Politics as Christian Witness

We are all witnesses for—or against—the gospel when we engage in politics.

In the weeks preceding the 2018 election, a headline on my Facebook feed caught my attention. It read: “New Study Suggests Arguing about Politics is Most Effective Method of Evangelism.”

The story described survey results, reporting that it “confirms that arguing vigorously about politics is still the most effective way for Christians to spread the gospel of Jesus Christ to a lost and dying world.”

Researchers concluded that “whether online or in person, Christians should seek to find someone from the other side of the aisle and just flatten them, exactly like the early disciples did.”

Thankfully, the source of this report was none other than satire site The Babylon Bee. Although a parody, the fake study points to a genuine problem—the angry way too many people approach politics—and offers a humorous yet powerful reminder that the way Christians engage politics affects their Christian witness.

We are all witnesses for—or against—the gospel when we engage in politics. People inside and outside of the church are watching to see what we say, how we say it, and what our political views reflect about our priorities.

If our political behavior lines up with what we describe as our Christian values, people will notice and perhaps be inspired. If they don’t align, we’ll be dismissed as hypocrites. More importantly, people who need to hear the Gospel message may turn away.

The following principles can help us approach politics in a manner that is worthy of the gospel and gives glory to Christ.

Model Christian virtues

If we want to be positive Christian witnesses, we need to live lives of virtue, not vice. Consider one of the many biblical passages that describe Christian ...