When it comes to politics, perspectives on vital issues of the day are driven by 24-hour news cycles, power brokers, spin doctors, and even truth-seekers who end up with wildly divergent perspectives on reality. In these head-spinning times, how do evangelical believers and leaders steward and work for a more caring and just world?
For decades, the National Association of Evangelicals has equipped evangelicals to bear witness to God’s unchanging presence and principles in a complex and turbulent world. By word and example, the NAE has sought to follow Jesus’ practice of engaging and honoring governing authorities while not bowing to political parties, platforms or ideologies of the day.
Evangelicals believe God has created all people in his image and calls us to participate in the just and compassionate governance of society. We fulfill this calling in various ways — through our marriages, families and relationships, and also by engaging in civic organizations, politics or government service.
Our Policy Platform
At the NAE, both the content and posture of our civic engagement is guided by biblical revelation and the example of Jesus. The NAE’s public policy platform, “For the Health of the Nation: An Evangelical Call to Civic Responsibility,” identifies eight themes that guide our principled engagement. Unlike political party platforms, these commitments don’t change from one election season to the next, but are grounded in the Word of God.
- Protecting Religious Freedom and Liberty of Conscience
- Safeguarding the Nature and Sanctity of Human Life
- Strengthening Marriages, Families and Children
- Seeking Justice and Compassion for the Poor and Vulnerable
- Preserving Human Rights
- Pursuing Racial Justice and Reconciliation
- Promoting Just Peace and Restraining Violence
- Caring for God’s Creation
This platform has been broadly affirmed by evangelicals across the political spectrum. As Philip Ryken, president of Wheaton College, said, “The National Association of Evangelicals stands for biblically faithful, culturally relevant gospel witness across a healthy spectrum of Christian conviction. The advocacy positions that the NAE maintains in its beautiful statement ‘For the Health of the Nation’ serve as a reference point for evangelical institutions, with the potential to unify the evangelical church and heal our nation.”
There are many strategies for pursuing each of these issues. People of good will and even those who share a common evangelical faith often disagree on what to emphasize or how to proceed. We need to study issues deeply, and even then, acknowledge the limits of our knowledge and wisdom. This humility will temper any tendency to arrogance, deception and triumphalism as we engage with fellow Christians as well as people of other faiths or no faith.
Politicians rarely, if ever, fully align with the public policy agenda described in “For the Health of the Nation.” For example, those who support greater protection for the unborn sometimes oppose measures that would help vulnerable parents who choose life. Likewise, those working for a stronger safety net for the poor may undermine the religious freedom of faith-based charities that provide vital social services and gospel-centered transformation for those experiencing homelessness or battling addictions.
Building Coalitions Without Compromise
In this environment we must engage with respect and integrity across multiple differences. Evangelicals make up nearly one-fifth of the voting age population, so no initiative will win a majority based solely on our support. We must pursue cooperation without compromise. Indeed, the strongest coalitions often consist of “strange bedfellows” who may disagree on many issues but come together on an issue of shared concern.
A prime example of this was the nearly unanimous passage of the Religious Freedom Restoration Act (RFRA), the most important statutory protection of religious freedom for all Americans. This success, nearly 30 years ago, came through a coalition that included the NAE and the ACLU, two groups that frequently disagree. The breadth of our coalition was key to passing this vital bill.
Being involved in a coalition does not mean endorsing everything each coalition partner does or says. Receiving support from a donor does not imply agreement with every other recipient of that donor’s funds. Christians can confidently engage with fellow citizens from diverse religious, political or ideological backgrounds because we know that Jesus is Lord and that, ultimately, God’s truth will prevail. Christians can and should engage on a spectrum of issues because we believe the Bible offers guidance and hope in even the most daunting challenges we face as a nation.
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Galen Carey, NAE vice president of government relations, is responsible for representing the NAE before Congress, the White House and the courts. He works to advance the approach and principles of the NAE document, “For the Health of the Nation.” He is also co-author with Leith Anderson of “Faith in the Voting Booth.” Before joining the NAE staff, Carey was a longtime employee of World Relief, the relief and development arm of the NAE, serving in Croatia, Mozambique, Kenya, Indonesia and Burundi. He received an M.Div. from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School, and a Doctor of Ministry from McCormick Theological Seminary.
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