Getting involved politically can be intimidating. Many pastors have been trained by seminaries to keep their faith neatly sequestered behind the four walls of their sanctuaries, homes, and hearts. Nevermind those pesky verses about not “hiding your light under a bushel.” On top of the failure of our seminaries, the Left-dominated anti-Christian culture in America has thoroughly convinced many lay Christians that their faith is not allowed in the public square at all, especially when it comes to political matters. 

Thus, the idea of a pastor stepping out in the political arena as an “activist” is not just foreign to our current evangelical culture, but borderline heretical.

Little did I know, however, that around this time last year, I was on the verge of my first major political battle as a newly minted “activist pastor.” 

It’s not that I sought out participating in, and even some leadership of, an all-out political fight as a local church pastor. And yet the genuinely insane Leftists who run the Colorado Democrat party brought the fight to us. In other words, “I would have lived in peace, but my enemies brought me war.” 

And these enemies are not just my enemies; they are God’s enemies. Enemies of everything true and good in God’s world. Enemies of children, parents, my neighbors, Christians, and churches. 

The opening salvo came when the Democrats in the Colorado State House introduced and then hotlined the House Bill 25-1312, the so-called “Legal Protections for Transgender Individuals” act. 

As I warned in my first article opposing HB1312, “what Colorado Democrats are trying to do right now, if successful, would destroy the First Amendment freedoms of all Coloradans who believe in the biological reality of binary sex and subject all Christians who uphold the truth of Genesis 1:27, ‘male and female, He created them,’ to state-sanctioned persecution.” 

After that, we were off to the races. From writing multiple articles, to a variety of media appearances (both on local and national programs), to joining (and helping build) a coalition of Christians and conservatives in Colorado to oppose 1312, I found myself “thrown into the deep end” of grassroots political organizing and action. It was a sink-or-swim moment, and swim we did. The work culminated in the formation of our “Christ Over Colorado” coalition and rally against the bill on the steps of the Colorado Capitol building. 

At the rally, we had national organizations like the Center for Baptist Leadership, state-level organizations focused exclusively on protecting kids in Colorado, small church pastors and some megachurch pastors, and lawmakers from the Colorado House and Senate. 

While the bill was ultimately signed into law by our godless Governor, Jared Polis, thankfully, some of the worst provisions were watered down before enactment. And immediately upon becoming law, it was met with a variety of legal challenges.

The multi-month effort was quite instructive for me. Again, I am a pastor, not a politician. But now, as I see other formerly conservative, “red,” or even “purple” states turning Blue, like Virginia, I think it’s fair to expect that other pastors will find themselves in our shoes, in my shoes, in a state like Colorado. 

When their enemies bring them war, will they be ready? 

To help faithful pastors who feel called to enter the public square and oppose the Left’s evil and lawlessness, here are nine key lessons I’ve learned about how pastors can work together more effectively in political battles.

1. Build loose ties with like-minded pastors who see wickedness and want it stopped. 

Start by creating a group chat. Group chats are much better for coordinating rapid reaction and timely engagement than another email chain. Keep it small rather than large. Many platforms offer this chat feature (we used Signal). You also need to appoint one “king” of the chat who has the unilateral power to admit and remove people. Everyone must be vetted, and everyone must be clear that it is a working group with basic parameters. 

2. Have a name when you act. 

Brand your coalition around a specific bill fight or a broader vision (ex, promoting Christianity in VA). For example, in Colorado, we named our group Fight1312 to make it clear that we were against a particularly egregious bill (we’ve since shifted to calling it Christ Over Colorado). Names give people clarity and provide purpose to the activity. 

3. Hold some things loose, some tight. 

This will be difficult for those who are very uptight. Methods may vary by church, but you need a high tolerance for strong rhetoric and clear shared convictions. Some may take different approaches than others might not. In these fights, we must deploy a variety of tactics that some may find off-putting or ineffective. That is not to say that people in the chat cannot disagree about tactics, even strongly. But keep those disagreements inside the group and do not air them publicly. 

4. Don’t be surprised when big churches are hard to enlist. 

If they aren’t already political, they’ll play in the middle. They are not going to find the courage for this particular fight if they have not shown it over the last five years. Many times, they are hamstrung by the overwhelming policies and personalities they face. Sometimes they are more motivated by market shares than by the truth. They might join later, but you can waste lots of time chasing them. Better to lead with courage than try to motivate them to be courageous. 

5. Go public. 

Plan rallies at the Capitol. Mobilize testimony against bad bills. Do podcasts. As people say, “you can just do things.” Most of the legal fears churches and pastors have about speaking out on political issues are unfounded. You should also make sure to mention the political issues in your church services. This can be during a time of prayer, sermon illustrations as the text allows, or special sermons. You can also teach on these matters in Sunday School, Sunday nights, or Wednesday nights if Sunday mornings are not best. There is a major caveat here, though. If your elders and your church are not already clear about the fight, and you decide to go public, you are toast. You need your church to have your back. That shouldn’t prevent you from acting at least as an individual citizen, but you should have some prudence about what your church is ready for; otherwise, you may needlessly lose your job. 

6. Pray God stops the hand of the wicked. 

Do it privately and teach your people to do the same. If our efforts are not grounded in prayer, they will fail. We are people of prayer. The very least you can do is pray, and the prayer of a righteous man has great power (James 5:16). But your people also need to be taught from the Scriptures how to pray for the promotion of God’s glory and for the diminishment of wickedness. They need to hear instruction from imprecatory prayers and the Psalms. Be ready to answer lots of questions about why it is not just appropriate, but righteous and faithful, to pray imprecatory prayers against political adversaries.

7. Stay hopeful. 

Don’t give the enemy an inch or let them steal your joy in Christ. The enemy aims to demoralize and distract Christians. Getting involved politically is not a distraction. It is a natural extension of our calling. We are people who want to see the world become Christian in every respect. When we go on the offense for Christ in this domain, expect the enemy to deploy the attacks of insults (you are weak, small, and stupid), slanders, and threats. Satan wants the bride of Christ to believe his lies. Satan wants the church to believe that we are not conquerors, that we are not victorious, and that the earth and the fullness therein do not belong to God. Christ is Lord. As they say, if Christ is not Lord of all, then He is not Lord at all. The hope we have in Christ should be promoted and clung to no matter how great the attacks of the enemy may seem. 

8. Be adaptable.

Cut sermon prep time if needed. Move meetings. Political operatives are shrewd and shift bad bills fast. Be ready to change plans in 24 hrs. Your weekly rhythm will probably be disrupted. You cannot be everywhere at once. Choose certain activities and let other opportunities pass by. Depend on the Spirit’s leading and coordinate with other pastors. 

You are not alone. Christ is with you, and he has also raised up many other men who are just waiting to be put in the game. Too many pastors have depended on major para-church institutions to do the work that they should have been doing. Many of the major para-church organizations will simply issue letters at best. They are not going to help you plan a rally, provide you with security, or promote your activities. 

9. Remember that no one is coming to save you. 

The big organizations have already built their machines. They have certain donors to please and certain “systems that work” to keep the donors engaged. Some can be helpful. Most cannot. They are captured by certain strategies and permission structures that prevent them from denouncing leftist policies. Almost all of the Big Eva networks already have “policy manuals” that prohibit activism. Some churches even have employee handbooks that prohibit church employees from speaking online or elsewhere about political matters. If you imagine that some big para-church organization will come in and save the day, you have already lost. As long as we are in the world, we will have troubles, but take heart, Christ has overcome the world. 

Conclusion 

If or when the Left takes over your state, how will you respond? My advice: Buckle up and do what you can. The Lord can save by many or by few. He does not need large forces to turn people to himself. 

But what He is often gracious to use are those faithful men of prayer and action who will do what they can with what they have been given. Do not bury your talents, thinking you are serving the Lord. Take what he has given you and put it to great use to promote the glory of God and the good of your neighbors.