Dear Parents,

Politics!

Last year was my first year teaching seniors and it led to me reflecting on the penultimate days of my own high school journey. I’ll save you the niceties: going in to college, I felt more tied to a political ideology than my own identity in Christ. This was something that led to plenty of hardship. I got into heated arguments that I now regret. I simplified the freeing Gospel of Christ into adhering to political beliefs. I did not love people enough to put aside my two cents in order to hear their voice. In doing so, people had a seat at my table, but not a voice in the conversation.

With all of this in mind, I looked on. How is it possible to teach this subject faithfully? What direction does scripture give us about politics? Does Jesus have anything to say about this?

I was thoroughly encouraged by University Lutheran Chapel inAnn Arbor, a LCMS church in Ann Arbor. A few years back, ULC had a “Hot Topics” lecture series for those interested. In three parts, they discussed politics, and I unabashedly poached a good chunk of information from their lectures for my class. ULC is a small church belonging to a historically conservative denomination in a rather progressive city. Their identity is a confusing one, but the leaders of the church saw this as a blessing, and also saw the subject as pertinent enough to discuss directly.

In the final lecture ULC gave titled “Jesus and Citizenship,” pastor Gabe Kasper gave his congregation three points to dwell on. Today, I will share those with you in hopes that they can guide how you navigate politics as a faithful disciple of Christ. Let’s do this.

Avoid Political Simplicity

Our political landscape lacks nuance. The first president, with one foot already out the door, begged his beloved country not to fall prey to bipartisan politics. And yet, here we are. Although fringe groups exist, political discourse is driven almost entirely by two main parties. Even when a fringe group produces a politician with rising relevance, that person is usually faced with two choices: become a Democrat or a Republican, or sink into irrelevance.

With this comes a myriad of issues. We are so used to people fitting into one box or the other. In our minds, we may even be thinking as we talk to somebody, “Oh… they just said they are pro-choice. That means they are probably a Democrat.”

And in our own heads, we may also come to assume that because we know they are pro-choice, we also know that they are an LGBT+ advocate, for gun control, for universal healthcare, against capitalism, for a higher minimum wage, for protecting immigrants, for preserving the environment, against hardcore patriotism, for critical race theory, against standing for the national anthem, for putting theological books in the “self help” category of bookstores, and…

But they only said they are pro-choice. And yes, while it is more than likely that a majority of pro-choice individuals also support gun control, we make a grave error in assuming that they are, or for that matter, that they should be. That error is this: we, as citizens, should not feel pressured to assume the positions held by either political party if we are not passionate about them, informed on them, or in favor of them. When we side with a political party, it often feels like we must adopt every position held by that party.

There is also pressure added by media that argues silence in the face of terrible injustice is the same as siding with those committing the injustice. Thus, it becomes my job to speak up on behalf of every evil afoot on this earth, lest I fail to fulfill my role as a citizen in this country. This is where I argue for something different, something more biblical. Rather than placing this weight squarely on each individual, we ought to acknowledge that we are one body with many members. I may care deeply about environmental protection and work toward it faithfully, while trusting that my brother in Christ who is passionate about the sanctity of life will pursue that calling, and my sister who advocates for the truly marginalized will pursue hers. We would have a far greater impact if we embraced our specific callings and pursued them wholeheartedly.

On this point of political simplicity, let me leave you with one final thought: if we believe that our values as believers will neatly fit into one political party or the other, we are extremely misled. We must acknowledge, embrace, and discuss political nuance, and put a spoke in the wheel of the divisive political discourse that runs rampant.

Avoid Political Primacy

In October of 2008, John McCain was fielding concerns from his supporters at a campaign rally. A few voiced their genuine fear about Barack Obama being elected president of the United States. After one woman spoke, McCain took the microphone and made his position clear: “He’s a decent family man, citizen, that I just happen to have disagreements with on fundamental issues, and that’s what this campaign is all about.”

Of course, we now live in a different time. Over the past twenty-ish years, media has progressed rapidly, and the almighty algorithm has been fine-tuned to keep us hooked to our devices. We are shown videos that drive us deeper into our preexisting beliefs, or we are shown opposing viewpoints, often radical ones, designed to incite rage. As a result, we become less informed, more emotional, and increasingly divided.

This landscape has produced what feel like salvific candidates. Each side presents itself as the last line of defense against the tyranny of the other. The great evil in the world, we are told, is in the hands of whichever party we do not belong to, and it becomes our responsibility to help our side fend them off. Political parties are portrayed as godless, racist, sexist, and more, carefully tailored to spark fear and outrage among different groups. The message is clear: we must save the country.

The benefit for political parties is obvious. By peddling these exaggerated narratives, they gain staunch and unwavering supporters. But in the process, many people begin to represent their political flag more faithfully than their faith. Let us not be deceived. Our salvation comes from Christ alone. Political activism can be one way we express God’s Word faithfully, but it is not the way. Ultimately, Jesus Christ achieved salvation for us apart from any political construct. Christ’s word of life is not irrelevant to politics, but it is transcendent to politics. Let us be careful, lest we conflate the two.

Avoid Political Complacency

While politics should not reign supreme in the life of a believer, it is still important to recognize that political activism is a method through which we can advocate for our beliefs. What we believe as Christians is inherently political. At the same time, Scripture gives us real and meaningful guidance that can inform what we choose to advocate for within our communities.

Scripture outlines a unique belief system that leads us to uphold the sanctity of human life, advocate for marginalized groups, lead with radical generosity, value the covenant of marriage, stand firm in justice and truth, and make room for grace and redemption, among many other things.

These beliefs, as outlined in Scripture, do not fit neatly into one political party or another (or another, or anothernother). We also know that politics is not the central focus of the believer’s life. Still, this is not a call to neglect this vocational outlet altogether. Our Lord is Lord over all, and when his message radically transforms every role we inhabit, he is rightly glorified. That calling includes how we live as citizens and as members of our communities.

With this in mind, I try to encourage all students to remember that we will grow, change, and learn. The political landscape will shift, twist, and turn. No matter where we find ourselves, the same questions remain: How can we navigate this situation faithfully? What has the Lord placed on my heart? How can I love, serve, and lead my neighbor in this season?

Conclusion

By no means is this a comprehensive guide to every political issue. This blog is not riddled with biblical prescriptions for how to rightly judge and advocate for [insert political issue here]. Instead, it offers a framework I consistently return to. It helps shape how we view and engage politics as believers, not as an ultimate good, but as a meaningful arena for faithfulness. More than anything, it invites a different posture, one rarely modeled in our regular political discourse.

Thank you for reading my Dear Parents blog! I plan to publish a new post during the first week (oops, two days late) of each month in 2026 and see where this might lead in the future. If you have any comments, questions, or would like a specific topic addressed in a future post, feel free to email me at [email protected].