Lots of Ways to Impact Politics

RON SIDER

Lots of Ways to Impact Politics

mons, Sunday school classes, and study groups, laying out the biblical foundations for economic and racial justice and teaching respect for the dignity and sanctity of human life—in short all the components of a biblically balanced agenda.

That does not mean that the pastor It is political season in America, and I hope or denominational leader should reguyou are involved. After all, one of the larly promote a specific political proposal ways we love our neighbor is to help or candidate for office. Instead church shape the political decisions that help or leaders should help their members develop a faithful approach to politics. They harm them.

But it is crucial that we understand should provide settings within the conthe many ways we shape politics beyond gregation where church members with voting for presidential candidates. Here diverse political views learn how to dialogue with civility, honesty, and humility. are nine ways: Just being the church. The first way They should encourage all their members Christians should influence politics is by to be active politically and nurture a few being a living model of Jesus’ dawning to devote themselves full time to politics.

Official church pronouncements. Church kingdom. Tom Skinner used to say that the church should be a little picture now leaders dare not make political pronounceof what heaven will be like. When the ments in the name of their church when church simply lives out a visible model of they speak only for themselves. But the transformed social, racial, and economic situation is quite different when the relations, it profoundly influences society. congregation or the denomination goes Prayer. Karl Barth once said that prayer through a careful process to develop an is the church’s most important contri- official congregational or denominational bution to political life. The Bible calls us position on a political issue.This should not be done hastily, nor should it be done to pray for our political leaders.

Shaping culture. To a great extent, broad constantly, but from time to time it is cultural assumptions determine what is important and right to do so. When that politically possible.Abraham Lincoln alleg- process produces a duly authorized stateedly told the clergy of his day that “the ment, then church leaders rightly speak church sets the boundaries within which to political leaders in the name of their politics has to function.” Christians help church. (As an example, the US Catholic shape the cultural norms in society first bishops did this effectively in the 1980s by their common life, then by their ideas, with their pastoral letters on peace and economic justice.) If done well, this kind writings, and artistic productions.

Educating church members to think bibli- of official church pronouncement can cally and wisely about politics. Unless church have a substantial political impact.

Educating the public on specific political leaders help their people develop a biblically informed way to think about issues. In political education, people seek political life, church members will sim- to inform a group of citizens (whether ply borrow their political values from church members or others) about parsecular sources. It is crucial that pastors ticular issues, the reasons for taking a and denominational leaders develop care- specific stand, the current state of the ful programs and excellent materials to political debate on the issues, and how help all their members embrace a faithful best to impact the outcome. Christians methodology for politics and a biblically may do this through denominational social balanced agenda. This would involve ser- action departments, parachurch organiPRISM 2008

40

zations focused on political education, or secular public policy networks.

Lobbying elected officials. Here it is crucial that denominational social action agencies do this kind of work only when denominational structures have had a clear process and given concrete authorization for church agencies to speak in the name of the denomination. However, parachurch Christian organizations (and of course secular lobbying agencies) are better able to lobby politicians without politicizing the church.

Promoting the election of specific candidates.

In the United States, public law forbids congregations and other official church structures from endorsing specific political candidates. Normally church leaders should help educate their members on how to think and act publicly and then urge each individual member to prayerfully make his or her own decisions about specific candidates.

Running for political office. Congregations should encourage members with the interests and gifts to be candidates for political office. Caring church leaders and other members of the congregation should help Christian political candidates (and elected officials) to develop platforms that reflect a biblically balanced agenda, to think and speak honestly, and to retain integrity in public life.

We need far more effective structures for a loving, tough-minded process of both personal support and genuine accountability for Christians who embrace the difficult calling of public office.Without publicly endorsing a respected church member running for political office, a congregation can privately provide prayer, counsel, and a structure of accountability.

This election season, ask God in which of these ways he wants you to help shape politics. ■ (This column was adapted from Chapter 13 of The Scandal of Evangelical Politics, just out from Baker Books. Reproduced by permission.)