The Gospel: The True Agent of Justice in a Politically Distracted World

The Danger of Distracting Politics: Focusing on the Kingdom of God

Are we more focused on proclaiming the gospel or promoting our preferred political outcomes? I think we should disengage from politics.

I suspect that many believers would disengage from my statement, especially American Evangelicals or believers in general, who are deeply passionate about political engagement. The political fervor sweeping our nation has become so intense that it’s worth questioning whether it reflects our focus on earthly or heavenly things. It mirrors the way the gospel swept the first century. But the gospel I speak of is certainly not the gospel of political or earthly power.

Consider the profound miracle Jesus performed in John 6:1-15. In this passage, Jesus feeds 5,000 men, not including women and children, with just five loaves of bread and two fish. Imagine a chef today presented with this amount of food—likely only enough to feed a small family. Yet, through Jesus’ divine power, this small amount of food multiplied exponentially, feeding the entire crowd with twelve baskets of leftovers. This was a miracle that could not be mimicked by human hands. Immediately afterward, the people wanted to make Jesus their king by force, but Jesus withdrew, escaping into the mountains.

What does this tell us about Jesus? Many will say, “He was not here to be an earthly king,” and while that’s true, there’s a deeper truth we must acknowledge: God did not choose Jesus to be an earthly king or governmental ruler. This event underscores that Jesus’ mission was never to establish a kingdom based on temporal power. His kingdom was spiritual, eternal, and not of this world. Despite the people’s desire to make Him a king, Jesus’ focus remained on establishing a kingdom far greater than any earthly authority.

As believers, our engagement is not in the realm of earthly politics but in the advancement of Christ’s eternal kingdom. Jesus Himself declared, ‘My kingdom is not of this world’ (John 18:36), reminding us that our calling is spiritual, not political. While governments rise and fall, God’s purposes prevail without needing our involvement in appointing officials or shaping policies. True transformation does not come through political systems but through the gospel, which changes hearts and unites people in Christ. Therefore, our trust should not be in human systems but in God’s sovereignty and the mission He has entrusted to us: to proclaim His truth and live as ambassadors of His heavenly kingdom.

In contrast, today, many believers have become deeply focused on electing the right leaders and securing their positions in the government. However, we must remember that God, not man, appoints rulers. As Romans 13:1 reminds us: "Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established." This simple truth challenges the popular notion that we, through political influence or votes, are in control of our destiny.

But why do I mention this? Because we live in a system of freedoms, rights, and privileges that can deceive us into thinking we are the ones choosing our leaders. This illusion of control—created by our political systems—has led many believers to focus more on electing the "right" candidate, or engaging in political battles, than on the events of the gospel. We tend to think that if we vote for the most biblical candidate, we are somehow honoring God more than our fellow believers. But where is this taught in scripture? Where does the Bible tell us to place our trust in political leaders, rather than in the One who appoints them?

"I do not put my trust or faith in man, but I allow God to use my vote" is something we may have all said. But how does God use your vote if He doesn't need you to appoint government officials?

The example of Jesus and His Apostles is strikingly clear: they had little to no involvement in political matters. The only command regarding government is to obey it as we submit to Christ, trusting in God’s sovereignty in all things. Today, many believers occupy positions of power within the government, yet the rate of conversion and the spread of the gospel in the U.S. is not as great as we might expect. In contrast, countries like China and India, where the influence of believers in government is minimal, are seeing sweeping conversions and communal transformations.

What might be the difference? In these countries, believers do not focus on earthly kingship or political power. Instead, they are focused on proclaiming the gospel and inviting others to join the eternal kingdom of Christ—a kingdom where peace reigns forever, where love is the central theme, and where nothing outside of love exists. It’s the proclamation of the kingdom of heaven, of eternal life, that truly matters, not the promotion of earthly governments.

In essence, believers are to be agents of justice, but their primary weapon is not political activism or legislative reform—it's the transformative power of the gospel. The gospel, when faithfully proclaimed, has the power to change hearts, reconcile people to God, and bring true justice into the world in a way that human efforts alone cannot.

Throughout history, we’ve seen governments rise and fall. History warns us that governments will always eventually oppress their people. It’s equally clear that political engagement in the fight for earthly justice is often a distraction from the higher calling of Christ. The Israelites, in their time, proved themselves to be untrusting of God’s plan.

If Israelites failed to trust God, why wouldn’t we do the same? Unless we lean into the teachings of Christ and the Apostles, we too will fall into the trap of misplaced priorities.

The call to submit to governing authorities is ultimately a call to trust in God, regardless of circumstances. It does not mean giving to the government what belongs to God, but rather giving to the government what belongs to it, as we honor God above all.

In conclusion, the reason many of us focus so much on politics may be the same reason God has not sent us out for His mission, as Paul notes in Philippians 2:19-23. Our focus is often on our selfish desires rather than God’s desires. Timothy was the only one Paul could send because he was singularly focused on the things of God rather than his own needs and comforts.

My understanding of Scripture leads me to believe that we are called to disengage from the political sphere and focus instead on the proclamation of the gospel. Verses like 2 Timothy 2:4, which warns against becoming entangled in civilian affairs, and Colossians 3:1-2, which calls us to set our minds on things above, convey this message if our hearts are open to it.

If more believers channeled the passion they exhibit during presidential election seasons into spreading the gospel, I believe the Lord would accomplish works far beyond what we can imagine. The question for us is this: Will we trust in God with all outcomes and circumstances, and allow Him to direct our steps?