Engaging our youth to think biblically about politics
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How to ask our youth diagnostic questions to encourage biblically informed decisions in the political climate
I have a clear memory from election day in 1996. I was 13 years old and a junior Sunday-School leader at the time. Our team was on our way to a training day. Our Youth Minister remarked to the leaders who were over 18 saying “I hope you all remembered to vote,” before turning to me and saying, “You don’t have to worry about that Jenn.” To which I replied, “I wish I could vote, because I really want John Howard to win!”. Shocked to see someone so young be so outspoken about politics, -and conservative politics at that, he replied, “Most people keep their vote a secret”.
That’s when I realised that the house I grew up in wasn’t as normal as I’d thought!
Some of my earliest memories are political discussions at the dinner table, -so it’s safe to say politics, (or at least arm-chair politics) runs in my DNA.
Where my political engagement and interest made me a teenaged-outlier back in 1996, the information age has seen the young people in our churches more and more engaged in political debate (and at times, disagreements). The belief that “young people don’t care about politics” is just not true! All you need to do is take a look at this generation’s influences – Kanye running for president, Taylor Swift making pro-Biden cupcakes, and millions of people tweeting about wanting to see the US Presidential debate on Joe Rogan’s podcast - to see that the youth are being politically influenced. The question isn’t if young people care about politics, it’s how young people can be caring and careful as they engage in politics.
This week, as America is about to have the most contentious election day in its history (and remember, the outcome of the 2000 election had to go all the way to the US Supreme court!), politics may again be on the agenda for discussion in your youth groups and youth small groups.
So how can we encourage young people to engage politically in a loving way? How does the gospel help us negotiate these rough waters?
Below are a few ways the gospel helps us be wise as we engage politically with one another.
1. Common identity, not identity politics
Underpinning everything we do as Christians is the fact that we are called into a family of believers. Among the manifold blessings of union in Christ is a shared identity along with him, and all Christians, as children of God (1 John 3:1). This has huge implications for a world so influenced by identity politics – which classes people into groups and pits those groups at odds with one another. Paul warned against such groupings in the Corinthian church (1 Corinthians 3: 3-4). Of course, in Paul’s context he’s warning against sects following a church leader, but that doesn’t mean we’re not in danger of splintering along political lines, too.
Diagnostic Questions:
Are the youth in your church in danger of identifying more with a political figure than with Christ? Will these identifications risk splintering the group?
A verse that might help is Galatians 3:26-28:
“So in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith, for all of you who were baptised into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.”
2. Union with diversity, not division
Our common identity in Christ doesn’t mean that we are all the same. The body of Christ metaphor makes it abundantly clear that in the Church, there is union with diversity. The same can be said for the particular personalities and characteristics of the church as well. To take a more benign example than one from the world of politics – I have absolutely no interest in rugby league. Should I break fellowship with my Christian brother because he literally wears the jersey of a team I don’t relate to? Should he break fellowship with me because I cannot understand why someone would watch any football game, let alone go and sit in the freezing cold rain to do so? I hope not!
Then why would our political team stripes be any different?
Diagnostic Questions:
Are the youth in your church able to appreciate that diversity does not mean division? Or can you see the beginnings of fracturing along political lines?
A verse that can help is 1 Corinthians 12:27:
“Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it.”
3. Understanding, not judgement
The polarisation of political discourse has had the effect of turning political debate from a discussion of ideas to a pantomime of competing caricatures. The left paints the right as hell-bent on fulfilling the prophecy of Margaret Atwood’s Handmaid’s tale, creating Gillead in the real world. Whereas the right paints the left as ready to hand over the keys to Alexandrea Ocasio Cortez to usher in a socialist era akin to life under Stalin. Neither are accurate representations of the other.
Instead of judging one’s political opinions based on what you believe them to be, why not ask why they, specifically, are drawn towards the political party that they are.
For Christians, instead of writing off one side as “non-Christian” and upholding the other as “God’s true way”, why not ask one another why the policies of one party has led them to believe that they are the better choice.
Diagnostic Questions:
Have you heard the youth in your church say things like “Christians shouldn’t vote for…”, or “Christians can’t support…”? What kinds of questions could you ask them to help them see things from an opposing point of view?
A passage that can help is Paul’s sermon at the Areopagus (Acts 17:16-32). Here he was presented with a thoroughly different worldview, and engaged with it in such a way that he didn’t alienate his listeners, but enabled them to understand so much so that while some did scoff, some others asked to hear more.
4. Ultimate kingship, not temporary rulers
When we vote, we think we’re voting for someone permanent, whose legacy will last a lifetime. But the reality is that political terms are limited. Be they the 8 years maximum that a US president can sit, or through elections (or in the Australian case, party-room dealings). As a case in point, do you remember Kevin ’07 and how he was going to change our nation? Poor old Kevin didn’t even see out a full 3-year term in office!
Underpinning this, of course, is God’s sovereignty. As Psalm 22:28 tells us that God is the true ruler over the nation and Proverbs 21:1 reminds us that God turns the King’s heart wherever he wills it.
Diagnostic Questions:
Are the youth in your church so focused on the current political climate that they’re in danger of losing sight of the big picture of Christ’s ultimate rule and God’s sovereignty? How can you help them fix their eyes on Jesus as the one on whom all authority rests?
A helpful verse would be the great commission (Matthew 28:16-20). Not only does Jesus affirm that all authority in heaven and on earth has been given to him, but he tells us what to do next – and it’s not about political overhaul, it’s about making disciples of Jesus!
A final word: submit, honour and pray
Romans 13:1 reminds us to submit to governing authorities. While we may not agree with every decision they make, we can trust in God’s sovereign plan in giving us the rulers that he has. 1 Peter 2:17 commands us to honour our rulers. I am the first to admit I need to repent of some of the ways I have spoken about political figures with whom I have disagreed.
Moreover, we are also encouraged in 1 Timothy 2:1-4 to pray. Whatever happens in the coming weeks and months, both locally and globally, God calls on us to pray for those in authority, ultimately so that nothing will hinder people coming to a knowledge of the truth. Are you encouraging your youth to pray like this? Are you praying like this yourself?
