There are occasional objections to how Evangelicals relate in political spaces and some understandable concerns over compromising our faith commitments – including faith in Jesus as the only way for salvation. I (Kyle Wisdom) want to offer this reflection to provide context for the amazing work being done in our Global Advocacy department.
In our global advocacy work we frequently advocate for biblical principles to be applied to all people. This includes religious freedom which must be applied in the context of political pluralism. Pluralism does not have to be a dirty word. At times, Evangelicals can struggle with the idea of pluralism because their first thoughts turn toward theological pluralism. Our strong commitment to Scripture and our belief that faith in Jesus is the only way to salvation can create suspicion about this term. Some might feel it means there are many paths to heaven, with following Jesus being one option among many. This is not what we mean by political pluralism.
Jesus’ own teaching invoked the domain of Caesar and the kingdom of God. We are to pay our taxes, follow the laws of our land, and give respect to the authorities that govern. Of course, we Evangelicals have biblically informed ethical frameworks that guide our engagement with political authorities. Being “good news” people, developing our lives to love God and others, and living according to God’s teachings on justice make us good citizens. We raise law-abiding children and care for the poor and vulnerable. In this way, we make valuable contributions in the domains of education and social services.
A fundamental component of our faith is to be people that live out and share the good news. But we do this by modeling and invitation, not by force. Since salvation comes via the grace of God, we cannot force or compel anyone into the kingdom of God. This is one of the bedrock truths of religious freedom and living together in diversity. If we cannot force someone to become a Christian, then we need to live together with people from other faiths. This is where political pluralism can be a virtue and not a dirty word.
A political structure that does not compel anyone to be a Christian is exactly the same structure that cannot compel one to be a Muslim, Hindu, or Buddhist. We should be thankful and work for pluralistic societies like this and there are a lot of things about which we already agree. We want to raise our children in safe communities where they can grow up and enjoy a vocation. We want good leaders and systems where corruption is dealt with, and everyone can expect fair treatment. We want to be able to deal with differences without resorting to violence.
If we cannot mandate everyone to believe as we do, we must learn to live together well. This means embracing the diversity inherent in the people around us and making our societies just places for all. Political pluralism is a term that describes this social reality. It does not mean there are many legitimate paths to heaven, just that there are many paths to live together in harmony. Please read on for news of what we have been doing.
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