Imagine that the mayor of your town comes to saving faith in Jesus Christ. Imagine you are the one to lead the mayor to Christ.
What counsel would you give this new believer as the next steps of obedience in his or her newfound faith in Christ? Would we say, “Christians should not be involved in politics” and tell the mayor to quit his or her job?
No. We would rejoice that the mayor is a believer and would likely uphold that leadership position in Biblical ways. Maybe Proverbs 29:2 would come to mind: “When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice; but when a wicked man rules, the people groan.”
Yes, Scripture permits Christians to serve in the political arena.
Two verses provide that evidence: Paul “sent into Macedonia two of those who assisted him, Timothy and Erastus,” the latter being “the city treasurer” (Acts 19:22; Rom. 16:23, NASB).
But Scripture does not support Christian nationalism, “the belief that the American nation is defined by Christianity, and that the government should take active steps to keep it that way” (Paul D. Miller, “What Is Christian Nationalism?” Christianity Today).
I empathize with believers who want to increase Christianity—and, accordingly, its culture—in America, but not all answers are equal. Not all answers are Biblical. And Christian nationalism is not the way to increase Christianity in America.
- You have reached the end of this article preview. This article was published in the Winter 2024 Baptist Bulletin. Subscribe to the Baptist Bulletin or purchase a gift subscription. If you already subscribe to the print edition, sign up for free digital access.
Andrés Reyes is pastor of First Baptist Church, Perry, Iowa.
