With the midterm elections just around the corner, the battle for control is in full swing. Political pundits, ads, and news anchors talk and spin nonstop to influence your vote. At stake is control of Congress and the direction of our culture. So how do we as believers navigate politics and faith without compromising what we believe? Here are three things to keep in mind.
Your Political Ideology Isn’t Your Identity
When Christians become very politically aware, they can begin to conflate conservative politics with evangelical faith. That’s not to say biblical theology shouldn’t influence our political views. It should. Our understanding of what God says about marriage, gender, justice, and other issues should absolutely shape how we think and how we vote.
But one of my frustrations with those who equate their politics with their Christian identity is that their passion for politics often becomes greater than their passion for growing in Christ. When your identity is rightly placed in Jesus, your faith will inform your politics rather than allowing politics to define your faith.
Political Awareness Isn’t Necessarily Spiritual Awareness
Political awareness has its place, but spiritual awareness matters far more. Conservative pundits often tell us to “wake up,” but what they mean is usually to become more politically active or to help their preferred candidate or party win. That is not the kind of awakening God’s Word calls us to.
Romans 13:11–14 gives us a much different picture:
“Do this, knowing the time, that it is already the hour for you to awaken from sleep; for now salvation is nearer to us than when we believed. The night is almost gone, and the day is near. Therefore let us lay aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light. Let us behave properly as in the day… But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh in regard to its lusts.”
Biblical awakening isn’t about becoming more politically passionate. It’s about becoming more spiritually alert. It means laying aside darkness, living differently, putting on Christ, and refusing to let the culture—including political culture—shape who we are. A Christian who knows every political talking point but neglects God’s Word isn’t spiritually awake.
Government Isn’t Your Security
As born-again, Bible-believing Christians, government isn’t our ultimate authority, our sufficiency, or our security. God is. Governments come and go. Policies and political parties come and go. Even nations come and go. But God, His kingdom, and His Word haven’t changed—and they aren’t going anywhere.
That doesn’t mean Christians should stay out of the political process. We aren’t called to retreat from the culture simply because political engagement can be messy. When government decisions contradict what God has clearly revealed in His Word, believers have a responsibility to speak up and stand firm.
Issues such as marriage, the sanctity of human life, and God’s design for male and female aren’t merely political. They are biblical issues with political implications, and Christians should allow Scripture—not political parties—to shape their convictions.
But being involved doesn’t mean we have to navigate these issues without help. I’m thankful for organizations such as Family Research Council that help believers navigate politics and faith while keeping biblical truth in front of our leaders in Washington. Their news outlet, The Washington Stand, provides current news and commentary from a biblical worldview and can be a helpful resource as you think through the issues before you.
Final Thoughts
So this election season, I encourage you to know what the Bible says and live and vote accordingly. Be informed. Be involved. Vote your biblical convictions. Speak the truth. Pray for those in authority. Pray for wisdom as you evaluate the issues, pray for the candidates and leaders, and pray that God’s purposes will prevail regardless of the election’s outcome.
But don’t allow a political party, candidate, or ideology to become your identity. Engage in the political system—but don’t be owned by it. Our citizenship in heaven is more important than our political affiliation on earth. Our hope isn’t found in who wins an election. Our hope is found in the King who is already on His throne.
