“Then Jesus said to them, ‘Give back to Caesar what is Caesar’s and to God what is God’s.’ And they were amazed at him” (Mark 12:17, NIV).

We had a very fruitful ministry meeting last week, a medical mission ministry. Today I received a text from one of our team members: “I need to talk to you about something. May I call you?” We talked last night. He was discouraged over some of the political comments made during our meeting that seemed to disparage some of our elected leaders. I don’t know whether I had joined in those remarks, but I hope not.

Our faith should certainly impact our politics, but I’m not sure our politics should ever impact our faith. Certainly, politics impact faith for those who are persecuted around the world because of their faith, but that is not how it should be.

We can be faithful followers of Christ and be “far right,” “far left” or “moderate.” We should all be “progressive,” though the Christian value of progress is dependent on the direction it is headed.

Sometimes we get caught up in this world and believe that politics can define how faithful we are to Christ and the legitimacy of the mission God has designed for each of us on earth. When we do so, we assign motive to those who think differently from us, even thinking of them as less Christian because of their political leaning. This kind of thinking separates Christians from each other and tears us away from our chief mission of bringing others to Christ.

I refuse to think that way.

I am committed to listening closely to the political views of anyone who knows Jesus as Lord.

I am committed to assuming that all who follow Jesus have motives as good as my own when they speak of political issues.

I am committed to examining all political issues by their adherence to God’s Word and changing mine as needed by that evaluation.

I am committed to preventing political discussion from ever separating me from a fellow Christian when we are on mission together for Christ.

My mission for Christ must impact my politics, but I will not let my politics disrupt my mission.

Dear God,

Let me engage with the politics of the world in such a way that it brings you glory and unites the church for your mission.

Amen