Doing Politics

Ever find yourself scrolling through social media, seeing yet another political post that makes your blood boil? Or maybe you've sat through a family dinner where politics came up and suddenly everyone's at each other's throats? Politics has this uncanny ability to divide us, doesn't it? For Christians, it gets even more complicated. How do we engage with a system that often seems at odds with our values? How do we vote, speak up, and participate without losing our minds or our faith?

This week at Crowd Church, Matt Edmundson sat down with Will Sopwith and Jeff Beynon to tackle this massive topic head-on. They didn't shy away from the hard questions. Instead, they offered a refreshing perspective on how Christians can engage with politics through the lens of scripture and faith. It's not about picking a side and shouting louder than everyone else. It's about something far more transformative.

Before we can discuss how to engage with politics, we need to establish a fundamental principle. Matt kicked things off by reading Romans 13:1-2: "Let every person be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except from God."

Wait. All authority comes from God? Even the leaders we can't stand? Even the ones who seem to contradict everything we believe?

Jeff raised the question we're all thinking: "What about if we have leaders who specifically say something that goes against scripture?" It's the tension Christians have wrestled with throughout history. If God has ordained all authorities, does that mean we have to agree with everything they say and do?

Will offered a crucial distinction. It's about respecting the institution of authority, not necessarily agreeing with every decision made by those in power. Think about it this way: you can respect the office of Prime Minister whilst disagreeing with specific policies. You can honour the role without endorsing every choice.

The panel unpacked three core biblical principles for engaging with politics:

Respect the Institution of Authority

Will brought up Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego as brilliant examples of this. These three young men refused to bow down to the king's idol, standing firm in their conviction that worship belongs to God alone. But here's the fascinating bit: they didn't organise a riot. They didn't storm the palace. They didn't lead an insurrection.

Instead, they respectfully declined and accepted the consequences of their decision. They honoured the emperor's authority by acknowledging he had the right to make laws, even when they couldn't obey a specific command that violated their faith. They stood up for their beliefs without resorting to chaos.

Pray for All in Authority

Matt highlighted 1 Timothy 2, which urges Christians to pray for all in positions of authority. Not just the ones we voted for. Not just the ones we agree with—all of them.

Will shared how prayer has been instrumental in significant political changes throughout history. He pointed to the end of apartheid in South Africa as a powerful example of how sustained prayer can bring about transformation. It's a call to action for Christians: pray more, complain less.

Prayer changes things. More importantly, prayer changes us. When we regularly pray for our leaders, even those with whom we disagree, it becomes harder to demonise them. It's harder to reduce complex human beings to caricatures we can hate.

Love Your Enemies

Jeff reminded everyone of Jesus' radical teaching to love our enemies. It's easy to get swept up in the anger and division that politics brings. Social media algorithms feed us content designed to elicit outrage. News channels profit from keeping us furious at the "other side."

But Christians are called to rise above that. Jeff put it simply: "You can love people you disagree with." It sounds obvious, but in practice, it's revolutionary. Imagine political discourse where we genuinely loved those we disagreed with, where we sought to understand before being understood, where we extended grace rather than contempt.

When Voting

The panel agreed that voting is about more than personal gain. Jeff shared his approach: "I try to think who's going to be helped the most. Not me personally, but the most people."

It's a servant's heart approach to voting. Rather than asking "What's in it for me?" we should be asking "Who will this help? Who are the most vulnerable in our society, and how will this policy affect them?" It shifts voting from a selfish act to a sacrificial one.

This doesn't mean there's a "Christian party" we should all vote for. Politics is complex, and faithful Christians will land on different conclusions about which policies best serve the common good. That's okay. What matters is the heart behind it.

In Political Conversations

When politics comes up at work, at dinner parties, or on social media, Christians have an opportunity to model something different. We can demonstrate that it's possible to hold strong convictions without keeping people in contempt.

This might mean choosing not to share that inflammatory meme. It might mean asking questions to understand someone's perspective before offering our own. It might mean admitting when we don't have all the answers.

Getting Involved

Matt shared a conversation with a friend who's an MP. She emphasised the need for Christians in all political parties. Not just one party that we deem "the Christian party," but across the political spectrum, bringing the values of the kingdom of God into the political sphere.

It's not about creating a Christian voting bloc that politicians pander to. It's about Christians being salt and light wherever they are, regardless of the party they belong to or the policies they support.

Some Christians are called to run for office. Others are called to work in political parties, civil service, or advocacy groups. Still others are called to pray and vote faithfully. All of these roles matter.

Throughout the conversation, what became clear is that Christian political engagement isn't about winning arguments or conquering culture. It's about being faithful witnesses to a different way of living.

Will pointed out how prayer has historically led to massive political shifts. When Christians focus more energy on prayer than on outrage, when we seek God's will rather than our own political gain, transformation occurs. Not always in the way we expect or on the timeline we prefer, but it happens.

The emphasis on loving enemies particularly stood out. In an age where political opponents are often treated as mortal enemies, Christians have the opportunity to show that disagreement doesn't require hatred. We can passionately advocate for policies we believe in while still seeing the humanity in those who disagree.

Here are practical ways to apply this to your life:

1. Choose one leader to pray for regularly - Pick someone in authority you find it hard to respect. Pray for them by name. Ask God to give them wisdom, to protect their family, and to help them govern well. Do this daily for a week and notice how it changes your heart.
2. Practice curiosity before judgement - Next time someone shares a political view you disagree with, ask them why they believe that. Listen to understand, not to formulate your response. Genuinely try to see it from their point of view.
3. Audit your media consumption - What news sources do you consume? Are they designed to inform or to enrage? Do they present multiple perspectives or just reinforce what you already think? Consider diversifying your sources.
4. Vote with a servant's heart - Before the next election, ask yourself: Who will this help? Not just personally, but who are the most vulnerable people affected by this decision? Let that guide your choice.
5. Consider how you're called to engage - Maybe you're meant to run for local council. Maybe you're meant to volunteer for a campaign. Maybe you're meant to be the person who keeps a small group from descending into partisan bickering. Ask God how he's calling you to engage with politics.

Throughout the discussion, what emerged was a vision of Christian political engagement that's radically different from the world's approach. The world says power comes from volume, from having the most followers, from crushing your opponents.

But the kingdom of God operates on a different logic. Power comes through service. Change comes through prayer. Victory comes through love.

When Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego refused to bow to the idol, they demonstrated a kind of power the empire couldn't comprehend. They weren't trying to overthrow the government. They weren't organising a resistance movement. They were simply being faithful to God, whatever the cost.

That's the kind of political engagement we're called to. Not seizing power, but faithfully stewarding whatever influence we've been given. Not winning at all costs, but serving at all costs.

What would politics look like if Christians actually lived this way? If we prayed more than we posted angry comments? If we loved our enemies instead of dehumanising them? If we voted with the vulnerable in mind rather than our own interests?

It wouldn't solve every problem. Politics would still be messy and complicated. Christians would still disagree about policies and approaches. But the tone may shift. We could adopt a different approach to engaging with those with whom we disagree.

As Matt, Will, and Jeff wrapped up their conversation, the message was clear: politics is complex, but our approach doesn't have to be. By grounding ourselves in scripture, praying for our leaders, and engaging with them with love and respect, we can navigate the political world with greater grace.

It's not about shouting the loudest. It's about being a voice for good, a voice for change, and a voice for love. Because ultimately, we serve a King whose kingdom isn't threatened by any election result, a King whose authority supersedes every parliament and president, a King who calls us to love even our enemies.

That changes everything about how we do politics.