I recently wrote about some of the results of the 2025 State of Theology Survey published by Ligonier Ministries and Lifeway Research. The results were pretty appalling and showed a lack of biblical knowledge, discipleship, and consistency within the beliefs of supposed Evangelicals. But there was one statement on the survey, reworded from previous years, that I wanted to focus on here in a separate article—and it’s about politics.
Survey respondents were asked to either strongly agree, somewhat agree, somewhat disagree, or strongly disagree with the following statement (or they could select “not sure”): “Christians should not allow their religious beliefs to influence their political decisions.”
Over half (54%) of US adults agreed with this statement. Filtered for those with Evangelical beliefs, the number dropped . . . but only to 29%. That means nearly 1 in 3 supposed Evangelicals does not believe that their religious beliefs should impact their political decisions. They don’t understand what a truly biblical worldview is.
Ironically, at the same time, 95% of the same group believe that “The Bible has the authority to tell us what we must do.” So the Bible has the authority to tell us what to do—unless it’s a political decision. That’s inconsistent nonsense!
This idea that our beliefs shouldn’t impact our politics stems from the lie that there is such a thing as neutrality. But there is no neutrality. Scripture makes this plain.
Matthew 12:30 reads, “Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters.”
Politics is legislated morality. And morality is the result of your worldview. Leftists legalize the murder of unborn children, the genital mutilation of children and teens, and the perversion of marriage and sexuality because of their worldview (their religion). They believe that absolute personal autonomy is the highest good, and they legislate in accordance with this belief. They are not neutral, nor are they parking their religious beliefs at the door when they vote, propose legislation, or sign bills into law. They are actively employing their religion in the decisions they make.
Christians must do the same. We cannot leave our Christian beliefs—our biblical worldview—at the door when we engage in politics as a citizen or as a politician. We’re not neutral, and neither is the sphere we’re entering. We’re to seek the good of the nation we’re in and use our influence to be salt and light for such a time as this as we do the King’s business until he returns.
Allie Beth Stuckey (who has spoken at past Answers in Genesis conferences) frequently says on her podcast, “Politics matter because policy matters because people matter.” That’s true. Christians should neither be “above politics” so that they make no impact on the future of this country (though they also must not, of course, resort to the sinful practices often employed in politics!) nor so involved in politics that their entire hope is wrapped up in elections and legislation. We recognize that what happens in the White House matters but God is sovereign over the affairs of men.
Don’t buy the lie that your religious beliefs don’t matter at the ballot box or in the halls of your state capitol. Everyone has a religion, and it’s folly to pretend otherwise. Christians need to be light and salt in politics.
