Faith in the public square: Why your voice matters

First Christian Church of Chicago
Jan 5
2 min read

In recent years, a quiet but dangerous idea has taken root: that the "separation of church and state" means people of faith—and especially their leaders—should remain silent in the political arena. But this is a misunderstanding of both our history and our calling.

The "wall of separation" was never intended to build a prison for the conscience. Instead, it was designed to protect the church from state interference, ensuring that no government could coerce religious belief. Critically, the establishment clause separates the institution of the church from the institution of the state, but it does not separate religion from politics or public life.

The Prophetic Role of the Pastor

Pastoral voices are not just "another opinion" in the noise; they carry a unique responsibility to speak truth to power. Throughout history, from the abolition of slavery to the Civil Rights Movement, pastoral leadership has been the moral compass that steered the nation toward justice.

When pastors speak on policy—whether it’s defending the sanctity of life, advocating for the poor, or seeking justice for the marginalized—they aren't "playing politics." They are fulfilling a biblical mandate to be salt and light.

Policy Over Partisanship

While the church must be involved, there is a narrow and difficult path to walk. The goal of the Christian voice is to shape policy, not foster partisanship.

Policy is about the "what"—the laws and principles that govern our neighbors’ well-being.

Partisanship is about the "who"—the "us vs. them" mentality that demands total loyalty to a party platform or a specific candidate. When the church hitches its wagon to a single political party, it risks losing its prophetic edge. A pastoral voice should be free to praise a policy that aligns with the Kingdom of God and equally free to critique that same party when it falls short of biblical standards. Our primary allegiance is to the King of Kings, not a political donkey or elephant.

"The Church must be reminded that it is not the master or the servant of the state, but rather the conscience of the state." — Martin Luther King Jr.

A Call to Gracious Engagement

Being "political" doesn't have to mean being "polarized." We are called to engage the public square with a "theologically based humility." This means:

Leading with Scripture: Grounding our arguments in the character of God rather than partisan talking points.
Prioritizing People: Seeing policy through the lens of the Imago Dei—the belief that every person is made in the image of God.
Modeling Civility: In an age of outrage, the Christian voice should be the most reasonable, gracious, and firm in the room.

We don't speak up because we want power; we speak up because we love our neighbors. Silence in the face of injustice isn't "neutrality"—it’s a choice. Let’s use our voices to seek the peace and prosperity of the city where God has planted us.