Civic Engagement in the Wake of Political Ignorance

In the United States, governing power is ultimately vested in the people—We the People, as the Preamble of the Constitution refers to us. Yet, in recent times, the people, particularly the Christian people, have become largely unaware of how our government works and how we are to engage with it. We drive on its roads. We drink its water. We call 9-1-1 when we’re in life-threatening trouble. We fly in and out of its airports. Yet, for all of this, our government, especially at the state and local levels, seems of little importance to us. We have forgotten it because, most of the time, it is invisible to us. And yet, behind this nameless, faceless obscurity, the routine of governance churns onward and forward.

For some time now, we Christians have sailed in the wake of political ignorance. But national events have alerted us that it is time for a change. After the attempted assassination of then-campaigning President Trump, Americans voted in record numbers. And after the assassination of Charlie Kirk, American Christians now desire to engage with our culture and with our government. It is time for civic engagement. But what is civic engagement, and, as Christians, what are we supposed to do?

Civic engagement refers to individuals interacting with the realm of civil government. That is simple enough on the surface. But, as Christians, we may need to think differently than the status quo regarding interaction with our government. Jesus highlights the two greatest commandments—loving God and loving our neighbor—as the framework that connects all of Scripture. Because love is an orientation of the will (as opposed to a sentimental feeling), loving our neighbor in the civil realm is Christian civic engagement. In this context, law and policy become a means of blessing our neighbor. The result is good laws and good policies, which bring order and blessing to communities, states, and nations.

Approximately half a century ago, Christian philosopher Francis Schaeffer described our apathy in his classic book How Should We Then Live? Schaeffer states, “I believe the majority of the silent majority, young and old, will sustain the loss of liberties without raising their voices as long as their own life-styles are not threatened.” To restate: the majority will go along with civic decline as long as they can live comfortably and unchallenged. Recently, we have been challenged. And the people, particularly the Christian people, want to know what to do. How should we now live?

First, always first, we are to abide in Christ. In John 15:5, God reveals the source of our power: “I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.” 

Second, this foundation is then followed by a promise stated a few verses later, “If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you. By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples” (John 15:7-8). With this condition in mind, and the incredible confidence that comes with abiding, we proceed into the civil realm. Now we are free to engage in the civil realm as Christ’s disciples.

Elections are exciting and tend to whip up the populace, but the steady investment in our communities while piecing together how they are governed is the need du jour.

Looking at our lives in relation to Christ and in relation to our government this way, we can do things that we have never tried before. For instance, we could step into what is called the special district level of government, such as the fire department or the library district. The following is an example of what civic engagement at the special district level could look like: stopping the minivan at the volunteer fire station and taking the kids inside to thank the firefighters for their protective work. While there, ask to schedule a tour of the facility. Later, find out who is on the volunteer fire district board. You’ll be following in the footsteps of Benjamin Franklin, who not only had a high view of We the People’s ability to keep our government accountable to the public, but also founded the volunteer fire department in 1736. 

Or, we could begin to actively use our local library. Because many of our public libraries have tilted so far to the left, you might want to leave the minivan of kids at home for this endeavor. But, like the fire district, you pay taxes for the library district. Why not begin to use it and simultaneously bring the salt and light of the gospel there? Start by learning how to navigate the card catalog online at home and discover the many incredible books and resources available to borrow. Then move to building relationships with library staff during pick-up and drop-off trips. Later, attend a public meeting of the library board. Eventually, consider running for a seat on the board. When conservative Christians reverse the order of these events and run for the library board first, before engaging civically, it doesn’t go so well. Elections are exciting and tend to whip up the populace, but the steady investment in our communities while piecing together how they are governed is the need du jour.

I have purposely focused on engaging with the special district level of government because it has been so very invisible to us, yet it is part of where we live and move and have our being in Christ and with our tax dollars. There are plenty of other levels and branches of our government where we could engage civically. We could attend regular public meetings of our city council or our county (or parish or borough) board to hold them accountable. We could contact our state legislators, ask for a tour of the state capitol, or perhaps even reach out to our state’s family policy organization. If you like these suggestions and are eager for more direction, consult the handbook: The Forgotten Realm: Civics for American Christians. I wrote it for people like you.