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You are here: Home / Opinion / To My Fellow Evangelical Believers

To My Fellow Evangelical Believers

By Frank Johnson on October 16, 2016 0

Photo courtesy of DonkeyHotey. Used by permission.
Photo courtesy of DonkeyHotey. Used by permission.

As we approach what probably is the most unique election some of us have ever faced, I have some thoughts on the current political climate that are a little bit broader than whether we should vote for one candidate or another.

I’m somewhat hesitant to share them because I’m generally not consumed with politics and probably don’t keep up as much as I should. But after a fair amount of inner debate, I’ve decided to offer these thoughts not only because I think they might be helpful to some but also to hear the opinions of others who might have a different perspective than I do.

Part of what concerns me about the current climate is the close identification that often is assumed between evangelical Christianity and the GOP – it is almost as if they are the same thing for many of us.

But the evangelical church is not a political party with a candidate running in the presidential election. We are the called-out ones. And part of what we have been called out from is a society that gives politics a greater prominence in everyday life than I think I’m willing to give it. That doesn’t mean we don’t have a responsibility to vote. But I would love to see the evangelical church being a more prophetic voice in the political arena – taking a stance for Christian values more than for one political party’s platform.

U.S. Capitol Building
Photo courtesy of JamesDeMers. Used by permission.

A small example which we don’t ever hear much about – gerrymandering – the practice through which the victorious party in an election gets to change the boundaries of voting districts (always for their own advantage in future elections) after they have won the election. In my opinion, it’s corrupt at its core and is the result of a thirst for personal power which, if left unchecked, will ultimately be disastrous for America. Why isn’t the evangelical church in America standing up and saying that it is a corrupt system? If not the evangelical church, who will stand up? How can we say to unbelievers that a focus on self is a core element of the disfunction in our lives if we won’t stand up and point out how wrong the gerrymandering system (and the underlying focus on self and personal power) is? How can we stand up against injustice if we so closely identify ourselves with one of the two main political parties which actively promotes this sort of injustice?

Another example – illegal immigration. Whichever side of the issue we land on, who will stand up and say that politicians’ positions on immigration policies have little to do with what they think is just and everything to do with increasing the voting constituency of their party or decreasing the voting constituency of their opponent’s party? Who will stand up if not the evangelical church?

Who will stand up for the principle that the foundation of leadership is godly character if not the evangelical church? If the evangelical church can’t stand up and say to Hillary Clinton that continued dishonesty disqualifies her from being a leader, then who will stand up? If the evangelical church can’t stand up and say to Donald Trump that much of the beauty of God’s creation is in the diversity of His people – i.e. different races – and that failure to take a firm stand against racism disqualifies him from being a leader, then who will stand up?

If not us, who?

Who will stand up for the principle that the foundation of leadership is godly character if not the evangelical church? #christianpolitics

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But because we have so closely identified ourselves with one particular party, we have forfeited the independent platform of those who have been called out. And we have – at least in some measure – forfeited our platform for declaring the truth of the gospel (because one side of the political spectrum assumes we are exactly the same as their opponents on the political spectrum).

Hebrews 11:13-16 seems relevant – “All these died in faith, without receiving the promises, but having seen them and having welcomed them from a distance, and having confessed that they were strangers and exiles on the earth. For those who say such things make it clear that they are seeking a country of their own. And indeed if they had been thinking of that country from which they went out, they would have had opportunity to return. But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God; for He has prepared a city for them.”

Here’s what I wish I heard when people talk about the current political environment: “Democrats believe this. Republicans believe this. Evangelicals …. well …. they’re just different.” I don’t think I’ve ever heard anything like that, and I think it saddens me.

COUNTRIES IN THIS ARTICLE: United States

Related Resources

Weaving “what-if” stories with today’s facts, in God & Government Colson explodes the myths and explores the realities of religion and politics. Examining issues such as ministers in public office, the church’s authority, and civil disobedience, he shows why Christians who understand the kingdom of God should be the most responsible citizens.


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About Frank Johnson

Frank is a 1985 graduate of Bethany College in Scotts Valley, California (B.S. Ministerial Studies) and a licensed minister with the Northern California and Nevada District Council of the Assemblies of God. Frank has been an internet strategist for over 20 years, applying principles of digital media strategy to spread the gospel. In addition, he is the author of Find A Job Through A Temporary Service, “Bringing in the Outcast” (under pen name, John Norman) in Issue 43 (January 1, 1988) of Discipleship Journal, and numerous articles in the Santa Cruz Sentinel.

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Our Daily Declaration

Lord Jesus,

This day, we cast our souls upon Your sacrifice as our only hope for purpose, meaning, and fulfillment here on earth and for life in the age to come.

This day, we swear allegiance to You, our King.

This day, we pray that You would set our hearts aflame for Your cause and for the over 3 billion people in this world who have yet to hear Your name.

We long for the day that we will stand before Your throne, surrounded by the most diverse community ever formed — from every tribe, every tongue, every people, and every nation — those whom You have purchased with Your blood — as we cry out together “Worthy is the Lamb!”

Until that day, we commit ourselves to loving our brothers and sisters in Christ — no matter what their people group, no matter what their language, no matter what their race, no matter where they are from — and to living in community with them — that the world may know that the Father loves them and that He sent You to save them.

This day, we devote our lives — our time, our money, our passion, our mind, our strength, our everything — to see Your gospel proclaimed in every corner of this world.

And we thank You for the astounding privilege of playing a small part in carrying Your name to the nations!

Pray for the Tsukuba Express Church Planting Team

Tsukuba Express Line

  1. Please pray for the areas surrounding these twenty rail stations: Akihabara, Shin-Okachimachi, Asakusa, Minami-Senju, Kita-Senju, Aoi, Rokucho, Yashio, Misato-chuo, Minami-Nagareyama, Nagareyama-centralpark, Nagareyama-otakanomori, Kashiwanoha-campus, Kashiwa-Tanaka, Moriya, Miraidaira, Midorino, Bampaku-kinenkoen, Kenkyu-gakuen, and Tsukuba
  2. Pray that God would raise up church planters and send forth laborers into the harvest fields surrounding these stations (Luke 10:2-4).
  3. Pray that God would help these church planters identify persons of peace in the areas surrounding these stations (Luke 10:5-8).
  4. Pray that God would enable these church planters to speak the word of God with boldness in these areas (Luke 10:9b).
  5. Pray that the proclamation of God’s word in the areas surrounding these stations would be accompanied by demonstrations of God’s compassion and power (Luke 10:9a).