Modern Christian theology has been simultaneously too political and not political enough. I know that’s a hard sentence to take in, but let me explain. On the one hand, there are Christians who are almost entirely consumed by political interests, while on the other hand, there are Christians who almost entirely neglect political interests. The first seem to always take on the attributes of worldly politics, while the latter seem to forget altogether that we live in this world. I think both miss the mark. We need to be clear-eyed about what’s happening in this world so that accomplish the mission of God’s Kingdom.

I think it was this vision that the apostle Peter spoke to when he called us “strangers and exiles” in this world (1 Peter 2:11), and I think Daniel’s life in Babylon provides a picture of what that looks like. He served under foreign kings without forgetting his true allegiance to the Lord. Christians today are confronted by the same tension: we inhabit this world’s nations, and so cannot fully withdraw from them, but yet we belong to a kingdom that is not of this world (John 18:36).

Therefore, we must answer two important questions. First, how should Christians approach entering the political world? Second, how should a Christian use their political rights and privileges as citizens?

Entering the Political World

Scripture makes clear that God calls different people to different kinds of work. Joseph served in Pharaoh’s court. Daniel and his friends served in Babylon’s government. And all the way into the New Testament, we find believers in Caesar’s household (Philippians 4:22). So, I’ve come to the place in my thinking that we must neither forbid political service, nor mistake the politics of this world for the Kingdom of God. Therefore, it’s not unthinkable that God may call some Christians into political service.

Yet we must remember the warning: “Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them” (Ephesians 5:11). The political realm is not neutral; it is often shaped by ambition, deception, and compromise. A Christian cannot lay aside the Lord’s commandments for the sake of political gain. We must walk as children of light in the midst of darkness. This means truth-telling when lies are easier, mercy when cruelty is expected, and integrity when compromise is rewarded. Anyone entering politics must do so with eyes wide open to the spiritual dangers, convinced they are called by God, and committed to serving with the fear of the Lord rather than the fear of man.

This neither means that Christians “should” or “shouldn’t” engage in politics. I don’t believe that we can bind either answer on anyone. Instead, it means that God is free to will and to work as he so desires. If God would have one of his own enter into some role for some purpose, then who are we to stay God’s hand? However, we will know when such is the hand of God when it leads by the word of God. Anyone claiming to be led by God who does not abide in the word of God is showing themselves to be deceived. Therefore, we must humble ourselves before the providence of God and walk circumspectly wherever God leads us in this world.

Using Our Rights and Privileges as Citizens

Most believers are not called to government office but still live as citizens under earthly laws. Here the tension is just as real. Paul reminds us, “Those who use the world [should live] as though they did not make full use of it. For this world in its current form is passing away” (1 Corinthians 7:31).

This doesn’t mean Christians must abstain from voting, advocacy, or civic participation. Rather, it means we engage with these things in light of the kingdom of God. We do not put our hope in political parties or human rulers. We do not treat political victories as the triumph of Christ’s reign, nor political defeats as the failure of his kingdom. Our citizenship is heavenly (Philippians 3:20), and that reality reshapes our earthly priorities.

Some Christians may feel compelled to vote or advocate on certain issues; others may feel convicted to abstain. Both must seek the Lord, act from faith, and avoid judging one another (Romans 14:5–13). The real danger is not whether we vote or abstain but whether we allow ourselves to be swept up in the currents of hatred, division, and idolatry that dominate the political landscape. When our affections and interests become centered in this world, they become the means by which we are ensnared by the world. So our affections and interests must be firmly centered in those of God’s Kingdom.

Living as Sojourners

Whether in office or in everyday citizenship, the call is the same: do not be entangled in the affairs of this world as though they were ultimate. We can serve faithfully in our appointed roles, but always as sojourners, never as settlers. The kingdom of God remains our priority, and his justice, mercy, and truth must guide us wherever we are placed.

Like Daniel, we live in exile, serving where we must, resisting where we must, and always remembering that the kingdoms of this world are passing away—but the reign of Christ is everlasting.