A secular cultural worldview has decisively replaced long-held Christian norms in America. In this post-Christian era, a biblical worldview is shunned by society. American fundamentals embraced by nearly everyone to some degree, have been flipped on their heads. What was once basic decency is eschewed and the consequences end up vilifying the good and venerating the bad.
As we continue our July discussion about why Christians must engage in the political process, we are summarizing a webinar hosted by CAP’s VP of Policy, Greg Scott. He provides an insightful take on how this can be done without becoming part of the problem.
Greg points to two contributing factors of the current post-Christian era: Ideology has captured every powerful institution, and a shrinking church that no longer embraces sound doctrine.
- A Barna study shows that only 2% of Americans live according to a Biblical worldview…only 9% of Christians do!
- The biennial State of Theology survey from Ligonier shows that most self-identified Christians deny central teachings of Scripture. Example: 65% deny original sin and 43% say that Jesus was a great teacher but is not God.
- From the 1930s until around 2000, approximately 3/4 of Americans were members of a house of worship. By 2005, it was 65%. In 2020 that number was 47%.
- In 2024, 56% seldom (25%) or never (31%) attend church.
These stats indicate that if God-fearing citizens do not engage, it will only get worse. We must actively engage to influence law and policy for good. Greg made an important point, “This isn’t replacing the Great Commission with political activism. God forbid. But, influencing how we are governed and choosing who governs us by God standards is a good and necessary implication of the Great Commandment to ‘love our neighbor.’ If God cares about His world and everything in it, that cannot exclude how nations are governed. And it doesn’t. So, we as followers of Jesus Christ have a duty to influence law and policy.”
Greg notes the grasp the secular Left has on Christians as some acquiesce to the screams of “separation of church and state,” as if that means we have no voice. “One prominent pastor referred to the sanctity of human life and the preservation of marriage as “D Issues” that were not worthy of his advocacy, lest he annoy his politically diverse urban congregation.”
As we engage, Greg says we must operate according to the rules of engagement that define our public witness. We must use wisdom, show integrity and Christlikeness, and we must display courage.
Regarding wisdom: “Every moment of every day, we need to carefully consider how our words and conduct reflect on our Lord. This isn’t about living in paranoia and fear…this is living in wisdom… Wisdom will tell us when to respond and how. Wisdom demands our careful study of the landscape on which we’re operating in order to reckon the world as it is.”
Regarding integrity: “Integrity is a wholeness…a consistent and unshakable commitment to truth and honor, from the inside out. Integrity begins with self-examination; a prayerful inventory of questions you might ask yourself as you live and move in this world. Am I really choosing this path for the right reason…for the glory of my own name or for God’s Glory Alone?”
Regarding Christlikeness: “Integrity’s outworking in Christlikeness demands an active obedience regarding how we see people and how we are to act in relation to them. And this includes our political and ideological opposition … We can speak powerfully for righteousness. We can be fighters, we are fighters, we must be fighters: but we are less bar room brawlers and more jiu jitsu black belts. Jiu jitsu requires training and discipline. You win by leverage, by strategy, by excellence of execution. It is all done within rules everyone knows and agrees to…it is beautiful…and it demands honor from all.”
Regarding courage: “Are we willing to bring the Gospel to bear not only in individual evangelism, but in all areas of life, including influencing how we are governed? To advocate for a society that is more righteous. Be courageous. Standing fast in a post-Christian culture requires us to take risks, count costs, and resist temptations.”
Greg elaborated on these four points and provided much more to consider on the overall issue during the webinar, which you can listen to in full here.
Putting it Into Practice
As Christians, loving our neighbor means caring first for their souls and second for their physical well-being. Regardless of where you are politically, we can all acknowledge God’s protection over former President Trump, who came breathtakingly close to losing his life last weekend. We are a grateful nation, and we must be a prayerful nation. Not only for all political candidates, but for those who were killed and wounded in the assassination attempt.
It doesn’t matter if there is a D or an R after a politician’s name, they all deserve our prayers. But it is the policies he or she supports that inform our votes. Generally speaking, the letter after their name says a lot about where they stand on the key issues.
I must admit, I was discouraged by the GOP platform this year that, for the first time, failed to speak boldly and plainly about a commitment to protecting unborn life. The initial pro-life language meant little as the proclamation went on, basically condoning abortion at the state level. At the convention this week, the speakers seem to have gone silent on protecting the lives of unborn children and sparing their mothers the harms of abortion.
But neither the GOP nor the Democrat political platforms have ever fully aligned with my values, hopes, and vision. It’s important to note, however, the political realities before us still represent major differences on policy.
The Democrat Party has taken an extreme stance on life, marriage and family, and other key issues. One recent example: California Democrats just enacted a law allowing schools to shut out parents by keeping secret their child’s gender dysphoria. The party supports policies that elevate LGBT issues above the fundamental rights of parents to direct their children’s upbringing. The new California law also reflects the position of Arizona Senator Christine Marsh (Democrat – Legislative District 4) who opposed a bill this year, stating on the Senate floor that the bill would force teachers to “out” their students to the child’s parents. Democrats have embraced the sexualization of young children in the name of equity, and they no longer hide their zeal to legalize abortion through all nine months of pregnancy.
The abortion amendment likely to be on Arizona’s November ballot says it all. Activists have crafted a constitutional amendment that legalizes unlimited and unregulated abortion.
I will always choose life over death, religious freedom over religious persecution, parental rights over ideologues, and marriage and family over individual autonomy at the cost of our children’s well-being.
Wavering in the face of such stark realities is not an option. These are battles years in the making and will continue far beyond November 5th. But we must take every opportunity to take whatever ground we can for the unborn, children, families, and for God’s glory.
A Wonderful Update to Our AZ Voter Guide Fundraising!
Praise God! Thanks to so many generous CAP ministry friends, we have now come within $1,200 ($98,802.99) of our $100,000 goal! Thank you!
ICYMI
- Read here about the new California law that shuts parents out of their child’s gender dysphoria.
- Read here about a Minnesota school district that voted to let boys in girls’ restrooms over parents’ objections.
- Read here how Hobbs’ Gubernatorial campaign is raising millions to flip AZ Legislature blue.
- Read here about the unprecedented violence in California prisons after men were housed with women.
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