R ecently , a denominational leader said to me that the best thing the Church could do to handle the challenges of this cultural moment would be to “ stay in its lane .” The so-called “ culture wars ” have been too grueling , he said . The Church is primarily called to spread the Gospel , so when it comes to the most controversial issues , the best strategy is non-confrontation in order to focus on what is most important .
I think I know what he meant . Some Christians do overemphasize politics , and politics make for a lousy worldview . In a culture without better answers to life ’ s biggest questions , politics too easily assume the place of God , determining everything from our values to our sources of truth to whom we ’ re willing to associate with . When Christians embrace a political identity rather than a Kingdom identity , the riches of Christ are exchanged for the porridge of political gamesmanship .
However , telling the Church to just “ stay in our lane ” and out of politics is an equally unhelpful answer . Typically , the “ stay in your lane ” mandate is only applied to unpopular issues like abortion , marriage and family , or religious freedom . No one ever tells the Church to stop fighting against sex trafficking , or to no longer dig wells for communities without fresh water , or to cease sustainable economic development in impoverished nations . Christians should absolutely engage worthy causes because the Lordship of Christ and the implications of the Gospel demand it , not because they are deemed culturally uncontroversial .
Historically , the Church ’ s shining moments have often come in direct conflict with dominant cultural beliefs and practice . The Roman world needed Christians to take in abandoned
HE IS BEFORE ALL THINGS , AND IN HIM ALL THINGS HOLD TOGETHER . COLOSSIANS 1 : 17
children and oppose the gladiatorial games , precisely because the pressure was enormous to do exactly the opposite . When we engage with culturally acceptable causes but “ stay in our lane ” on unpopular ones , we fail the tests of courage and integrity . It also exposes a Church that loves the approval of our neighbors more than we love them and wants to fill pews more than practice what is good and true .
Also , every law and state action reflects a worldview and is based on consequential assumptions about human value , the nature and purpose of sex , what and how children should be raised , the scope of the state , and a million other things . The question is never whether politics will operate from worldview assumptions but from which worldview they will operate . Systems that value work , protect human life , and allow for dissenting voices instead of silencing them will always be superior to systems that don ’ t . Therefore , Christians should engage the political “ lane ” as a way to love God and to love our neighbors .
However , the biggest issue with this “ stay in your lane ” approach to the Church is the question of what exactly the Christian lane is in the first place . Dutch statesman and theologian Abraham Kuyper put it best : “ There is not a square inch in the whole domain of our human existence over which Christ , who is Sovereign over all , does not cry , ‘ Mine !’” In other words , because the head of the Church is Christ , who is Lord of everything , Christ ’ s lane is the entire cosmos .
The Scriptures are clear on this . The Apostle Paul states in Colossians 1 that Christ is “ before all things , and in Him all things hold together .” God was pleased through Christ “ to reconcile to Himself all things , whether things on earth or things in heaven , by making peace through His blood , shed on the cross .” This means it all belongs to Him . Christian musicians should make music as if God is sitting next to them on the piano bench . Christian bakers should make sourdough as if God is going to have a slice . Christian citizens of a democratic republic should strive , with humility and wisdom , to influence and govern and live together as if Christ is over it all , because He is . We contend for the wellbeing of our neighbors , even when it is unpopular . The question isn ’ t whether Christians should engage politically but whether we will do it well . We don ’ t live in a theocracy , and pastors aren ’ t policy makers . But Christians are to apply God ’ s truth about everything to everything .
So , Christian , stay in your lane : Do the good works which God has ordained for us to do from the foundations of the world . Just know that they encompass every conceivable aspect of human existence . ■
John Stonestreet serves as president of the Colson Center for Christian Worldview . He ’ s a sought-after author and speaker on areas of faith and culture , theology , worldview , education , and apologetics . John is the daily voice of BreakPoint , the nationally syndicated commentary on the culture founded by the late Chuck Colson . He is also the voice of The Point , a daily one-minute feature on worldview , apologetics , and cultural issues .
Kasey Leander is a Breakpoint Contributor at the Colson Center for Christian Worldview . He holds a BA in History and PPE ( Politics , Philosophy , and Economics ) from Taylor University and a Certificate in Theological Studies from Oxford University .
Copyright © 2023 by the Colson Center for Christian Worldview . Reprinted from Breakpoint . org with permission .
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