I hear it all the time: “Bunni, how in the world can you be involved in politics?”

In a time when politics are often polarizing and contentious, we Christians grapple with the idea of civic engagement that doesn’t compromise our faith. Even my own father felt for years that politics was inherently evil.

However, the Bible provides a perspective to help us understand our role in the world, emphasizing that we have the power to carry love, justice, and integrity into our culture as the hands and feet of Jesus. I have been involved in politics for more than 20 years, and I still love Jesus — so I am proof that this is possible.

Here are six important ways you can be politically involved without compromising your faith.

Understand the Biblical Mandate for Engagement

The Christian faith calls for us believers to actively participate in our communities. We are not to retreat from, but to care for others.

In Jeremiah 29:7, God instructs His people to seek the welfare of the city they inhabit:

“Also, seek the peace and prosperity of the city to which I have carried you into exile. Pray to the Lord for it, because if it prospers, you too will prosper.”

This is not an encouragement; it’s a mandate. Jesus Himself interacted with political authorities, often challenging unjust systems while promoting values of love and mercy. Also, remember the great leaders of the Bible who we were high up in political leadership and impacted people for good – Joseph, Deborah, Esther, Nehemiah, Daniel, and others.

Recognizing this biblical foundation allows Christians to view political involvement as obedience to God’s call. It is possible to advocate for biblical justice without abandoning our principles.

Prioritize Values Over Partisan Politics

In today’s political landscape, it is easy to align closely with a political party, sometimes at the expense of our core convictions. But as Christians, we should prioritize our values and principles over party politics, examining candidates and policies through a biblical lens.

We are Kingdom people first. Though we must pick a “team” in the political world as we engage, we still need to see people as individuals — and most importantly, as people that God loves, regardless of whether we share their position on an issue.

First Corinthians 3:3-4 shows how our focus on people can become a problem for our beliefs:

You are still worldly. For since there is jealousy and quarreling among you, are you not worldly? Are you not acting like mere humans? For when one says, ‘I follow Paul,’ and another, ‘I follow Apollos,’ are you not mere human beings?

Engagement should focus on promoting candidates and policies that align with Christian values, regardless of party affiliation. This approach encourages critical thinking and allows believers to support faith-based convictions above everything else.

Get Equipped with Understanding

Being politically involved requires knowledge and understanding of current events, candidates, and policies. We should educate ourselves about the political process, current issues, and how these intersect with our faith. This involves not only reading Scripture but also engaging with trusted sources that provide insights into political matters from a Christian perspective (such as The Stream).

This is why Christians Engaged focuses on developing educational courses to equip believers with God’s Word and understanding for civic engagement, including how to run for office. Attending town hall meetings, joining political clubs, and participating in local discussions can help us make more informed decisions.

Speak the Truth in Love

Christians have a unique opportunity to model civil discourse. Engaging with others respectfully, even when disagreements arise, can be a powerful witness of the love of Christ. Ephesians 4:15 calls believers to speak the truth in love, emphasizing the importance of both honesty and kindness.

When discussing political issues, Christians should approach conversations with compassion, actively listening to the concerns of others. This approach often opens the door for meaningful dialogue that reflects Christ’s love and grace. We can demonize a position, but not the person holding that stance.

Live with Integrity

Political involvement should never come at the expense of our personal integrity. Christians are called to live lives that reflect Christ’s teachings — including honesty, humility, and compassion. This means avoiding slander and refraining from hateful rhetoric.

In my career as both a political consultant and candidate, I’ve had to make hard choices between doing what was politically expedient or doing what was right. Do we lie about people to win political arguments, or will we be truthful through and through? We have to make those hard decisions in the middle of intense ideological battles.

Maintaining integrity also involves being willing to admit your mistakes and learn from them. I have made tons of mistakes through the years, and have had to ask people for their forgiveness. At times, I have spoken harshly about someone or their record without having all the facts; afterward I went back and corrected the record. We have to stay vigilant to watch our hearts and our integrity in the political world, as it tends to move at the speed of light.

Pray as We Engage

Prayer is essential in the life of a believer, especially when facing today’s challenging political problems. Christians need God’s guidance, wisdom, and discernment when making political decisions. We can’t succeed in this world without God on any level, but particularly not when engaging politically.

I have never been more desperate for God than when I was running for office or dealing with a monumental problem with a client in a campaign. I share in my book Jesus and Politics that I was blessed to walk with the late U.S. Rep. Ron Wright (R-TX) during his first congressional race while he was suffering from cancer. No one outside his family knew about that except me and his campaign manager, and it forced me to seek God even more for Ron, his wife Susan, and that important race during that season.

Prayer brings humility into our lives as we engage in a part of our culture that is controlled by pride. Talking to God can transform how we as Christians approach political involvement, rooting our actions in a foundation of faith.

In short, political engagement is not only possible for Christians, but essential for reflecting the values of our faith in the public square. If we are not in the conversation, how can we bring biblical wisdom into our government? If we are absent, the vacuum will be filled by others who do not share our values.

Don’t be afraid, Church — it is time to engage. Just walk with Jesus as you do it.

Bunni Pounds is president and founder of Christians Engaged, a ministry activating the Body of Christ to pray, vote, and engage regularly, as well as the host of Conversations With Christians Engaged, seen here on The Stream each week. She is also the vice president of civic and church engagement for the Family Policy Alliance and the Family Policy Alliance Foundation. Her book, Jesus and Politics: One Woman’s Walk with God in a Mudslinging Profession, was released in February.