Faith in the Fire: Engaging Politics with a Gospel Lens

So, I did what plenty of you probably did on Tuesday night: I watched the presidential debate.

I know what you might be thinking…“Oh boy, here we go…our pastor is going to start riffing on politics!”

Not exactly. Or at least, maybe not in the way you might expect.

We’re living through a cultural moment that’s nothing short of polarizing. On one end of the aisle, some say politics should stay out of the pulpit. On the other end, Christians are leaving churches because their pastor isn’t vocal enough about the evils of our government. Honestly, it’s a bit of a headache to lead through. Nevertheless, it’s important, and it’s a tension we at Reach are eager to navigate well.

I wonder what it might look like for us to be a church that engages both our minds and hearts thoughtfully, intentionally, and sanely. What would it mean for us to be a people who pay attention to the happenings in our world without losing our peace? What if we could examine current events through a Gospel lens, resulting in greater love for our neighbors and boldness to stand for what’s right?

Let’s give it a try.

Disclaimer: I’ve yet to find a commentary on politics that is without bias. This will inevitably be true in this piece. My examples given are through my own personal lens. However, my heart isn’t to force my opinions on this policy or that upon you, rather invite all of us to think deeply and intentionally about some of the cultural realities of politics in 2024. 

Our media is notorious for distorting facts, making it difficult to discern what’s true. I’ve heard it said, “Say something enough times, and eventually, people will believe it’s true.” That certainly seemed the case during the debate. For example, VP Harris leaned heavily on certain soundbites from former President Trump—quotes that have often been misused out of context. Despite multiple clarifications, these misquotes were aired again, with little to no correction. Meanwhile, Trump himself was fact-checked on various statements, but Harris’ words seemed to escape similar scrutiny. Some called it a “3-on-1” debate, which I tend to agree with. Meanwhile, former President Trump made assertions that pets were being cooked for lunch without any confirmed, hard evidence. He even stated at one point that he obtained some of his recent insights by watching TV (didn’t our parents tell us not to believe everything we see on there?). Not the most convincing argument for his end of the aisle.

Despite the broader context being readily accessible, many still accept misrepresentations as truth, simply because they’re repeated so often. Both sides often fuel this cycle, further inflaming outrage. For those genuinely seeking the truth, it becomes increasingly difficult to take anything at face value.

Gospel Response: The Bible tells us that Satan is the father of lies, and confusion is part of his strategy (John 8:44). As followers of Christ, we are called to pursue truth. This means listening carefully to different perspectives, discerning wisely, and being slow to accept what is spoon-fed to us. But more importantly, we need to anchor ourselves in a higher truth—God’s truth—to help us navigate the values behind what is being said in efforts to form our beliefs on what God declares to be true.

Proverbs 18:15 says, “The heart of the discerning acquires knowledge, for the ears of the wise seek it out.”  It’s not enough to simply take the media at their word. Personally, I’ve lost faith in most news outlets' ability to shoot straight. I do my best to read wide, weigh what either side is communicating, and form an educated, sensible opinion accordingly.

It’s impossible to know for certain what’s happening in these seemingly out of reach spheres of our society. But we can do our best.  Let’s be those who seek truth, keeping our eyes fixed on Jesus, the ultimate source of clarity and peace. We’ll need what he offers to stay grounded in this age of confusion.

Increasingly, elections feel more like popularity contests than discussions about policy. In an age of social media and influencers, likability seems to eclipse thoughtful political discourse. It’s not just about policies anymore—it’s about how a candidate makes us feel. Many will vote based on a candidate’s personality rather than substance.

The reality is, neither of the candidates truly represents the values of the Gospel. As much as we long for someone with both strong leadership and godly character, every politician has flaws. And in a culture that mirrors Rome more than the Kingdom of God, we can’t expect Caesar to always lead in the ways of Christ.

So how do we avoid letting our votes—or even our expectations—be swayed by mere charisma?

Gospel Response: We need to cultivate a biblical worldview that informs our opinions and actions. Romans 12:2 urges us, “Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.” We need to pursue biblical literacy, understanding how the scripture speaks into the various issues of our day. We need to avoid platitudes or slogans that carry nefarious agendas and instead think critically about the meaning behind the words. We need to adopt Christ-like values when it comes to issues of abortion, sexuality, neighbor-love, border security, and caring for those in need.

It’s possible to love foreigners AND have secure borders. It’s possible to care for mothers through a variety of services AND protect the unborn. It’s possible to empathize with people with whom we differ AND hold fast to a Biblical sex ethic. 

No candidate will fully align with the truth of the Gospel, so it’s crucial to understand the values behind policies rather than just voting based on personality. As we engage with the political process, we must ask ourselves, “Does this policy reflects God’s value system or not?”

I’ve got my preferred candidate, and I’m sure you do too. We all feel the weight of this election, believing that the outcome will significantly impact our nation. And while that may be true, the reality is things might not go the way I hope—or the way you hope.

But here’s the thing: God appoints leaders, both good and bad (Daniel 2:21). This can be a tough pill to swallow, especially when the result doesn’t align with our desires. However, it’s always been this way.

The Israelites demanded a king, and God gave them Saul. If you know the story, Saul wasn’t the ideal leader. Even David, the king after God’s own heart, was flawed. Yet through it all, these circumstances and those like them point us to one timeless truth: there is only one perfect King, and His name is Jesus.

Gospel Response: No matter who is in office, our hope is in the sovereignty of God. Romans 13:1 reminds us, “There is no authority except that which God has established.” We must trust that, in the end, it is Christ who reigns. Our role as believers is to pray, seek justice, and remember that our ultimate allegiance is to the Kingdom of God, not the kingdoms of this world.

As a nation, we’re more divided than ever. Could it be that this division might awaken a hunger for something greater? Could it be that the church is primed for such a time as this, to offer a better way through the Gospel of Jesus Christ? 

In the wake of this debate, and even in the wake of our remembrance of 9/11, I feel compelled to pray for our nation. Let’s pray for our leaders, our security, and for unity in the midst of division. But let’s also remember that true unity—lasting peace—only comes when we submit ourselves fully to Jesus Christ.