When Politics Pulls Renewal Into The Rapids

Renewal is never a calm float down a lazy river. Sooner or later, every church that wants to follow Jesus into deeper health and mission hits rough water. One of the roughest places right now is politics.

• Politics can divide us and make us prideful. It can make us deeply convinced that our side is not only right, but righteous. When a congregation is deeply divided politically, renewal work can hit a wall. Leaders may have a clear vision, a faithful strategy, and a real desire to help the church move forward, but political suspicion can stop progress before it starts.

Most pastors and church leaders know there is no simple way through our present political quagmire, but that does not mean we are without help. In recent years, several books have gone beneath the headlines to explore the history and culture shaping our moment, including Mark Noll’s The Civil War as a Theological Crisis, Andrew Wilson’s Remaking the World, Christian Smith’s Divided by Faith, Tim Carney’s Alienated America, and Timothy Snyder’s On Freedom.

• Kaitlyn Schiess’s The Ballot and the Bible: How Scripture Has Been Used and Abused in American Politics and Where We Go from Here belongs in that conversation as well. Schiess looks at how politicians and Christians have used the Bible throughout American history, showing us both the good and the bad of these efforts.

Here are five takeaways from The Ballot and the Bible that can help pastors and church leaders navigate the wild ride of politics as we seek full-orbed renewal in our churches.

Five Ways to Navigate the choppy waters of politics

1. pay attention to the stories that shape us

• Some of the ideas we assume have always shaped U.S. politics are much more recent than we think. For instance, the idea of the United States as a “city on a hill” is rooted in the 1600s, but it came to new prominence during President Reagan’s time. Schiess shows that Reagan’s use of that image was not exactly what John Winthrop had in mind. That matters because the stories we inherit often shape us more than we realize.

2. be careful with Romans 13

• Romans 13 has a long history in the church, and church leaders have often used it to defend the status quo. Typically, those quoting Romans 13 are seeking to preserve order, while those quoting other parts of the Bible, such as the Old Testament prophets or Revelation, are seeking a new way forward. Schiess helps us see that we need careful interpretation, not just familiar proof texts.

3. look back so you can lead forward wisely

• One of the strongest parts of Schiess’s book is her look at how Christians have connected the Bible and politics in the past. That history gives us a constructive frame of reference for the present. It helps us see where Scripture has been applied faithfully, where it has been misused, and where we may be repeating old mistakes without realizing it.

4. listen to voices beyond you own circle

• If we want wisdom, context, and nuance, we need to listen to at least three groups of people. First, we need to listen to those who have gone before us. Schiess’s chapter on the history of interpreting Jeremiah 29 is a gem. Second, we need to listen to Christian voices outside the U.S. and outside the U.S. Christian mainstream. Imagine, for instance, what might have been different if white Southern Christians in the 1850s had listened carefully to Black Christian interpreters. Third, we need to listen to the biblical interpretation of our opponents. That kind of listening does not require agreement, but it does require humility.

5. treat careful interpretation as a pastoral duty

• Near the end of the book, Schiess writes, “We are a Bible-haunted nation.” That is exactly why our use of Scripture in political arguments matters so much. Will we champion the unique power, authority, and distinctive narrative of Scripture, or will we settle for cheering when a politician gives the Bible a public relations boost? Pastors and leaders have a deep responsibility to help people read Scripture carefully, honestly, and faithfully.

Schiess’s book is invaluable for leaders trying to navigate the political rapids in their congregations. One of its greatest strengths may also be one of its challenges: it is nuanced. It does not offer simple slogans for an age that loves simple slogans.

• That means pastors and church leaders will need to do the hard work of discernment. We need to take the wisdom of this book, carry it carefully into our congregations, and help our people become more faithful followers of Jesus in the political arena for the good of the church, for the witness of the gospel, and for the continuing work of renewal.