A flurry of bills are emerging in the Kentucky General Assembly and many are bound to affect all of us. Yet there is disagreement within the church as to what extent pastors should speak into the political and policy realms. Here are a few questions to consider: What happens to congregations when they are not discipled to think about law and policy biblically? What happens to culture when the church loses its prophetic voice speaking to moral and social issues? And what are the opportunities before the church in our cultural moment?
When congregants are not discipled to think and act biblically, they are left to figure it out for themselves. Will it be pastors teaching God’s word as it relates to all of life? Or will congregants be discipled through podcasters and political pundits? It’s not really a question of whether discipleship will happen, it’s a question of who will do it. The world or the church?
It’s clear that when the church fails to speak to culture then culture falls into confusion and darkness. Consider what’s happened in the last five years. Gender transitions for minors have been normalized. Emotional and physical trauma is embraced by the majority as justification to kill the unborn conceived in sexual assault. Biological males invade female private spaces and activities. Conscience in the workplace is steamrolled. Licensed family therapists and counselors are banned from guiding gender dysphoric minors. Such dangerous policies clothed in compassion, hurt real people. And they will be left alone to suffer the consequences of bad choices—choices affirmed in law and policy.
The good news is that the tide is turning politically. A majority of voters are pushing back against woke ideology that is inconsistent with reality and harmful to people, especially minors and women. But the law will remain a mere shell unless there are other supports to gird it up. Parents, pastors, and people who’ve been hurt—all must find their voices to oppose what is harmful and dangerous. At the same time, we all must speak the truth, affirm what is true, and promote the common good.
Consider that HB 33 would allow full-blown casinos into Kentucky communities under a local option process. SB 35 and HB 203 would allow the unborn to be killed in certain circumstances. HJR 15 would restore the Ten Commandments monument to the Capitol grounds. HB 248 would require a family impact statement to accompany every proposed bill. These are a few of the many bills before the Kentucky General Assembly.
So what does this have to do with church? If Christianity teaches that the Bible speaks to all of life (2 Timothy 3:16-17); If the church is to expose darkness (Ephesians 5: 11); If God’s people are called to be a city set on a hill (Matthew 5:14): If the gospel is transformative to one’s entire being (2 Corinthians 5:17); If believers are called to be ambassadors for Christ (2 Corinthians 5:20), then living out the Christian faith in public isn’t optional. It is inevitable.
Elisabeth Elliott said, “The way we live ought to manifest the truth of what we believe.” Living distinctly in a Christian manner will likely be resisted. It may seem like nothing is changing. We may not know the results of a life faithfully lived. But Christians are still called to be faithful and trust God with the results.
When the early church emerged in Roman culture, gross debauchery and immorality were the norms. Believers had no voice in the government, but they lived out their faith—caring for orphaned infants left on the streets to die. They welcomed women, slaves, and the marginalized into their fellowship. Over time, their way of life swayed society toward mercy and human dignity. Such a sway is desperately needed today. And it begins in church pulpits.
This isn’t a challenge for pastors to be unnecessarily controversial. Nor is it another item to put on their demanding schedules. It is simply a call to faithfully teach the Bible on Sunday mornings. In other words, pastors, where God’s word speaks, speak. Congregants, when the word is faithfully preached, humble yourselves to receive it. Pray for your pastor. Encourage him. In the end, when God’s people faithfully submit to the Word and live according to it, the world cannot help but notice.
