By Michael A. Hancock | Guest Commentary, Rocky Mountain Voice
The Case for Christian Leadership in the Public Square
The modern American Christian faces an identity crisis. Many have retreated from the political arena, citing their faith as a justification for disengagement. They claim, with a kind of pious resignation, that politics is too corrupt, too divisive, too worldly for a true believer.
Others, equally misguided, adopt a fatalistic view—what will happen will happen, and God’s will is sovereign. While their devotion is admirable, their interpretation is mistaken.
To retreat from politics is to abandon a biblical mandate.
The Bible is not a passive book. It does not call for withdrawal, nor does it sanction apathy. On the contrary, scripture compels believers to engage, to influence, and to lead.
It demands that they be salt and light—not merely in their private lives, but in the public square. It is a call not just to prayer, but to action.
The Biblical Precedent for Political Engagement
The Old Testament is filled with examples of godly figures shaping the governance of their time.
Joseph, through wisdom and integrity, ascended to power in Egypt and saved a nation from famine (Genesis 41). Daniel, unwavering in his faith, served as an advisor to multiple pagan kings and altered the course of empires (Daniel 2). Esther risked her life to intervene in the politics of Persia, saving the Jewish people from annihilation (Esther 4:14).
None of these figures lived apart from government; they engaged with it, influenced it, and used their position for righteousness.
And what of the New Testament?
Some argue that Christ was apolitical, but this is a fundamental misreading of the text.
Jesus was, in fact, deeply political—not in the sense of partisanship, but in his unwavering challenge to unjust authority. He confronted the religious and political leaders of his time with truth. He defied Pilate’s understanding of power, declaring, “You would have no authority over me at all unless it had been given you from above” (John 19:11).
He recognized the legitimacy of government, instructing his followers to “render to Caesar what is Caesar’s” (Matthew 22:21), but he never abdicated moral responsibility to it.
Paul, too, understood the necessity of civic engagement. His epistles are filled with exhortations to respect and influence governing authorities.
In Romans 13, he acknowledges the role of government in maintaining order but never suggests blind obedience. In Acts, he repeatedly invokes his rights as a Roman citizen to advance the gospel, demonstrating a keen awareness of the political structures in which he operated.
His actions make one thing clear: Christianity is not an excuse for political passivity.
The Heavenly Citizenship Argument
Some Christians argue that politics is a distraction, that engagement in earthly governance contradicts scripture’s teaching that believers are “not of this world.”
Indeed, Philippians 3:20 reminds us, “But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ.” 1 Peter 2:11 calls Christians “sojourners and exiles,” urging them not to become entangled in worldly passions. These passages are often cited to justify political disengagement.
But this interpretation is not only incomplete—it is dangerously misleading.
Jesus himself said in John 17:15-18, in his prayer for believers: “I do not ask that you take them out of the world, but that you keep them from the evil one… As you sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world.”
This is not the language of withdrawal but of engagement with a purpose.
Christ makes clear that while believers are not of the world, they are very much in it, sent as his representatives.
Paul, too, speaks to this balance. In 2 Corinthians 5:20, he calls believers “ambassadors for Christ.”
What is an ambassador? Someone who represents the interests of their true homeland while living in a foreign land.
This means that Christians should influence earthly politics not as those seeking to build an earthly kingdom, but as those who advocate for the principles of God’s kingdom—justice, mercy, and truth.
Romans 13:1-7 reinforces this idea, stating that governmental authority is instituted by God and that believers should respect and participate in it.
If government is ordained by God, then it follows that Christians should be engaged in shaping it toward righteousness rather than ceding it to corruption.
Being a citizen of heaven is not a call to political apathy; it is a reminder that believers are to operate with a higher moral compass. It is precisely because our ultimate allegiance is to God that we must engage in the political process—to ensure that justice is upheld, the vulnerable are defended, and moral clarity is not lost in a sea of relativism.
The Responsibility of Engagement
Some may argue that politics is inherently corrupt, that participation requires moral compromise. But this is a dangerous half-truth.
Politics is a reflection of the people who participate in it. If the righteous withdraw, what remains? It is not engagement that corrupts—it is the absence of engagement that allows corruption to thrive.
The Bible speaks often of justice. “Learn to do good; seek justice, correct oppression” (Isaiah 1:17). This is not a passive command. It requires action, intervention, and—yes—political involvement.
Justice is not an abstract theological concept; it is a societal necessity, and it demands effort to uphold. To walk away from the mechanisms of governance is to walk away from the very means by which justice is secured.
There is a final, often overlooked reason why Christians must engage in politics: the preservation of religious liberty itself.
History has shown, time and again, that when believers ignore the political landscape, others shape it in ways that are hostile to faith.
The right to worship, to speak freely, to live according to biblical principles—these are not self-sustaining liberties. They require vigilance. They require participation.
The notion that Christianity is somehow above politics is not only a misinterpretation of scripture; it is a dereliction of duty.
Politics determines laws. Laws shape culture. Culture influences hearts and minds. To abandon politics is to relinquish influence over the very society in which believers are called to be salt and light.
Thus, it is not merely a civic duty for Christians to vote, to run for office, to advocate for justice. It is a biblical imperative. It is a responsibility that cannot be shirked without consequence.
The political process is not an arena to be feared or avoided. It is a battleground where values are contested, where truth must be defended, where justice must be upheld.
The Bible does not permit retreat.
It demands engagement. And for those who seek to live by its words, the choice is clear: they must not only enter the political arena but do so with conviction, with courage, and with the unwavering belief that righteousness, when upheld, can transform a nation.
To enjoy more of Hancock’s content, CLICK HERE to connect with his substack.
Editor’s note: Opinions expressed in commentary pieces are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the management of the Rocky Mountain Voice, but even so we support the constitutional right of the author to express those opinions.