Should Christians Be Involved In Politics?

Russell Moore, President of the Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission, explains the need for political engagement and how to go about it in the right manner:

Russell MooreI dont think we need a pullback from politics. I think we need a reenergizing of politics. This means we must do more than simply live off the fumes of the last generations activism. Millennial and post-Millennial Christians are walking away from the political process, and this is what alarms and motivates me. Theyve grown cynical at movements that are willing to adopt allies that are gospel heretics as long as they are politically correct (see Beck, Glenn or Trump, Donald). They are disenchanted with movements that seem more content to vaporize opponents with talk-radio sound-bytes rather than to engage in a long-term strategy of providing a theology of gospel-focused action in the public square.

Those who wish to retreat are wrong. Ignoring so-called political issues doesnt lead to a less politicized church but to a more political church. One cannot preach the gospel in 19th century America without addressing slavery without abandoning the gospel. One cannot preach the gospel in 21st century America apart from addressing the sexual revolution without abandoning the gospel.

The question is the why and the how.

We engage politically because we love our neighbors, we care about human flourishing. But we do so at multiple fronts. We engage on Capitol Hill (as I do), on issues ranging from stopping the abortion industry, to protecting religious liberty, to speaking out for human rights for the persecuted overseas. We cultivate churches that see the holistic nature of the kingdom of God and who shape consciences of people to live as citizens. But we always do that with a focus that we are not prosecuting attorneys but defense attorneys. We are seeking, ultimately, to point people to the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.

Check out the rest of the piece here.

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