It is that time again … this is an election year. For the next few months, we will be bombarded with political messages asking for our vote and predicting the collapse of our society if we vote for the other party or their candidate.

Sometimes during election season, I feel a little like Shakespeare’s Hamlet. Hamlet asks, “To be or not to be? That is the question.” I find myself asking a similar question, “To preach about politics or not to preach about politics, that is the question.” If I say something political in a sermon it is likely to cause trouble. If I stay silent, I can ignore my conscience and convictions. The dilemma is serious in this divided age.

Not all preachers wrestle with the question in the same way. For some, preaching about politics is a natural component of preaching. For others, political issues and preaching have nothing to do with each other. I wrestle with deciding whether to preach about politics.

I have seen the damage that preaching about politics has caused. Kevin Thompson felt forced to resign as pastor of his evangelical Bible church because his congregation disagreed with his stand on social matters. The differences were so great he felt he could no longer effectively lead his congregation.[1] My friend “Brian” left his church because the preaching made him feel that his political views were not only unwelcome, but they were also unchristian.

In my own ministry, I have sometimes avoided saying anything that might be perceived political. I have stayed silent when I have been afraid of the backlash from my congregation or when I did not know what to say. Sometimes, I have allowed the political pundits on CNN and Fox News to disciple my flock concerning politics. Preachers like me have missed God-given opportunities to address important issues which are already on the minds of our congregants.

What is a preacher to do? Either we are criticized for saying too much or are blasted for saying too little. Preaching presents a unique responsibility and opportunity to disciple our congregations about politics.

This article does not suggest a “one size fits all” answer. Preachers and congregations are different. Political realities are constantly shifting. Ecclesiastes reminds us, “There is an occasion for everything, and a time for every activity under heaven. … a time to be silent and a time to speak” (3:1, 7b). Unfortunately, Ecclesiastes does not give us a process to discern when we should be silent or when we should speak.

Instead of suggesting one answer, this article offers four questions which can help preachers reflect on preaching about politics. Wise preachers will take time to decide prayerfully and thoughtfully whether to address political matters from the pulpit.

The Political Question: What Does it Mean to Preach About Politics?

At a surface level, preaching about politics might mean endorsing or denouncing a certain candidate, party, or policy in a sermon. But preaching about politics usually means more than supporting team donkey or team elephant.

Preaching about politics might mean addressing issues like gun ownership, abortion, immigration policy, social justice, student loan forgiveness, prison reform, school curriculum, policing, LGBTQIA2S+ movements, economic policies, international aid, environmental stewardship, war, healthcare reform, or other pressing concerns. Many contemporary issues have political implications.

Preachers led to preach about politics might do so in a single sermon or a full sermon series. They may use illustrations, examples, or applications within a sermon. Expository preachers may see political implications in a text since Scripture addresses issues which plague our culture today.

But preaching about politics may mean even more. Bruce Ashford notes that Jesus’ title, “Christ” is political. “Jesus demonstrated … that he was Lord, and when the early church declared ‘Jesus is Lord!’ the net effect was to declare that Jesus was Lord and the Roman Caesar was not. It doesn’t get any more political than that.”[2] Preaching about politics might mean preaching about the lordship of Christ over every aspect of life.

In 2017 when Ascension Day, an obscure ecclesiastical holiday, coincided with Memorial Day, a popular American holiday, I took the opportunity to contrast the finite American political system with the infinite Kingdom of Christ. With Ephesians 1:15-23 as my text I described the inauguration day of then President Donald Trump who literally and metaphorically ascended from citizen to commander-in-chief with the ascension of Christ Jesus who literally and metaphorically ascended from crucified criminal to the King of Kings. I reminded those who loved him and loathed him the most significant name in politics was not President Trump but Christ Jesus.

Thoughtful preachers should reflect carefully about what it means to preach about politics.

The Theological Question: What is the Relationship Between the Church and Politics?

The Bible does not explicitly address how Christians should act in a democratic republic where the citizens can elect their leaders and influence political policy. Preachers need to think theologically about Christian political engagement.

One way to think about this question is the approach of H. Richard Niebhur. In his classic book Christ and Culture,[3] Niebhur asks: How can Christians obey the radical call of Christ while simultaneously living in a fallen human culture? Though dated, his book provides a helpful framework for thinking about the role of preaching in cultural matters.

Niebhur offers five possibilities for cultural engagement, “Christ against culture,” “Christ and culture in paradox,” “Christ transforming culture,” “Christ above culture,” and “Christ of culture.” By extension, these categories offer theological guidance for the intersection between preaching and politics.

The Bible also guides our theological reflection. Preaching calls the people of God to be separate from the corruption of the world (2 Cor. 6:16-18; 1 John 2:15-17). Preaching equips the people of God to pray for and participate in the flourishing of the nation (Jer. 29:7, 1 Tim. 2:1-2). Prophetic preaching warns the congregation and the culture to repent from evil or face God’s judgment (Jonah 3:4; Rev. 2:1-3:22).

Reflecting on the theological question guides me. Although I believe that Christ uses Christians to transform the culture, in my context (see below) many Christians have been conformed to the political pattern of this culture. They are filled with false hope and unwarranted fear based on who wins or loses elections. Before Christians can be agents of transformation, we must be transformed (Rom. 12:1- 2).

So, I have addressed politics in expository preaching. I have spoken to the faulty political ideologies infecting the affections of my people. I have repeated the phrase, “God is not a Republican … or a Democrat.”

Shortly after President Obama was elected, I described the Pharisees as smart people who were looking for “hope and change,” but they were looking in the wrong places. During the presidency of Donald Trump, I explained that the disciples misunderstood Jesus. They thought he was going to be a messiah who would “make Israel Great Again” but Christ did not come for one nation he came for the whole world.

Thoughtful preachers should reflect theologically about the relationship between preaching and politics.

The Contextual Question: To Whom am I Preaching?

Most of us preach in places where our sermons are easily accessed by those who are beyond our sanctuary walls. When we craft our sermons who do we imagine is listening? Are we preaching to the people who are in front of us, or are we (also?) preaching to a broader group?

If our focus is on the people within our congregation, it is important to know our people. Some congregations are left-leaning or right-leaning. Other congregations are mixed. Some congregations mirror their surrounding communities while others offer a sharp contrast.

Knowing the people in front of us means investing in relationships with the members of our churches. We can encourage them to stand faithfully in difficult seasons. We can call them to repent from their faulty political ideologies.

Write sermons with specific people in mind. I think about “Jane” a vibrant retiree who regularly posts Libertarian memes and articles on social media. I think about “Julie” a busy mom who once told me she does not like politics. I think about “Jill” a compassionate nurse who works with the homeless and forwards me content from Sojourners Magazine. When we know our people, we can point them away from their idols and towards Christ. Knowing our congregation also means discerning an appropriate time to preach about or avoid politics.

What if we want to preach to people beyond the walls of our building? In a positive way our age offers an amazing opportunity for evangelism and prophetic calls to repentance. Again, think of specific people you know rather than addressing “the culture.” Are you addressing Christian Nationalists or Pragmatic Atheists?

If we want to preach to a broader congregation, we are wise to imitate the late Tim Keller who famously devoted time to reading books, newspapers, and magazines which were popular among people he was trying to reach.

Sometimes preachers speak beyond our congregations for negative reasons. I have felt the pressure to “virtue signal” from my friends and colleagues. We sometimes preach about politics to win the favor of people outside our congregation. Preachers are not immune from the lure of social media followers or the desire to avoid the ire of influencers. We might engage in or refrain from politics for self-promoting reasons. It is tempting to say things or stay silent about others to increase our own influence.

When we ask, “to whom am I preaching?” remember the One for whom we preach. Our motives are misguided if our decision is based on winning the approval or avoiding the anger of people. Kevin DeYoung notes that when certain people ask us to keep politics out of preaching it is “often code for ‘I don’t like your politics.’”[4]

Our goal in preaching is not to please people but to honor Christ. “For am I now trying to persuade people, or God? Or am I striving to please people? If I were still trying to please people, I would not be a servant of Christ” (Gal. 1:10). Sometimes, this means speaking about political issues we would rather avoid or staying silent about political issues which stir our own passions but would distract from God’s work in our context.

Thoughtful preachers should reflect contextually about our listeners and remember that we speak for Christ.

The Teleological Question: Why Am I Addressing (or not Addressing) Politics?

Effective sermons do more than transmit information. Effective preaching aims to do something with what we are saying. We want listeners to respond. Preachers confront idolatry and call people to repent. We encourage people to endure difficult days. We offer hope for the future. When we decide to preach about politics, there should be a clear purpose in doing so. Haddon Robinson’s language is helpful here. He asks his students to complete this sentence, “As a result of hearing this sermon my hearers will ….”

When we preach about politics what do we want to happen in the lives of those who hear us? Do we want them to vote a certain way, to participate in a protest, to rethink an un-Christian worldview, to volunteer, to pray, or do something else?

Political engagement can involve all kinds of responses. Christians can donate money, skills, or time to a ministry that addresses a pressing social issue. They can attend school-board meetings or participate in a neighborhood association. Most of our congregations need preaching that models how to disagree without demonizing image bearers who have different political opinions.

It is equally important to think about why we would decide not to preach about politics. Our world is broken. It is full of pressing societal and political problems. Real people face real injustice. The deceiver, the father of lies, is actively engaged in destroying God’s good world.

In a Democratic Republic, political engagement can make a difference in our congregations, communities, and country. American Christians have political means to work towards the transformation of society. When we decided not to preach about politics, we should have a reason which transcends our desire to avoid making people in the church mad.

In 2016, the state where I lived asked voters to approve a ballot initiative which violated my understanding of Scripture. I wanted to preach a sermon explaining what the Bible said about the proposed law and why our congregation should oppose it. My elders agreed that the ballot initiative was unjust but did not think a sermon was the right response. They were concerned that a single sermon was insufficient for effective discipleship on the issue. Furthermore, they were concerned that the heated 2016 presidential election created an environment in which any sermon about a single political issue which one party supported and the other opposed would cause more division than clarity in our congregation.

They persuaded me of a better response. So, we sent the congregation a well-written letter signed by all the elders which stated our position and pointed the congregation to additional helpful resources. We stood together, communicated Biblical truth, and potentially avoided a partisan conflict because I only spoke about one political issue during a heated election year.

Thoughtful preachers should have a purpose which explains why they preach about politics or not.

Conclusion

If you wrestle with whether or not to preach about politics, you are not alone. It is not always easy to decide what to do. When we do, we will not always get it right.

In all times, but especially in these divisive times, preachers should think carefully about when to speak and when to stay silent. We may arrive at different answers, but we can all benefit by asking good questions (political, theological, contextual, and teleological ones) which guide us in writing God-honoring sermons that equip the saints and reach those who do not know Christ.

[1] Michael Barbaro et al., “The Pastors Being Driven Out by Trumpism,” The New York Times, September 23, 2022, sec. Podcasts, https://www.nytimes.com/2022/09/23/podcasts/the-daily/evangelicals-trumpism.html.

[2] Bruce Ashford, “Is It True That Jesus Was Not ‘Political’ During His Time On Earth?,” BruceAshford.Net (blog), March 20, 2017, https://bruceashford.net/2017/is-it-true-that-jesus-was-not-political-during-his-time-on-earth/.

[3] H. Richard Niebuhr, Christ and Culture (New York: Harper, 1951).

[4] Kevin DeYoung, “The Pitfalls and Possibilities of Being ‘Political,’” Clearly Reformed, August 16, 2022, https://clearlyreformed.org/the-pitfalls-and-possibilities-of-being-political/. Accessed 05/11/2023.

Todd H. Hilkemann is ordained in the Christian Reformed Church. He has pastored congregations in Minnesota and Colorado. He was also a missionary in Kenya.