For consideration:

• Should Christians seek to influence government policy based on their faith, or should they prioritize the common good for all citizens, even if it means compromising on certain beliefs?
• How can Christians demonstrate Christ’s love and truth in the public sphere without resorting to coercive tactics or imposing their values on others?
• What are the dangers of pursuing ideological hegemony, whether religious or secular, in a democratic society? Can this ever lead to true freedom and flourishing?

Christianity and Politics

Christianity and politics—now, that’s a huge conversation. There’s a lot of confusion about where faith fits into the public sphere, and it often centers around the phrase “separation of church and state.” I see this misrepresented time and time again, particularly by those who seem eager to silence Christians from voicing their opinions. But let me be emphatic about this: Christians must engage in the political process.

The big question Christians face in a representative form of government is whether the goal should be to create a Christian nation (a theocracy) or to work toward the common good of all citizens. Should Christians, like anyone else participating in democracy, seek to enforce their values as the law of the land, or should they engage in the political process with a focus on what benefits society as a whole? This question isn’t limited to Christians—those with other ideological commitments, including woke ideologues, face the same dilemma. Are we aiming for hegemony, where one worldview dominates, or are we striving for a system that allows for diverse opinions and solutions? If we pursue ideological hegemony, be it Christian or secular, it inevitably requires authoritarian tactics to enforce conformity, leading us down the path toward totalitarianism. True freedom, and a functioning democracy, requires the coexistence of differing perspectives and the pursuit of the common good, not dominance by any one group.

Civic Totalism is where the State is invested with all power and seeks to regulate as much of public and private life as possible. – Stephen Macedo

For Christians, there’s something crucial for us to understand: we aren’t here to dominate or legislate our faith onto others. It’s about presenting and contending for ideas. The political arena is a marketplace of ideas, and everyone, including Christians, should be competing for influence, not coercion. In a healthy democracy, the hope is that rational discourse will lead to collective decisions that promote the common good—not just our good, but a good that benefits all.

Persuasion, Not Force

Authoritarianism—forcing others to follow Christian principles by law—doesn’t align with the Christian ethos. Putting it simply, Christianity is not a religion of coercion; it’s a faith that grows and transforms by example. Christ didn’t come to establish a theocratic state or a political regime; he came to show us how to live through his actions. The early church didn’t command Rome to outlaw abandoning children—they simply went out and saved those children. This is the crux of it: Christians are called to live in a way that transforms society by example, not by decree.

What’s often missed is that Christianity has always existed in a world filled with contrasting, often hostile ideologies. The early church didn’t seek to dominate their pagan surroundings through legal codes; they transformed it by the way they lived. They didn’t say, “Don’t abandon your kids!” They just went and rescued those who were abandoned. That’s influence through action, not force.

“Many that live deserve death. And some that die deserve life. Can you give it to them? Then do not be too eager to deal out death in judgment. For even the very wise cannot see all ends.” – Gandalf in The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring.

Even benevolent authoritarianism is a dangerous path, no matter how well-intentioned. The phrase “the road to hell is paved with good intentions” rings true because even when we aim to do good, we are still flawed human beings, prone to error and blind spots in our judgment. Authoritarian control, even under the guise of benevolence, risks imposing solutions that may seem right in theory but can lead to unintended consequences in practice. Human nature, with its tendency toward power, pride, and control, can easily distort noble aims, causing harm rather than promoting the common good. A system that allows individuals to make their own choices—guided by wisdom, truth, and moral principles—respects their dignity and limits the dangers of unchecked authority. We must be vigilant, aware that the best intentions can still produce tyranny if they are not tempered by humility, accountability, and an understanding of our inherent human limitations.

A Common Good

Now, don’t get me wrong. There is a concept of the “common good,” a moral foundation that transcends religious lines. Murder is wrong—whether you’re Christian, Jewish, or atheist, we can all agree on that. Even cannibals believe killing within their own tribe is wrong. So, in that sense, there are some shared moral truths that ought to be legislated. But Christian morality, especially on matters of personal conduct and behavior, should not be imposed on others through the rule of law.

Let’s take a nuanced view here. If we’re not careful, pushing for “Christian laws” in every facet of life leads us to one central question: which version of Christianity are we trying to enforce? Protestant? Catholic? Even within Christianity, we have disagreements, for instance, on contraception. The Catholic Church prohibits it; most Protestant denominations don’t. Should we legislate that, too?

“Sure, limiting the freedoms of your political rivals sounds terrific, as long as your political tribe remains permanently in power. But the erasure of liberties will come back to haunt you when political power lands in the hands of another political tribe, one that is perhaps nefarious, nationalistic and nakedly undemocratic. Then you will be wishing for limits on the state power and the general freedom of the citizenry.” N. T. Wright

We must contend for the common good, not Christian hegemony, recognizing that a healthy society is built on shared values rather than the imposition of a singular religious framework. N.T. Wright, in his book Jesus and the Powers, makes a compelling case for this approach. He argues that Jesus’ message was not about enforcing a top-down religious rule, but about transforming society through self-giving love and justice that serves all, not just Christians. While some may have theological disagreements with Wright, it’s crucial to evaluate this argument on its own merits. His insights highlight the importance of Christians engaging in the political and cultural arenas with the aim of promoting human flourishing, rather than forcing Christian dominance. By working toward a common good, we respect the freedom of all individuals and invite them into the richness of Christian love through our example, not through coercion.

You Can’t Legislate Transformation

Here’s the thing—laws don’t change hearts. That is the gospel’s message.  The early church knew that. Jesus knew that. We live by example, and in doing so, we open the door for others to follow Christ, not because they’re forced to, but because they’re drawn to the truth we live out. We can’t drag people kicking and screaming into the Kingdom of God. That’s not how transformation works.

In the New Testament, Paul consistently speaks out against the law as a means to salvation, emphasizing that righteousness comes through faith in Christ, not adherence to legalistic codes. In letters like Galatians and Romans, Paul makes it clear that the law serves to reveal human sinfulness, but it is powerless to save us. Salvation is a gift of grace, not something we can earn through strict obedience to rules. So, if Paul, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, warns against using the law as a pathway to salvation, how can we justify attempting to legislate people into Christianity?

To do so would be antithetical to the central message of the gospel—that salvation is by grace through faith, not by works or compliance to legal mandates (Ephesians 2:8-9). Christianity is about heart transformation, not mere behavioral conformity. Trying to legislate people into Christian morality risks turning faith into a set of external rules that people follow out of obligation, rather than an internal relationship with Christ. This distorts the gospel, reducing it to a moral code enforced by human laws rather than a life-giving truth that changes people from the inside out.

“…using religion to manufacture social and ethnic homogeneity is doomed to give sanction to prejudice and to weaponize religion in the hands of wicked actors.” NT Wright

People should be free to make their own choices, even if those choices don’t align with Christian teaching. Take, for example, the issue of same-sex marriage. If two men or two women want to marry, live together, and have a relationship—well, that’s on them. The early church lived in societies far more sexually permissive than our own. Yet, they didn’t force change through laws—they lived a life that people saw as attractive alternative to the hedonism of the day.

People will often say I am being soft on truth.  I’m not saying we shouldn’t speak the truth about sin. But here’s the key: we speak truth in love. And we live out that truth with grace and compassion. After all, no one was more radical in his truth-telling than Jesus, and yet he never forced anyone to follow him. He led by love and truth, not by coercion. We should do the same.

Freedom and Responsibility

Let’s talk about freedom for a moment. We live in a free society, and with freedom comes responsibility. If someone wants to live a particular lifestyle—whether it’s related to gender, sexuality, or any other personal decision—that’s between them and their Creator. We may disagree. We may even believe their actions are sinful. But the last thing we should be doing is trying to legislate people into living Christian lives.

Why? Because forcing someone to comply with a set of rules doesn’t make them a Christian. It doesn’t change their heart. Christianity is about transformation from the inside out. If we focus on forcing people to act Christian without actually becoming Christian, we’re not making disciples—we’re making hypocrites.

“An alternative to civic totalism is a healthy account of human rights and responsibilities rooted in something more stable and enduring than the ever-progressing outrage of a vocal minority.” N. T. Wright

And hypocrisy is one of the greatest threats to our witness in the world today. When Christians preach one thing but live another, we lose all credibility. So why are we trying to force others into behaviors that even we struggle to live out? We should be living lives that draw people in, not lives that push people away.

A Call to Live by Example

So what’s the solution? Simple: we live by example. We demonstrate the truth and beauty of the Christian life through our actions, our love, and our willingness to engage others in honest, respectful conversations. We should boldly speak the truth, but we must do so with love and humility.

Let’s not be hypocrites. Let’s love truth. Let’s love our neighbor. Let’s love God. And let’s show the world what a life transformed by Christ really looks like. It’s not about force. It’s about persuasion, about drawing people into the Kingdom by showing them the life of love that only Christ can offer.

In the end, it’s the power of persuasion, not force, that will win hearts and minds. That’s the real challenge—and the real calling—of the Christian in today’s world. Live the life. Speak the truth. And trust that the rest is in God’s hands.

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Excerpt

The true challenge for Christians in the public square is persuasion, not force. Instead of striving for a Christian theocracy, we must work toward the common good, reflecting Christ’s love through our actions. Hearts are transformed by grace, not legal mandates, and by living as examples, not enforcers.