We need to lead with love. Younger generations, in particular, are highly concerned about not being perceived as unloving (more so than not being perceived as rational). So, we need to tell students up front that our primary goal in political engagement is not winning at whatever cost. Our primary goal is loving God and our neighbor, even at a significant cost to ourselves. Love has to characterize how we conduct ourselves in these conversations as well. If students think you are angry or too aggressive, they will tune out. Don’t be defensive.
That said, it is critically important to explain that in politics, like medicine, the truth is vital for loving people well. Errors hurt people. So, when addressing topics like abortion and gender, we need to share the theological and sociological reasons it is unloving for doctors to perform abortions or gender transition surgeries. For instance, during my talk on abortion, I shared extensive data on the mental and physical health benefits of being pregnant and the mental and physical health risks of having an abortion. The students were able to see, based on the evidence, that they wouldn’t want someone they loved to be subject to the physical, psychological, and spiritual dangers of having an abortion.
The same goes for economics-related topics: try saying, “Communism is unloving for these reasons,” instead of “Communism doesn’t work for these reasons.” Framing the discussion in terms of love increases the persuasive value of our messaging with students.
2. Provide A Framework
Christians should view their politics through the lens of the Bible, not their Bible through the lens of their politics. For political discussions with our students to be fruitful, we need to place politics within a larger biblical worldview—one that provides a framework for an explicitly Christian understanding of government.
For instance, what is the purpose of government according to the Christian worldview? What is the scope of the government’s authority? What is a biblical understanding of justice? And what are a Christian’s civic responsibilities?
In brief, according to the Christian worldview, the purpose of government is public order and justice. The government is primarily responsible for making and enforcing civil laws that cohere with God’s moral laws. The government has limited authority, as it is ultimately accountable to God. It can uphold justice within other spheres—like education, family, church, and business—but should not seek to fulfill the responsibilities of other God-ordained spheres. Justice involves granting individuals their rightful rewards, damages, punishments, and opportunities; it encompasses both punitive and restorative aspects. A Christian must submit to government authorities within their jurisdiction as long as they do not require disobedience to God. If the authorities compel Christians to disobey God, Christians are responsible for civilly disobeying the authorities. Christians should vote and engage politically according to a conscience thoroughly shaped by biblical principles.
The effectiveness of your conversations with students will improve if you conduct the conversation within a biblical framework for government and political engagement.
3. One Topic at A Time
Once you’ve provided a broader framework for political discussions, I recommend tackling one topic at a time. Trying to cover too much ground in one conversation can be confusing and dilute the impact of the interaction. Great conversations with students usually involve asking good questions and listening carefully to discern what political topic you should focus on and how best to facilitate the discussion.
First and foremost, be prepared to make a biblical case for Christian positions related to politics. We need to model for students that our ultimate authority is the Bible. What the Bible says, God says. Therefore, we submit to the Bible’s views on life, gender, marriage, creation, work, paying taxes, caring for the poor, and any other topic. There won’t always be one allowable Christian position, as in the case of abortion or the definition of marriage. So, be honest with your students when, as in the case of immigration or tax policy, there may be a range of allowable Christian positions. Students appreciate transparency.
Second, be prepared to make a historical and/or sociological case for Christian positions. Awareness of historical and sociological data is beneficial when discussing complex topics with students. As I explained above, in addition to the biblical data against abortion, the sociological data on abortion makes clear that abortions damage women’s health. The historical record on communism is also clear: communism leads to mass suffering and poverty, not equality and flourishing. Christians should support policies and practices that lead to human flourishing, not human suffering. And the data from general revelation can help us make our case for what policies and practices are most conducive to that end. So, we do our homework.
Conclusion
Having discussions about politics with students isn’t easy. However, these discussions can be fruitful, especially if you lead with love, provide a framework, and tackle one topic at a time with a Bible, a history book, and data in your hands.
No comments have been added.