dependent upon faithfulness to the Lord (Dt 28:25,47-48). As society becomes immoral, sin brings society into bondage (Jdg 2:14; 3:7-8,12; 4:1-2; 6:1; Ps 137:1-4).
Adding to this argument is Jesus’ parable about “leaven”:
Matthew 13:33 (CSB) – 33 He told them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like leaven that a woman took and mixed into fifty pounds of flour until all of it was leavened.”
According to this view, Jesus says the Kingdom of God must be thoroughly mixed throughout the entire world. Christians are meant to enter every sphere of life to take the testimony of our good news in Christ to all people. As we mix into the various spheres of life, we enter “economic”, “social”, and “political” realms to bring God’s Kingdom to every “tongue, tribe, and nation.”
Cross Examination: Worldly Entanglements
One of the points that should be immediately noted is that Peter’s instructions to “abstain” are about “sinful desires that wage war against the soul”. Applying Peter’s words directly to questions about “voting” or “civil involvement” misses the point. Peter’s concern is about our spiritual condition (1 Pt 1:16-19; 2:5, 11). We are not called to separation from the world at the physical or relational level, otherwise we would have to “come out of the world” (1 Cor. 5:10), but at the spiritual level (1 Pt. 4:4). We cannot take comments that pertain to living moral and spiritually just lives and rightly use them to prohibit civil involvement or voting. Instead, such instructions dictate how we engage the political world.
When considering the difficult that Christians have in maintaining their spiritual holiness when engaging the political realm, the same consideration must be applied to how we engage the economic and social spheres of life as well. Observing how difficult the battle is does not lead to the conclusion that we should not take up the fight, instead, it demands greater determination and resolve. If the observation that Christians struggle to remain holy in the political realm leads us to abandon the political realm, then the same must be true of economic and social spheres as well. Unfortunately, those groups that have taken this approach quickly learn that sin is baked into the flesh and rears its ugly head no matter how far you run from the heat of the battle. The cross is the only Biblical solution to problem of sin in questions of Christian living.
Where this argument truly shines is in its concern for Christian holiness and recognition of our heavenly citizenship. Christians who engage in the political realm face very real and serious threats of becoming spiritually entangled in worldliness. Not only do they face the threat of moral compromise, but also spiritual compromise. One can make a very strong case that Revelation’s “Babylon” represents the world’s political powers. Christians must diligently guard against the temptation to blend their faith with the State into some harlotrous form of patriotic Christianity. We must not canonize the United States Constitution. We must not have political Messiahs. These are some of the very real dangers that Christians face when entering the political realm.
Cross Examination: Holy Leaven
Both arguments appear to share the same fundamental weakness: Jesus’ calling for us to be “salt and light” is inherently spiritual in nature. Arguments from our “moral obligations” to be involved in the political sphere do not acknowledge that being the “savor of Christ” in this world refers to the manner of love by which we live holy lives in this world, and our “light” refers to our true and sincere testimony of Christ to this world. I am no more obligated to be the “savor and testimony of Christ” in the political realm than I am to be so in any particular “economic” or “social” realm. To argue from “moral obligations” to Christian involvement in political realms would equally obligate me to involvement in the entertainment industry, big tech, and the sciences. Afterall, who could argue that Hollywood doesn’t need Christ? Or that “Science” is doing just fine without its Creator? In other words, while the Church is called to leaven the whole world, where each Christian is called is determined by the will of their Lord, not the virtue signaling of passionate moral orators.
Unfortunately we sometimes mistake our liberty to do something as our calling to do so. Christians must carefully consider Paul’s wisdom (1 Co. 6:12; 10:23). Observing that Christians may participate in the political world does not excuse Christians from diligently dealing with the concerns expressed about worldly entanglements. In fact, acknowledging our broad liberty to be involved in political matters doesn’t mean that it is spiritually beneficial for me to be involved in political matters.
Where this argument shines is in its zeal to fully engage the world for the sake of Christ. Whereas many Christians have withdrawn behind walls like an army retreating into its citadel, this view charges forward to meet the challenges presented by this world with the power of the gospel and the hope of Christ’s return. Christians do not have permission from Christ to retreat and bury their heads in the sand. In fact, Jesus gives us the parable of the talents and illustrates what happens to the servant who buries his one talent in the ground to warn Christians about what will happen to those who hide the light of their testimony from the world (Mt. 25:24-30). Although one Christian may put their efforts into being “salt and light” in the business world, and another in the political world, it is unmistakable that all Christians must look for ways to be “salt and light in the world.”
My Conclusion
This question has weighed heavily on my mind in recent years because of the challenges Christians face on all sides. When it comes to our society, America is increasingly embracing an ideology of oppression and authoritarian tyranny. Having spent almost a decade abroad preaching the gospel under an increasingly hostile communist regime, I am keenly aware of how destructive the very ideologies we’re seeing come to America are wherever they take root. Unfortunately I cannot even begin to describe the many ways in which people will suffer if we allow this kind of political ideology to take power in America because most Americans have no reference point to understand this kind of reality. So when I see American Christians retreating into their shells and abandoning the political world to corrupt politicians, I am truly heartbroken because history unequivocally warns us what the end will be when a nation hands power over to evil rulers.
On the other hand, my heart has been crushed as I witnessed the Church expose her nakedness during the last political season and politically prostitute herself for all to see. I saw my unbelieving friends scoff with disgust at the sheer hypocrisy and disgrace of the Church using corrupt political alliances to gain political power. In their eyes we are just another political party. And I would prefer the persecution that will surely come from handing the keys of power over to wicked man to the desecration of Christ’s holy testimony that has taken place in America.
My view is that Christians should look for ways to enter, engage, and influence the political realm without being entangled in worldliness. We must learn how to better express our political views so that we don’t confuse our support of one candidate’s particular policies with our justifying their overall character or worldview. In an increasingly post-Christian society, we must be willing to lose political power to preserve our testimony and personal holiness.
One of the reasons that I am developing this series is because I believe Christians will increasingly find it necessary to understand the proper role of government so that we can support those candidates who we believe will help build and maintain a peaceful and just society. Common Western misunderstandings on passages like Romans 13 are going to have serious ramifications for the Christian Church as America continues its path into secularization and authoritarianism.
Let me know what you think in the comments below! Do you think Christians should be “holy leaven” or “avoid worldly entanglements”? Are you screaming “both!” right now? Share your thoughts in the comments below. And if you found these Biblical reasons helpful in answering your questions, make sure you follow me on Facebook to get notified of my latest content and share this page with your friends to spread the word!
Biblical Reasons 
I am curious about this comment in your article:
“ my heart has been crushed as I witnessed the Church expose her nakedness during the last political season”
Which “last” political season are you referencing? Is this in reference to the Trump or Biden administration?
I believe addressing this topic, as you are, is critically important within the church. In my own experience, I’m seeing pastors actively discouraging parishioners from political involvement.
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Thanks for your feedback!
When I wrote this post, it was in reference to the entire political cycle of 2020’s election. And I had in mind Christians who both supported President Trump and President Biden, although there were significantly fewer who supported President Biden, so my comments were primarily directed towards those who supported President Trump.
President Trump does not follow Christian ethics. I agree his policies are often far more favorable than President Biden’s policies, but, the fact that what I just said is so controversial in the Church illustrates my point. That Christians don’t recognize President Trump’s character as being fundamentally antithetical to the way of Jesus is astonishing. Jesus blessed the poor in spirit, the meek, and the peacemakers. Jesus taught his disciples to bless those who insult them. Jesus taught his disciples to turn the other cheek. President Trump teaches by his example people to be proud, bold in asserting their own interests, and confrontational. President Trump slanders his opponents. President Trump never overlooks an insult.
So my comments refer to how Christians have publicly embraced and even defended these attributes. I have Christian friends on social media who share posts that have no other purpose than to insult and embarrass President Biden. They share slander that is proven false, but, when confronted, they justify it by pointing to all the slander the President Biden and the progressive-controlled media does towards President Trump. All of this has exposed the Church to terrible shame because the way that we’ve engaged in the political sphere has been reprehensible.
What concerns me is how blind Christians are to these things. Christians in the West have broadly embraced the perspective that Jesus’ teachings apply only to a small box in our life; it’s the idea that it’s okay to ignore Jesus’ explicit commands and follow President Trump’s example of bad-mouthing, insulting, and being confrontational within the political sphere. Nothing has been more destructive to our Christian witness than this. I’ve had conversations with many non-Christians in the West who see exactly this, but, in our thirst for political power, we have turned a blind eye to these realities and seen oblivious to what we’ve done.
Something to contribute to this post is that we are now two years out from my writing this post and Barna has done some research on the Church. Recently, just 4% of Christians have been found to hold a Biblical worldview. We’re seeing a steep decline in Church attendance. As Christians have turned their backs on what Jesus taught to seek political gain, we have lost our way and are imploding in spectacular fashion.
You also mentioned that most pastors are discouraging political involvement. I know what you mean. I have quite a few thoughts on this, which are probably too long to share in this comment. But I will re-emphasize something I wrote in this post: we mustn’t mistake our liberty to do something for our calling to do it. I can’t speak for all pastors, but the pastors that I know and talk to regularly are beginning to recognize the things that I’ve said above. They’re beginning to realize that, at least in this environment, there may not be any common ground left where Christians can rise to political leadership. Pastors are desperately trying to navigate challenges that threaten their livelihoods. For example, my elders – to whom I have to submit – have made it clear that they don’t want any political content in my sermons or on my main social media page. They’re not doing this out of cowardice. They’re doing this because in their discernment they have determined that we need to cultivate unity (and we have diverse political views in our church). I don’t envy the weight of responsibility that they bear in trying to make this decision. So I wholeheartedly submit to their decision, and I’m seeing the fruit of their wisdom as the Church is actually succeeding in loving each other and growing together in unity.
Like you said, though, and as my post points out, if we silence our voice on these political issues entirely, then we are withdrawing from this sphere and other voices will influence our thinking.
This is why I have this blog to try and contribute Biblical reasoning to our thinking on difficult questions like these. I believe with all my heart that the western Church is compromised. I believe we’ve done violence to our testimony for the reasons listed above, namely that we’ve followed the world’s pattern in how we’ve engaged in the political realm. So I believe Christians need to repent (i.e. to change directions and turn back to following Jesus’ way).
At any rate, I realize I’ve said a lot here and have plainly stated my views. So I heartily welcome you to do the same. I would like to know what you think of these things. These are difficult issues to navigate and I don’t mean to suggest that I have everything figured out. I’m still growing in how I view these things myself. So I look forward to hearing your perspective.
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David, thank you for your in-depth reply. You have provided an honest insight to your perspectives and I appreciate your openness. I also appreciate that you have invited me to be open in my reply.
I prefer to respond to a specific quote and, so, that will be the format of my response.
Quoting you:
“President Trump does not follow Christian ethics. I agree his policies are often far more favorable than President Biden’s policies, but, the fact that what I just said is so controversial in the Church illustrates my point. That Christians don’t recognize President Trump’s character as being fundamentally antithetical to the way of Jesus is astonishing.”
I agree that there are personality traits of President Trump that are anti-biblical to the teachings of Jesus, most notably, the sin of pride. He is boastful, confrontational and sometimes painfully insulting. A reasonable assessment of President Biden does not fare any better as he, too, has demeaned masses of Americans who are under his leadership thereby dividing us as well. He has exposed racist tendencies for decades with comments that often are overlooked by journalists, comments you are likely familiar with such as:
“I think the only reason Clarence Thomas is on the court is because he is black”
“I mean, you got the first mainstream African-American who is articulate and bright and clean and a nice-looking guy. I mean, that’s a storybook, man.”
“And by the way, what you all know, but most people don’t know, unlike the African American community, with notable exceptions, the Latino community is an incredibly diverse community, with incredibly different attitudes about different things … it’s a very diverse community.”
“No, I haven’t taken a test! Why the hell would I take a test? Come on, man! That’s like saying you … before you got in this program, you’re take [sic] a test whether you’re taking cocaine or not. What do you think? Huh? Are you a junkie?
“If you have a problem figuring out whether you’re for me or Trump, then you ain’t black.”
President Trump has been accused of having multiple affairs and President Biden has been accused of rape. President Trump has used misogynistic language about the body parts of women while multiple photos have demonstrated President Biden getting uncomfortably cozy with little girls while putting his nose close to their necks while caressing them. Additionally, President Biden’s daughter speaks of her discomfort when, as a very young girl, her father insisted on being in the shower with her.
In discerning both men on the Christian-ethics scale, they both fail miserably. Both demonstrate behaviors that cause viewers to cringe. Upon those observations, I cannot choose to vote for either predicated on character. So, what is the Christian voter to do when the choice is between two flawed men? I believe you provide the answer by noting President Trump’s “far more favorable than President Biden’s policies”. That observation, in my view, is the only guide I’m left with in deciding my vote. In fact, policies are key indicators as to how such align with my understanding of God’s Word. Policies can either reflect Christian values or, as often is the case, attack and attempt to destroy them. As a believer, I am exhorted to defend my faith, not shrink from it. Thank God He is greater than “he who is in the world”.
So, I consider the established policies of each man in order to determine if embarrassment of either should influence my choice. In the 2020 election, I concluded that policy must take precedence and policies that most closely align with scripture would determine my vote.
Please consider the following:
1. President Biden has shown deference to Iran and indifference to Israel. President Trump is pro-Israel and against the terrorist regime of Iran.
As Christians, we are instructed to protect Israel from its enemies.
2. President Biden has demonstrated long support for abortion, essentially without restraint. President Trump has consistently utilized his position to protect the pre-born.
As Christians, we are called to defend all life, especially the life of the voiceless. To vote for policies that enable aborting nearly a million children per year is indefensible as believers in the One who knit us together in our mother’s wombs. On this one issue alone, I will not vote for those in favor of unlimited abortion rights.
3. President Biden has promoted policies consistent with socialism and federal control in contradiction to our Constitution, States and personal autonomy. President Trump has promoted States independence from federal government overreach, encouraged businesses to flourish, advanced free-speech rights and protection of the 2nd amendment.
As Christians, we can learn from scriptures that nations are implored to protect their own much like families should be safe havens for the members.
4. President Biden has questionable ties to China where President Trump has exercised caution and restraint with countries intent on taking over our economy and more, evidenced by China’s massive takeover of U.S. land and corporations.
As Christians, we ought to be wary of leaders who have suspect ties to enemy combatants. This is most certainly true of President Biden who, through demonstrable underhanded business dealings, has been bought off as exposed through what we now know of his son, Hunter, and how it is likely President Biden benefitted financially.
5. President Biden has been weak with advancing strength and readiness of our military and police departments causing major security concerns. President Trump is a strong proponent of our sovereignty and protection for citizens by enforcing laws for violent criminals currently released without bail under the current administration.
As Christians, we should favor policies that promote individual and collective protections that are paid for through taxation. Our leaders have a moral obligation to deliver what has been lawfully granted to the public.
6. Under President Biden, the U.S. border is effectively open to anyone and everyone, resulting in the entry of violent criminals, cartel activity, thousands of our youth dying or maimed by fentanyl overdose, threats to land owners living on the border, human trafficking, and too many more threats to list here. Under President Trump, great strides were made to turn the tide in these areas.
As Christians, we ought to be a voice of opposition to all of the above that robs citizens of their lives, safety, health and even their very souls.
7. President Biden, along with a liberal agenda, have attempted to change the Constitutional guarantee of “freedom of religion” to “freedom from religion” in order to silence the voices of Christians, Jews, Muslims, et al. Religion is a threat for those who desire unmitigated power of the States over citizens. President Trump has strongly supported freedom of religion apart from federal control and abuse.
As Christians, we should honor the reality that God has granted, unique in all of history, freedom to worship Him. Our very founding was motivated by an establishment of that portion of our Constitution.
You also state; “That Christians don’t recognize President Trump’s character as being fundamentally antithetical to the way of Jesus is astonishing.” I believe it is equally reasonable to paraphrase your statement as follows; “That Christians don’t recognize President Biden’s character as being fundamentally antithetical to the way of Jesus is astonishing.”
I admit being puzzled being that your observations of flawed leadership are solely limited to President Trump while admitting that his policies far more often favorable to those who desire to honor God with their votes and voices. Yet, it is clearly demonstrable that President Biden is no friend of the church and, even in his own Catholic faith, has been denied the sacrament of Communion. I have read a number of things about Trump that suggest he considers himself to be Christian though I cannot know his mind or heart. What I am able to do is consider the policies of Presidential administrations including laws passed in Congress and Senate. By so doing, my focus is less on individual flaws (you and I are guilty before the Throne of God if absent the redeeming blood of Christ) and more on the macro considerations of policies that outlive any Presidential term.
Thank you for inviting my reply and perspectives on this all important topic.
In Christ,
Steve Pichan
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Steve, I appreciate your response! And you’ve said a lot of good things. You’ve accurately pointed out just how corrupt President Biden is in both his policies and character.
I should clarify that the reason my comment highlighted President Trump’s character deficiencies rather than President Biden’s is only because I don’t personally know any Christians making the case for voting for President Biden: my comment was highlighting how Christians have compromised their own values by affirming, and in many cases even justifying President Trump’s character. For example, I’ve heard prominent Christian voices and leaders excuse some of his immoral conduct as “just being a little rough around the edges”. And, as for President Trump claiming to be Christian, he was asked whether he’s ever done anything he needed to “repent for”, and he said indignantly “no!” Even President Biden claims to be within the Christian faith. Jesus himself said that it was not enough to say “Lord, Lord” (Matthew 7:21), and Paul said that “many claim to know God but deny him by their lifestyle” (Titus 1:16); it’s clear from both of these President’s behavior that neither of them are Christians.
I don’t agree with this statement:
“God has granted, unique in all of history, freedom to worship Him.”
I don’t agree as far as this is limited to the perspective of our civil freedoms: the freedom God has granted us to worship him is established in Jesus Christ (1 Peter 2:9-10), not the government. I lived for almost 10-years until 2020 in Communist China, where I planted a church, and my faith was not bound by the CCP, despite their best efforts. I was free. How’s this possible? We didn’t fear suffering for the cause of Christ.
Bear with me a moment as I unpack this thought:
Galatians 5:1–6 (CSB) — 1 For freedom, Christ set us free. Stand firm, then, and don’t submit again to a yoke of slavery. 2 Take note! I, Paul, am telling you that if you get yourselves circumcised, Christ will not benefit you at all. 3 Again I testify to every man who gets himself circumcised that he is obligated to do the entire law. 4 You who are trying to be justified by the law are alienated from Christ; you have fallen from grace. 5 For we eagerly await through the Spirit, by faith, the hope of righteousness. 6 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision accomplishes anything; what matters is faith working through love.
Our freedom from the oppression of sin is comprehensive and based entirely in Jesus’ work. What that means is that I am not “more free” in America than I am in China. Unfortunately, many Christians here believe that there are two separate kinds of freedoms: there’s the “spiritual freedom” that Jesus won for us, and then there’s the civil freedoms that George Washington won for us (and all our subsequent war-heroes and veterans, etc). But looking at Paul’s life, he never made this distinction even during his imprisonments. Paul never spoke about separate “Freedoms”, but only about one singular freedom that was won and secured in Jesus Christ. Having lived this way, I know what he’s talking about: “faith working through love”. Chains cannot contain either faith or love. Censorship cannot contain either faith or love. Someone might stop me from publishing on this blog (which I admittedly need to do more), but my faith and love would be made known in how I live, and to whom I speak in person. So they might put me in jail, but then my faith and love would be known to my guards and inmates.
So one of the big differences in how I see things like this is that I don’t put my hope or confidence in civil freedoms. Clearly I’m not entirely convinced that civil freedoms matter very much. In fact, my esteem for our civil freedoms has actually diminished since returning to the U.S. in 2020. I think the Church in China (and other persecuted countries) is far stronger and much more effective in spreading the gospel than we are in the U.S. We (as a general rule) tend to be compromised and lukewarm. We’re divided. We are easily offended by Biblical truth. Even a recent study from Barna that I plan on writing about sometime soon shows that just 4% of Christians in America even have a “Biblical worldview” (and their threshold for what constitutes a Biblical worldview was extremely low). Our freedoms haven’t actually made us more godly. Nor have they made us more effective global missionaries. In fact, Africa and China are actually overtaking the United States as leading senders of missionaries! And it’s small house churches sacrificing deeply to send missionaries that are doing all the work.
I’m more than willing to accept that what I’m saying might be too narrowly confined to my own perspective, which is why I encourage everyone not to take my word as the light for their life, but, instead, to diligently seek God and his word to lead them on this subject. And I would encourage the same for all the voices we listen to. So I just do my best to challenge people’s thinking on this subject with God’s word, but each person must discern God’s will and make what they believe is the right decision in view of God’s will. So I commend you for doing exactly that, brother!
God bless!
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