With an election less than a week away, it seems like the perfect time to rant a bit about something that drives me nuts within the modern evangelical church at large.

And it’s this…

The propensity of pastors and other Christian leaders to be slyly apolitical.

How many times have you heard a sermon over the past few years where the pastor felt the need to remind you that Jesus was not a Democrat or a Republican?

As if you’ve spent your whole life thinking the USA adopted its political structure and two-party system from the Roman Empire or perhaps from ancient Jewish religious groups in the Middle East. You mean Jesus wasn’t the Democrat underdog seeking to take over the Sanhedrin? He wasn’t on the Republican ticket to challenge Tiberius, the Emperor of Rome?

If Jesus didn’t have a political party, why even bother with elections? How can I cast a vote if I don’t know “WHAT WOULD JESUS DO?!”

Christian leaders who try to emphasize Jesus’ non-political nature usually have one of two motivations:

1. They project political indifference from the pulpit (or the podcast) but then tout rhetoric such as “being pro-all lives” or esteeming “compassion for the marginalized” to justify their turn toward progressivism. Somewhere deep down, they know the historical tradition of Christians voting for conservative candidates and supporting laws that uphold God’s high regard for life, marriage, and children is rooted in biblical fidelity and not a deep-seated desire to follow in the footsteps of the Falwell family, so they act smugly apolitical to smother any personal conscience that might convict them about adopting their political views from social media instead of Scripture.

2. They still vote conservative but fear man too much to preach sermons or write articles that explicitly discuss a biblical view on current political issues. Speaking out against the mutilation of children — through abortion or “gender-affirming” surgery — is too scary. People might get mad, so it’s easiest to hide behind meaningless phrases about Jesus’ disconnection from modern American life.

Of course, I don’t think Jesus aligned with an American political party. But he did give us commands that should inform the way we vote. In fact, God has graciously given us an entire book about his design for the world, and baby slaughter and cross-dressing don’t seem to be platforms he endorses. The parties can switch names, switch places, or disintegrate and re-emerge as something new, and it wouldn’t change the fact that Christians should vote for people and propositions that most clearly uphold what the Bible says.

There is nothing to be redeemed about the current Democratic party. I am old enough to remember the 90s when there were Democrats who were openly pro-life but just believed in slightly bigger government programs, and perhaps a Christian could vote for them, but that’s no longer a reality. To vote for Democrats in this day — even the more moderate ones — is to intentionally hand power to an elite and godless group of people who want to destroy your entire family. If every single one of your children is an atheist, pick any letter of the LGBTQA+ acronym, "anti-racist" activist, they will have achieved just a few of their more straightforward goals.

On the other hand, the Republican party leaves much to be desired. Many of them are also pathetic globalists who could probably sign checks to Ukraine in their sleep at this point. Too many of them are cowards, as we saw with their weak response to Covid lockdowns and school closures. They love to spend money we don’t have, making our country a dismal place for future generations. But… they seem to care, at least a smidge, about your right to worship, speak freely, buy and sell in an open market, and raise your children as you see fit. Republicans are the best option at this point in history, especially if you care about your freedom and the protection of your family.

*There might be times when you cannot vote for a Republican candidate because something about his history or her platform pricks your conscience. I’ve been there. Voting is a social good and it is wise for the Christian to participate, but if you ever feel you must vote third-party or abstain from voting for a certain office, there is freedom to do so.

But, for the most part, as long as you are given the opportunity to decide between two fallible, imperfect candidates, choose the one who isn’t mercilessly trying to legalize baby murder, sexualize young children, or pump people full of mandated pharmaceuticals. Keep your expectations for Republicans low and hope that new, young conservatives that are brave and fiercely committed to the Constitution begin to appear on your ballots in the next few years. Better yet, get involved in local politics and help them get there.

Now, let’s return to the church context. Here is how pastors and other Christian leaders could engage with politics in a healthy and helpful way:

1. Churches should not endorse candidates or host political events. The church is for the worship of God and the shepherding of God’s people, not for sponsoring Trump rallies or Warnock concerts.

2. Sure, “Jesus wasn’t a Republican or a Democrat” but, according to the Bible, does he take any clear stances for or against the issues of our day? If you don’t teach Christians what to think about current politics, some Instagram Reel or podcast will, and there is a good chance it won’t be biblical.

3. There is no need to do topical sermons on “immigration” or “gun policy.” Rather, pastors can preach exegetically through books of the Bible, and things to consider when voting will spring from the page. Faithful and courageous pastors won’t dismiss them.

But whatever you do, pastors, please don’t use your infantilizing slogans about an apolitical Jesus. Instead, show me how to be political because I love Jesus. No condescension or cowardice is necessary.

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