Talking about politics in CG (?)

It’s tough times out there, politically speaking, and tough to know how to speak about politics without getting it terribly wrong. However, Vintage turned to 1 Peter this fall because we knew God could use it to counsel us through this fraught season. That might seem like a stretch; when Peter was writing to the “elect exiles of the Dispersion” (1 Peter 1:1), he likely couldn’t have imagined the sort of representative democracy in which U.S. Christian live today. However, Peter’s word to an exiled community on how to live as citizens of heaven is precisely what we need to hear today, and below you’ll see some of the practical guidance from 1 Peter for having political conversations that honor God and foster unity.

To this you might ask, should community groups be talking about politics? Certainly not to the detriment or exclusion of other topics, particularly more eternal subjects, but if we want to love our neighbors (Mark 12:31), render to Caesar what is Caesar’s (Matt 22:21), and participate in the government that God has assigned us (Rom 13:1), then we’ll have to figure out how to engage in politics, and what better place to do this than among our brothers and sisters in Christ? In all other confusing and important issues, the people of God are the ones with whom I want to be able to think out loud. Below are some ways to do that.

1. Keep Jesus at the center

When discussing politics, it’s infuriatingly easy to get swallowed up in party lines, policies, and debates. However, our identity and security are not found in a political party but in Christ. As 1 Peter 2:9 says, “But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his possession.” Our ultimate allegiance is to Jesus, not to any political ideology or partisan affiliation. Particularly if a conversation among Christians gets heated, be sure to return to what it means to follow Christ faithfully in the political landscape rather than fixating on specific partisan arguments. The below points are mostly just elaborations on this first one.

2. Stay humble

1 Peter repeatedly calls believers to humility (5:5-6), and this quality is vital for us in political discussions. A posture of humility helps us admit we don’t have perfect insights into complex political issues (especially on issues we just read about yesterday). It also helps us listen carefully and understand other perspectives before responding (Prov 17:27). Ephesians 4:2 calls us to act “with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love.” This should be our objective always, even when we disagree.

3. Discern when and how to engage

Not every political issue needs to be discussed in a community group setting, and some group members may not be ready or willing to engage on certain topics. Be sure to be thoughtful about your group’s readiness for certain conversations. If tensions rise or the conversation becomes divisive, it may be best to redirect or pause the discussion. Regarding political engagement, 1 Peter 2:17 says, “Honor everyone. Love the brothers and sisters. Fear God. Honor the emperor.” There we see a balance of respect for others and for political realities.

4. Focus on biblical principles, not partisan politics

While politics at this moment in time are polarizing and dissonant, the Bible provides a timeless framework for how we should think about justice, mercy, stewardship, and human dignity rooted in the character of God (1 Pet 1:16). Frame discussions around biblical principles rather than specific political stances. For instance, you can discuss how to best seek justice according to the command of Micah 6:8, rather than merely debating partisan talking points about justice. This approach helps keep conversations rooted in Scripture and encourages group members to think biblically and critically rather than just politically.

5. Focus on the ‘How’ just as much as the ‘What’

I’m stealing this idea from Curtis Chang’s The After Party: for Christians, how we engage in politics is just as important as what gets accomplished in politics. Winning a political debate or election by not being loving, gentle, or patient means we’ve actually lost. We are called to holiness by a holy God (1 Pet 1:16), which involves abstaining from our passions and conducting ourselves honorably (2:11-12). In an era when insults and deception are the norm, this will require swimming upstream, but we should enter even the smallest conversation sobered by knowing that judgment starts first with the household of God (4:17).

6. Embrace the tension of living as exiles

1 Peter frequently reminds us that we are exiles and strangers in this world (1 Pet 1:1; 2:11). This status means that our values and priorities may not align perfectly with any political party or platform, and in an era when political parties actively want you to derive your identity from partisan affiliation, that makes it hard to find a place to stand. Nevertheless, we can embrace this tension, recognizing that Christians may arrive at different conclusions about how to apply biblical principles in the political realm. Acknowledging our status as exiles helps prevent us from becoming too entrenched in worldly, temporary political divisions, because one day our exile will be over.

7. Encourage unity amidst diversity

The church is a diverse body with members from various backgrounds, cultures, and political leanings. This diversity is a strength, not a weakness, particularly in how it reminds us that only God, not some shared ideology or affiliation, has made us a unified people for his own possession (1 Pet 2:9). As evidenced throughout the New Testament, unity in Christ can draw people together who would never be caught dead associating with one another. In this context we can “be like-minded and sympathetic, love one another, and be compassionate and humble” (3:8), and in such a way that should startled a divided world.

8. Pray Together

Lastly, all things in prayer (1 Thess 5:17). Pray for wisdom, humility, and guidance; pray for unity in your group, our church, our broader communities, and the nation. Also, pray for the leaders of your nation: “I urge that petitions, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for everyone, for kings and all those who are in authority” (1 Tim 2:1-2). We saw the command in 1 Peter 2:17 to honor the emperor, and there is no greater honor you can do to a leader than to bring their needs and concerns before the King of Kings. Similarly, nothing unifies the people of God more than when we all bow before our one Lord and Father.

Conclusion
Navigating political territory, particularly with those we love and spend time with, is no small feat. Even with the above guidance the road will still be hard, but armed with the mind of Christ (1 Pet 4:1) we can, unlike the current political climate, successfully “maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace” (Eph 4:3). There’s no greater gift we can give to our neighbors or our community group members than striving for this unity. And as we imitate Christ and pursue holy, honorable lives, I think we’ll find even our political conversations yielding significantly better outcomes.

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