Christians in Politics

Some thoughts on the diverse opinions and legitimate differences among Christians.

By Jonathan Kuttab | Friends of Sabeel North American (FOSNA) | July 6, 2022

As the country is seemingly ripped apart by so-called “culture wars,” Christians do not appear to be shining examples of peace, virtue, love, or tolerance, much less of caring for the poor, the needy, and the marginalized.

When I was growing up, politics was deemed a dirty word. Christians, I was taught, should stay out of politics. After all, it was Jesus who said, “My Kingdom is not of this world.” As Christians, we should concentrate on spiritual matters, on the saving of souls, and steer clear of such worldly matters.

Yet, I quickly learnt that inaction was not an option and that failure to participate in the political process was merely to support the status quo, however unjust it might be. I came to discover that politics always impacts our lives, even if we try to avoid it. For instance, our very presence as Christian Palestinians in the Holy Land was a contested political fact with serious, existential consequences, and it remained so even if we were not politically active.

This is particularly true for those living in the United States, since this great country has so much influence, for good or ill, around the world. What our government does impacts the lives of millions in distant countries, and even the very survival of the planet. We cannot sit on the sidelines; we must be active! While maintaining a strict separation between church and state, individual Christians involved in politics should, in fact, be guided by Christ’s lordship over their lives. This includes their politics.

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