Adamo Manfra | October 24, 2024 | SHARE: 
Engaging in social and political communities is a vital calling for Christians seeking to live out their faith authentically. This article outlines five essential steps that provide a framework for believers:
As Christians, recognizing that we are called to engage in our social and political communities is just the beginning. Recognition is accepting that we should take a step of faith but not yet knowing which steps to take. So, what should we do next? I would suggest five key actions—Seek, Survey, Speak, Stand, and Surrender.
First and foremost, we must turn to God. We’re called to do everything in word and deed in the name of Jesus (Colossians 3:17), for God’s glory (1 Corinthians 10:31), and for the good of others (1 Corinthians 10:33). Engaging in politics is a way to love our neighbors as we seek to elect people and encourage laws that promote God’s greatest good for people’s lives. Therefore, we need to seek His will to understand how to love our neighbor and how He wants each of us to act. As Proverbs 3:5 tells us, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not rely on your own understanding.”
This means living out our faith fully before proclaiming it in the public square.
Through prayer, worship, and fellowship, we can discern how God is calling us to be a voice in our world.
Next, you need to look at the landscape around you and understand at least four things: your environment, your issues, your allies, and your opponents.
Environment: Do you live in a very progressive community or perhaps a conservative area? Is your community politically mixed? This will likely influence your concerns and opportunities for response.
Issues: What issues are you most focused on? There are many problems today—the rise of transgender ideology, the breakdown of marriage, parental rights, school choice, abortion, euthanasia, gambling, and more. Which of these concerns is God placing on your heart? Educate yourself on these issues. What does the Bible say? What does society say? What are the current policies at the local, state, and federal levels? What changes would make things better or worse?
Allies: Who shares your concerns? If you think you are alone, seek out others. Some allies could be members of your church, local community members, or larger organizations like NC Family, Family Research Council, or Alliance Defending Freedom. Whatever you do, do not go into battle alone.
Opponents: First of all, remember that the devil is the real enemy, not those working in opposition to you. Paul reminds us, “For our struggle is not with flesh and blood but with the principalities, with the powers, with the world rulers of this present darkness, with the evil spirits in the heavens” (Eph 6:12). Your opponents—not your enemies—are those promoting policies you disagree with. Know who they are and what they are saying, so you and your allies can respond effectively.
Once you have discerned the issue or issues God has placed on your heart, connected with allies, identified opponents, and know where you can make a difference, you are ready to act. And when you speak up, do so boldly and clearly.
If schools in your area are teaching something problematic or troublesome—like Critical Race Theory or Comprehensive Sex Education—talk with teachers, principals, and superintendents and attend school board meetings. Speak up and defend the true and the good. Do the same at city council meetings, county commission meetings, or state legislature hearings, depending on where your issue is being addressed.
Another way to speak out is by writing letters to the editor in local, regional, or even national newspapers. This helps raise awareness in your community, and may give others the confidence to speak up as well.
Voting is another powerful way to speak. At a basic level, this means casting your own vote. It also involves supporting candidates who align with your values. If you are passionate about a specific matter, volunteer for a candidate who supports it. If you’re concerned about harmful topics in schools, for example, campaign for a school board candidate who shares your views.
In some cases, you might even consider running for office yourself. Discern whether God is calling you to this. If God is calling you to it, and your allies support you, it could be an opportunity to make a significant difference.
“Be on guard. Stand firm in the faith. Be courageous. Be strong” (1 Corinthians 16:13). We know that the world may hate us for speaking the truth (Matthew 10:22); but remember, it hated Jesus first (John 15:18).
By beginning with and remaining in prayer, we prepare ourselves for challenges. Put on the whole armor of God so you can stand firm (Ephesians 6:10-20). Whether you are speaking at a meeting, writing an article, volunteering for a campaign, or running for office, you are going to face opposition. Stand your ground.
When the Israelites faced the Egyptians at the Red Sea, Moses told them, “Do not be afraid. Stand firm, and you will see the deliverance the Lord will bring you today… The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still” (Exodus 14:13-14). Standing firm does not mean doing nothing; it means trusting God enough to stand your ground.
We must obey God, answer His calling, and do our best as we seek to live our faith in the public square. Ultimately, God is sovereign over all things, and the outcome is His. Remembering this truth helps us avoid the temptation of using unjust methods to achieve our goals or to block unwanted results.
Joseph Backholm, the keynote speaker for NC Family’s 2024 Charlotte Dinner, shared how God asked him to “surrender his reputation.” We often care too much about what others think of us and too little about what God may be calling us to do. If we value our reputation over speaking the truth and serving God, it becomes an idol. Instead, we should surrender our reputation and fear God rather than people.
Commenting on Psalm 128:1, “Blessed are all who fear the Lord,” Oswald Chambers reflects, “The remarkable thing about fearing God is that when you fear God you fear nothing else; whereas if you do not fear God you fear everything else.” When we rightly fear the Lord, we do not need to fear anything else.
We should also surrender our goals and outcomes. When it comes to evangelization, we might plant seeds, help them grow, or reap the harvest. Each person plays a role, but God alone draws people to Himself. If we are too focused on ensuring a particular outcome, we might become off-putting and undermine our witness.
The same applies to political engagement. No single person—even the President—can transform society overnight. No single piece of legislation can instill all the needed values to redeem the culture. But we do not have to force large-scale outcomes. We can follow God’s call, engage where He calls us, and surrender the results to Him.
Surrendering the outcome brings us back to seeking God again. After we have acted and stood firm, we keep looking to Him for guidance on what is next.
God is calling His people to venture into the deep waters of our culture’s challenges. May we seek God’s will and guidance. May we survey our surroundings, identifying problems, opportunities, and allies. May we speak the truth alongside our allies, stand firm against opposition, and surrender the outcome to God’s providence. May we boldly live out our call to do everything in Jesus’ name, for God’s glory, and for the love of our neighbors; seeking the good of all.
