Political Parties Make Terrible Saviors

It feels almost impossible to escape politics right now.

Whether it's social media, cable news, podcasts, family gatherings, or conversations after church, politics has become one of the dominant forces shaping how people see the world—and increasingly, how they see one another.

I've noticed something happening among Christians in particular. Conversations about faith often become conversations about politics. Questions about discipleship quickly turn into questions about parties, candidates, policies, and culture wars. For many people, political identity has become so intertwined with spiritual identity that it's difficult to tell where one ends and the other begins. I've also noticed the exhaustion.

Some followers of Jesus feel pressured to publicly comment on every issue. Others feel silenced because they don't fully align with their tribe's expectations. Many feel caught in the middle—unable to embrace the certainty of either side yet unwilling to disengage altogether.

Political ads have replaced regular commercials (I miss knowing what's happening at Burger King, Did I get wind of something to do with the Mandalorian and Grogu?).

As a follower of Jesus, I'm keenly aware of the ongoing conversation among people of faith. To be honest, the rhetoric and tone aren't any different from what's seen in other media outlets, social media platforms, and coffee shop debates. I ponder this often. Sometimes I feel angry and embarrassed by what I hear from people in my faith community. Other times, I feel the need to speak up, despite the risks involved.

Recently, I came across an older article by the late Tim Keller published in the New York Times that raised an important question: Is withdrawing from political engagement actually a political act in itself?

‘Those who avoid all political discussions and engagement are essentially casting a vote for the social status quo. American churches in the early 19th century that did not speak out against slavery because that was what we would now call ‘getting political’ were actually supporting slavery by doing so. To not be political is to be political … Nevertheless, while believers can register under a party affiliation and be active in politics, they should not identify the Christian church or faith with a political party as the only Christian one.’ – Timothy Keller

I believe Keller presents a compelling argument for why Christians should refrain from conflating their faith with their political affiliations. His first point highlights the potential danger of misrepresenting Christianity to those who are exploring the faith. By linking Christianity with a specific political party, there's a risk of creating the misconception that complete agreement with the party's platform is a requirement for following Jesus. Keller's second point delves into the complexity of political issues, emphasizing that many of them lack clear guidance in the Bible. This opens the door for sincere and faithful Christians to hold differing views on how to approach these matters, without compromising their faith. Yet I think we face a different danger.

The greatest threat may not be political involvement itself. The greatest threat may be confusing allegiance to Christ with allegiance to a political movement. When Christianity becomes attached to a party, ideology, nation, or candidate, the gospel inevitably becomes smaller than it was intended to be. We begin filtering Jesus through politics instead of filtering politics through Jesus. And that's where things become dangerous.

Jesus consistently refuses the categories that people try to place upon him. He is too compassionate for some and too demanding for others. Too concerned with justice for some and too concerned with personal transformation for others. He challenges every ideology because his kingdom transcends them all.

In our current political climate, many Christians feel pressure to choose between partisan loyalty and faithfulness to Jesus. But perhaps that is a false choice. The church is called to be politically engaged without being politically captured.

We should care about justice, poverty, immigration, racial reconciliation, religious liberty, peacemaking, and human flourishing. These are not partisan issues; they are deeply human issues that matter to God. At the same time, we should be wary whenever a political movement demands the kind of loyalty, trust, hope, or devotion that belongs to Christ alone.

No political party can save us. No election can usher in the Kingdom of God. No candidate can heal what is ultimately broken in the human heart. That doesn't mean politics are unimportant. It means politics are not ultimate.

The early Christians lived under Rome, one of the most powerful political systems in history. Yet their hope was not in Caesar. Their confidence was not in political victory. Their witness came through communities marked by love, generosity, service, reconciliation, and allegiance to another King.
 
Perhaps that's what we need most today. Not less engagement, but deeper discernment. Not withdrawal, but wisdom. Not partisan certainty, but Christ-centered faithfulness. The question isn't whether Christians should care about politics. The question is whether our political commitments are being shaped by Jesus—or whether Jesus is being reshaped by our political commitments.

Question: How are you navigating the tension between faith and politics in this cultural moment?

For more on this topic, listen to Episode 196 of All Saints Podcast: "Stop Asking Jesus to Pick Your Side"