Eugene Cho
Editor’s note: The articles in our political theology series are the opinions of the authors, not those of Logos. We are publishing a breadth of voices to reflect varying perspectives within the church.
With the upcoming presidential election entering its final stages, our political climate is more polarized than ever. Disinformation, vitriol, and even violence pollute much of our discourse. Engaging with politics at any time can be fraught. But this is especially the case now.
However, that does not mean we should disengage. In fact, quite the opposite is true, I believe. As Christians, we must engage, and we must do so without dehumanizing those we disagree with or resorting to vitriol and violence. Instead, we must allow the Scriptures and our convictions about Christ and the kingdom of God to inform how we engage in the political process, including how we vote.
It’s fair to ask what considerations we should be wrestling with before we cast our votes. Ethical? Moral? Spiritual? The latest outrage from our favorite podcaster? We need to dig deep within ourselves and reflect on our values.
The importance of politics and voting
Politics is the art–science of government. Politics is the way that people living in groups make decisions about how to order society. It’s about making agreements between people so that they can live together in groups and as a group.
Of course, a primary way most people participate in politics is by becoming engaged in the election process and voting. Our founders established our country on the idea that “we the people” are afforded the responsibility to choose our own leaders. In other words, the people grant authority to those who govern.
The Bible also contains precedent for this practice; it commends the idea of people selecting their own leaders. For instance, Moses instructs the people of Israel to “choose for each of your tribes individuals who are wise, discerning, and reputable to be your leaders” (Deut 1:13 NRSV). Or again, Acts 6:1–7 describes the early Christians choosing their own leaders. As Christians, we have good reason to participate in the process of putting sound leaders in place.
And politics matter. Politics matter because politics inform policies that impact people. Because of our country’s economic and political power, the leaders we elect in the United States make decisions that have a tremendous consequences for hundreds of millions of people, both in our own country and around the world. These decisions can often mean the difference between life and death. This is particularly true for people who are experiencing poverty, hunger, and vulnerability. These include decisions about emergency humanitarian assistance, domestic nutrition assistance, health care, disaster relief—the list goes on.
Politics matter because politics inform policies that impact people.
Scripture emphasizes the importance of government in pursuing justice and caring for its people. Romans 13 emphasizes the role and responsibility of leaders, noting that “governing authorities” (v. 1) are “God’s servant for your good” (v. 4 NRSV). The Scriptures also show that wise leaders uphold justice and the common good (Ps 72), especially for those who are poor and in need (vv. 12–14). A passage like Leviticus 19:15 (cf. Jas 2:2–4) calls on leaders to govern without partiality. As Christians, we ought to do what we can to elect wise and just leaders.
Politics captivated by Christ, not culture
Now, at this point you might be asking, “But Eugene, are you a Republican or a Democrat? Are you conservative or liberal?” My answer? Neither. Or better yet, on what issue?
Rather than asking about one’s politics, we should be asking about our understanding, imagination, and embodiment of the beauty and power of the gospel of Jesus Christ. In other words, the crux of our dilemma is that, for some, we’ve allowed our politics to inform our theology rather than our theology and worship of Christ to inform our politics.
The term I use for this is “cultural Christianity.” From a political perspective, cultural Christianity occurs when our theology is held captive by our politics rather than our theology informing and even transforming our politics.
What are the dangers of cultural Christianity? What does this look like? Imagine a Christianity that conforms to a culture—in all of its shifts and changes—and no longer adheres to the scandalous, radical love, grace, teachings, and life of Jesus Christ. Imagine an institutional Christianity that’s obsessed with power, influence, and platform without a commitment to the countercultural commitment of Jesus Christ—a commitment to empire rather than the kingdom of God.
Cultural Christianity occurs when our theology is held captive by our politics rather than our theology informing and even transforming our politics.
The fact is no single political party or powerful politician monopolizes the kingdom of God. Instead, let’s allow the Scriptures and our convictions about Christ and the kingdom of God to inform how we engage the candidates, political parties, and election process.
In the Gospels, Jesus displays a particular heart for those who experience poverty, hunger, and vulnerability in our nation and in our world. God is not neutral; God sides with people who are forgotten, marginalized, and oppressed. And Jesus warns that people will be held accountable and judged for the ways they have treated the least among them (Matt 25:31–46).
Vote, but don’t just vote
Civic engagement is about much more than one vote every four years, though. It also matters how we live out our faith every day. If we reduce civic engagement to a singular vote made every election cycle, we are part of the problem.
Yes, get out and vote! But don’t just cast a vote. Embody your faith. Serve your neighbors. Advocate for the last and the least. Share the gospel. Work for the common good. Pursue justice. Seek the peace of your city (Jer 29:7).
We should also pray for our leaders—both present and future. First Timothy 2:2 tells us to pray for “all who are in high positions, so that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life” (NRSV). Prayer empowers us to support those in authority with a spirit of love and advocacy.
But our prayers also have the power to fuel the mission to end hunger and poverty. God listens to our prayers. Ask him to grant our leaders the integrity and wisdom to focus on matters that protect the most vulnerable among us.
Hope-filled engagement, not dehumanization
I published my book, Thou Shalt Not Be a Jerk: A Christian’s Guide to Engaging Politics, in March 2020, when both the presidential election and the pandemic were just getting underway. It was a time when many, myself included, thought that our country’s political divisions and discourse couldn’t get much worse. Oh, how naive we were!
As the title of my book suggests, I urge Christians not to be “jerks.” I encourage Christians and others engaging in political discourse to stop vilifying those with whom they disagree—especially people who are vulnerable—and instead follow Jesus and his teachings.
Hope arrived—not in a politician, system, or great nation—but in the person of Jesus Christ.
As Christians, we must take a step back and reconsider how we are engaging with others—however difficult that might be when there are so many people with whom we strongly disagree. As Christians, we do this, in part, by remembering that hope arrived—not in a politician, system, or great nation—but in the person of Jesus Christ and that, because of him, we are called to love both God and neighbor.
A people of love amidst fraught times
We are living in fraught political times. But to be a Christ follower is to be faithful amid tension—to stay engaged, to remain hopeful, to love anyway, to walk with integrity, and to bear witness to the love, mercy, and grace of Christ.
The greatest commandment is to love the Lord our God with all our heart, mind, and soul and to love our neighbors as ourselves (Matt 22:37–39). We are first called to love. We know love because God loved us first (1 John 4:19). We respond to our loving relationship with God by loving our neighbors.
Let’s be informed by our commitments as people with faith in Christ and God’s kingdom in mind. Let’s be informed on many issues. Let’s pray for convictions consistent with biblical principles and an ethic that encompasses the whole of life—from womb to tomb. Then, let’s vote—and remain engaged afterward.
Be respectful. Be mature. Be wise. The world doesn’t need more jerks for Jesus.
Looking for more guidance? Try these resources
- Biblical Basis for Advocacy to End Hunger, Bread for the World
Thou Shalt Not Be a Jerk: A Christian’s Guide to Engaging Politics
Regular price: $10.79
Overrated: Are We More in Love with the Idea of Changing the World Than Actually Changing the World?
Regular price: $10.79
Silence Can Kill: Speaking Up to End Hunger and Make Our Economy Work for Everyone
Regular price: $2.99
How Can I Love Church Members with Different Politics? (Church Questions Series)
Regular price: $3.99
The Liturgy of Politics: Spiritual Formation for the Sake of Our Neighbor
Regular price: $3.99
Compassion ( & ) Conviction: The AND Campaign’s Guide to Faithful Civic Engagement
Regular price: $4.99
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