Every so often, members of churches ask their pastor some version of this question:
“Pastor, why are you being political?”
It’s usually asked with genuine concern—sometimes with frustration, sometimes with confusion. But underneath the question is something deeper: what is the role of a pastor when it comes to politics?
Let me begin with this: being “political” is not optional for human beings. We were created that way.
Created as Political Beings
When God formed humanity, we were given a directive in Genesis to “rule over” creation (Genesis 1:26–28). This was not an invitation to dominate but to steward—to order the world in ways that sustain and promote life.
In other words, God created us as political beings. The word “politics” simply means the way we organize our common life together. Every decision about how we treat one another, how we care for the earth, and how we structure our societies is, at its core, political.
That means all of us—whether we like it or not—are political by nature of our creation.
Pastors Within Political Systems
Pastors are not exempt from this reality. We, too, live within systems—economic, social, and yes, political. But pastors are also called to bear witness to the Kingdom of God: to remind the world that God’s design for creation is a life-giving order, a community where love, justice, and mercy reign.
That means when pastors speak into political issues, it isn’t because we are trying to endorse a party or push a platform. It’s because our faith calls us to name where human systems are failing to reflect God’s design for life.
In the United States, this puts us in an especially challenging spot. Our culture is deeply shaped by a two-party system, but the Kingdom of God cannot be reduced to either party. The gospel transcends political platforms, and at times it critiques all of them.
Why It Feels Political
So why does it sometimes feel like your pastor is “being political”?
Likely because we are living in a time where many of our systems are not promoting life very well. And when pastors point to that reality—whether we’re talking about poverty, justice, creation care, or human dignity—it can sound like politics.
But more often than not, your pastor isn’t being partisan. We are doing our job:
Offering theological, prophetic commentary on how our society measures up (or falls short) of God’s design.
That’s part of our calling.
Beyond Voting
And here’s something important to remember: when your pastor speaks, it’s not about how they voted—or how you think they voted.
It’s about faithfully naming God’s truth, even when that truth unsettles us. Pastors are not primarily Republicans or Democrats, conservatives or progressives. We are Christians, called to shepherd God’s people and proclaim God’s kingdom.
The Kingdom of God is the ultimate “politic”—a way of ordering life together where love rules, justice flows, and mercy triumphs. And that is always worth talking about.
A Closing Thought
If your pastor sounds “political,” it’s probably because they are trying to help all of us remember that God created us to be political in the best possible way—
to shape a world where all of life can flourish.
Grace and Recovery 