Compassion (&) Conviction

May 18, 2020
Butler, Giboney, and Wear, the leadership team of the AND Campaign, which seeks to increase Christian civic engagement, offer a brief but detailed lesson in basic civics and exhort Christians to participate in public life with civility, critical thinking, and biblical values. The authors urge Christians to think holistically and consistently about issues that drive their voting and civic involvement. For instance, pro-life supporters should cast votes with a focus beyond their antiabortion beliefs and factor in racial disparities as well as the effects of economic and immigration policies. No issue is isolated, the authors argue, and productive, sustainable politics considers the long game over short-term wins. For instance, they argue Christians should be “questioning President Trump’s demeaning language and bad behavior” even if that means risking backlash from fellow Christians. When assessing candidates, the authors ask voters to remember that character and beliefs should trump partisan rhetoric, and they cover such topics as how Christians should evaluate partnerships across religious lines, how to recognize and combat extremist speech, and why knowing America’s racist history is necessary in order to have honest political conversation. By engaging in politics to pursue love and justice, they assert, Christians can magnify God’s name—not their own. Politically minded Christians will want to take a look at this punchy manifesto.