The criticism that Christians should not be involved in politics resounds even as many of us take a stand and cry out for an ending of abortion, which we impact not only by our prayers but also by our votes. It’s an issue I long ago settled, so much so that I sort of inwardly wince when someone tells me they are a Christian but don’t care about politics. The arguments are everywhere, and I don’t have a desire to engage in debate, but I was struck by a simple comment that came across a Facebook site of a national prayer leader whom I deeply respect.

Filled with comments, some began the question about the wisdom of Christians being involved in anything political.  The leader said:

To me, it's so self-evident that I'd rather have someone present an argument for why the church should be disconnected from engaging with politicians and its government in the hopes that righteous legislation would be established (i.e. the ending of legalized abortion) and that men that love Jesus help set culture in our nation.

He continued with the statement that shook me:

That's why the "you can't legislate morality" argument is strange. Should converted men who fear Jesus not enact righteous legislation?

And that’s the question I pose to you today. How can we who have been turned by the holy legislation of a righteous God, who have been converted to the path of Jesus Christ, then turn back and say that we have no place in the governing and legislating of a society in which He has placed us?

Would we dare say that even though we are raising kids we won’t teach them about God because they have a right to make up their own minds? Would we take off for church Sunday mornings and tell the family to do what it wants? Is that a stretch? Okay, would we send our teenagers to homes where parents let their kids drink and do drugs? We fight for our families; we should fight for the family of God as we would our own families. We know abortion hurts women; we know women live with years of regret over that choice. There ought to be no question we try to use whatever power God has entrusted to us by virtue of prayer and voting, and yes, even political involvement, to help prevent people from hurt—especially those who have no choice in the matter.

The Bible is clear that leadership and godly examples in a culture matter. Did Paul take his encounter with Jesus and stuff it in his tunic? The Sermon on the Mount says “Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven” (Matthew 5:16). There are no disclaimers in these words of Jesus that indicate we should only let our lights shine among Christian men, or that we should only try to glorify God outside of the political arena, even if we are so blessed to live in a land that allows us a voice in the arena.

If Esther had thought she should be apathetic about politics and not be in the king’s business a whole people may not have been delivered. In the face of much of our apathy, 54 million people have not been delivered.

The idea that a believer would abstain from political involvement is the antithesis of the gospel that culminates with a praying people ushering in their King Jesus to rule the land.

The question isn’t should we be involved, but how we should be involved. I would argue that the greatest ways in which a Christian can take on his or her own responsibility as a delegate of Heaven is contained in our Life Band covenant to pray, vote and obey.

Do we pray for our leaders or simply call them names when we hate what they do? All over the nation prayer meetings are rising up for the elections, for LIFE, for other pertinent biblical issues that cross into politics. Do we attend these prayer meetings or watch TV instead? Our primary occupation as Christians is to be praying people. If we aren’t praying, we aren’t affecting society. If we aren’t affecting society, we are no better than the unregenerate person, and, in fact, may be worse because we know the truth and have run lukewarm. And Jesus has something to say about being lukewarm.

Our prayers should lead us to action, however, and voting may only be a piece of that. Action can take many forms, and we need to seek God about which form it should take for us and our lifestyles, but for the argument that maybe it should take no form, I can only pose the question asked earlier: Should converted men who fear Jesus not enact righteous legislation?

Politics helps shape a culture. How can we, as those called to be cultural reformers, then ignore politics as having no place in Christianity?