Faith & Politics: Living as Christians in a Polarized World

Have you ever felt like you're walking through a minefield every time someone brings up current events? The headlines are jarring. And there are so many that I don't even know which ones to share. They are inflammatory, derogatory, and, sometimes, they are less than truthful.

If you've been struggling with how to live faithfully in our current cultural and political climate, or if you find it hard to have meaningful relationships with people you disagree with, you're not alone. Living a life of faith in 2025 is hard, and the challenge of navigating political differences while maintaining our Christian witness has never been more pressing.

The Reality of Our Divided Churches

Research shows that churches in the United States are typically homogenous when it comes to political affiliation. Researcher Ryan Burge writes, "Churchgoers are far less likely today to worship alongside people who vote differently than they do."

But here's what I've observed: churches were once full of people with differing political beliefs, but an exponential shift has gutted the church of people in the middle and churches have largely become filled with those on the extremes, flocking together in echo chambers. When the middle vanished, so did nuance and understanding.

At The Summit, we often say that we've got those who are part of the democratic party, people who are part of the republican party, and we've got people who just like to party. I'm proud of that. We are breaking the norms. But here's the thing: the bulk of Americans don't reside on the fringes, they fall somewhere in the middle. They hold beliefs in tension, they reason thoughtfully, and they refuse to villainize those who believe differently.

What Scripture Says About Authority

This isn't new. Living faithfully in a hostile culture has been a challenge that Jesus followers have faced for centuries. Let's look at what Peter, one of Jesus' disciples who saw the arrest and execution of Jesus first-hand, wrote to believers living in modern-day Turkey. They were raising kids, running businesses, living next door to neighbors who don't share their convictions. Sound familiar?

In 1 Peter 2:13-14a (NLT), we read: "For the Lord's sake, submit to all human authority—whether the king as head of state, or the officials he has appointed."

Remember the context here: Peter is writing to people who are being oppressed and persecuted by their government…and he reminds them to submit. This is the moment where people either puff up because they feel like their side is honored or they bristle because they can't imagine submitting to the current administration.

Resist Polarization

This cultural moment has devolved into something so unhelpful that it's hard to see any redeeming value in public discourse. In his book, Misbelief, psychologist Dan Ariely writes:

"The language that was once reserved for truly repulsive characters—Adolf Hitler, for example—can now be directed at anyone we disagree with. Spend even a few hours on social media reading about the contentious issues of the day, and you'll find dozens of people being called Nazis, fascists, authoritarians, genocidal, and so on. It's no longer enough to say someone has a different view; we now have to make them a villain."

We feel vindicated and validated when we make those who disagree with us our enemies. But to what end? Families are divided. Relationships are broken. And, this is so important, the Kingdom of God suffers when we run to the extremes.

If your thoughts on cultural issues can be easily summed up by one party or the other, the question that should be on your mind is: "Is my faith informing my politics?" Because the way of Jesus is upside down, it's different, it's unexpected. And it can't be claimed by a political party because it's altogether different.

Love as Our Defining Mark

What should define us over and above everything is love. These are the words of Jesus in John 13:35 (NIV): "By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another."

But let's be clear about what love is. Love doesn't mean anything goes. Love doesn't mean lawlessness. Love means treating people with dignity. Love means showing respect. Love means putting the needs of others ahead of our own. Love means all of that…even for people who don't share your opinions!

C'mon…hear this: Love isn't partisan. This is where our ability to bring accountability, even to the candidate and party that we support becomes crucial. No one gets a pass if what they are doing is unloving!

Reorder Your Allegiance: Put Jesus First

1 Peter 2:15,17 (NLT) tells us: "It is God's will that your honorable lives should silence those ignorant people who make foolish accusations against you…Respect everyone, and love the family of believers. Fear God, and respect the king."

Let's be real: lots of things fight for our allegiance. We have a deep desire to be right. We have a desire to bring justice. We want to stand up to injustice. And all of those things are worthy and worthwhile…as long as they don't cost you your faith.

I know lots of faith-filled, faithful people who have studied the issues facing our culture today, bumped them up against how they read and understand Scripture…and they come to different conclusions. Our allegiance to Jesus should be so strong, that villainizing and vilifying other people who are following Jesus should be an impossibility…even if, in our estimation, they are getting it wrong.

Putting It Into Practice

Our world is so small that there is a temptation to live in a state of outrage. There is always an injustice in the world, a wrong that needs to be made right, that we could talk about. But let me encourage you to temper that energy. Instead of being outraged about everything, consider these questions that might guide you when the newscycle gets your attention:

Ask yourself these questions:

• Is this event close enough to home that people I know are directly touched?

• Is it weighty enough that it's at the top of mind for most people?

• Can my faith in action make a distinct impact in this situation?

This can guide us and maybe help us see the times that it makes sense to enter in and the times that it makes sense for us to pause to lament and pray.

Two Ways to Do Better

First, when you are tempted to be outraged, search for an alternative perspective. Our phones and feeds are echo chambers, reinforcing what we already thought was true. We think we're well-informed, but really we're just hearing the side we wanted to hear. How can you get out of this space?

A great suggestion that came out of my small group: trade phones with someone you disagree with. Read their feed, understand what they are seeing and gain new perspectives. Find a news source that offers multiple viewpoints and tells you their angle. I suggest Allsides as one option that tells you whether you are hearing from the right, the left or the center. But most of all, look to the Word for your truth and evaluate everything you come across through the lens of what God says.

Second, engage in God-honoring ways to bring about change. In his book "Jesus and the Powers," NT Wright notes that: "Christianity began a social, legal and moral revolution that still echoes today."

Your faith should be revolutionary. It should be a change-agent. The way you live should make a difference. So, write letters to your government officials. Be part of grassroots movements. Protest to your heart's content. And in all of this, keep that God-honoring part in mind.

This won't be popular with some, but holding up signs with hateful or vulgar phrases or that celebrate the deaths of human beings, regardless of how you see the facts, do not qualify as God-honoring. And when you post or repost on social media, keep in mind that what you say is a reflection of your character and your faith. Be mindful of what memes you share. Because, even if you didn't make them, you are responsible for the content you post.

Thoughtfulness matters. Respect matters. Nuance matters.

Living Differently

We live in a day of pithy posts where there is no tolerance for dissent or nuance. So, my hope for you is this: That your life would be rooted in Jesus. That your love for Jesus would overflow, especially to those you disagree with. And that because of the way you live and love, that the Gospel of Jesus would be made known and that healing and restoration would be the result.

The challenge isn't easy, but it's not new either. Christians have been navigating hostile cultures for centuries, and we can do it too—with love, wisdom, and Jesus at the center of it all.