What role should Christians play in politics? What are our civic responsibilities? And, how do we glorify God as we engage in policy conversations? Amy Black, professor of political science at Wheaton College, joins Today’s Conversation podcast to answer these questions and more.

In this overview of civics for Christians, you’ll hear NAE President Walter Kim and Amy discuss:

  • How we can apply Scripture to our current political experience;
  • What principles should guide Christians when voting;
  • Whether Christians should join political parties; and
  • What the difference is between “politics” and “policy.”

Read a Portion of the Transcript

Walter:Churches are also struggling to remain nonpartisan, recognizing that they are undoubtedly composed of viewpoints that are varied and that they want to maintain a witness to the world that would welcome anyone through their doors. So even if churches seek to be nonpartisan, what about the individual believer? Should the individual believer join a political party — seek to influence a political party with an agenda from the inside?

Amy: It’s really important. Should believers join parties? Absolutely. I want to see individual believers active in political parties. I want them to be salt and light. If we think about it, one of the best ways to influence the direction of political parties and of elected officials, is working from within those parties — raising questions, sharing ideas, offering critiques when needed. This can happen obviously at the grassroots level when people are working on campaigns or they’re part of a county party organization. It can also happen all the way up at the leadership level, helping direct priorities and policy choices. I want to see Christians involved in both parties at all those levels.

As a professor at a Christian college I am delighted when I see my former students working for both Democrats and Republicans. I see them working on campaigns, on the Hill, on the executive branch, they can be bringing a distinctive Christian voice to both major political parties and trying to make a difference, and that to me is just a perfect part of our Christian mission.

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Amy Black

Amy Black has been professor of political science at Wheaton College in Wheaton, Illinois, since 2001. She served as general editor for “Five Views on the Church and Politics,” an edited volume that introduces the political thought of five theological traditions (Anabaptist, Lutheran, the Black Church, Reformed and Catholic). Black also authored “Honoring God in Red or Blue: Approaching Politics with Humility, Grace, and Reason.” Black holds a B.A. in government from Claremont McKenna College and a Ph.D. in political science from Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

Walter Kim

Walter Kim became the president of the National Association of Evangelicals in January 2020. He previously served as a pastor at Boston’s historic Park Street Church and at churches in Vancouver, Canada and Charlottesville, Virginia, as well as a campus chaplain at Yale University. He preaches, writes and engages in collaborative leadership to connect the Bible to the intellectual and cultural issues of the day. He regularly teaches in conferences and classrooms; addresses faith concerns with elected officials and public institutions; and provides theological and cultural commentary to leading news outlets. He serves on the boards of Christianity Today and World Relief and consults with a wide range of organizations. Kim received his Ph.D. from Harvard University in Near Eastern Languages and Civilizations, his M.Div. from Regent College in Vancouver, and his B.A. from Northwestern University.