Midterms 2026: Don’t leave your faith at home on Nov. 3

With this year’s midterm elections, appeals from both the Left and the Right compete for the support of voters who have not yet cast an early ballot. As a Christian pastor, I simply cannot separate my vote from my biblically informed convictions, nor can I encourage others to do so.

Yet, even mentioning the interconnectedness of faith and politics invites the scorn of many who insist that doing so is an unwelcome violation of the separation of church and state. “Stop being political!” some demand. “Stick to preaching!” others suggest. “You cannot legislate morality!” is the central theme, and “keep faith out of politics!” is the common refrain. But is any of that legitimate?

Statements like these ignore the political overreach of recent years. The problem is not that the Church has become too political, but that politics has become far too morally aggressive. If you want Christians to stop equating their politics with matters of faith, keep the government out of our spiritual conversations. When the state moves beyond providing national security and infrastructure necessities like bridges and highways into the realm of defining marriage and gender, it leaves its intended lane and exceeds its proper authority (Rom. 13:1-7).

Issues do not lose their inherent morality simply because politicians choose to hijack them.

Consider, for example, the Democratic Party's official 2024 platform, which calls for restoring nationwide abortion protections, repealing federal abortion-funding restrictions, affirming same-sex marriage, and expanding protections based on gender identity. Each of these agendas is explicitly unChristian. By saying so, I am not suggesting that any party has a monopoly on biblical truth, or that the Republican Party is somehow equivalent to the Kingdom of God.

For followers of Jesus, Scripture should settle questions of right and wrong, not political parties.

Abortion is not healthcare; it is the murder of an unborn child. Scripture clearly teaches that life begins at conception as God begins to weave us together with great care and dignity in the womb (Psa. 139:13-16; Jer. 1:5; Luke 1:41-44). Same-sex marriage undermines the foundational principle that the husband-wife relationship is a one-flesh union between a man and a woman, laid down in the first book of the Bible and affirmed by Jesus (Gen. 2:24; Matt. 19:4-6). Fabricated distinctions between biological sex and gender create unnecessary confusion, and reassignment surgeries cause irreparable damage to God’s male and female image bearers (Gen. 1:26-28).

I highlight these issues not to be controversial, but because they reflect the stated platform of one of our major political parties. Why should I remain silent about these moral subjects while secularists speak freely about their ungodly agenda? Ironically, many of the same people who decry faith in politics are quick to applaud the spiritual compass behind progressive ideas.

For example, discussions about poverty, immigration, climate change, social justice, or discrimination frequently appeal to our moral obligations as a society. I have no problem with such reasoning, even when I disagree with the conclusions. Yet, the same liberal talking heads simultaneously frame debates about abortion, marriage, or sexuality as attempts to impose religion on society. Remember Diane Feinstein’s lament that “the dogma lives loudly” within Amy Coney Barrett? Why should we welcome the moral convictions of some while rejecting others?

Think about the enthusiastic reception of Texas Democratic Senate candidate James Talarico, whose progressive political positions frequently draw upon his novel, reinvented version of Christianity. Liberal pundits celebrate his willingness to invoke Scripture when advocating for economic justice and immigration reform, even as he promotes LGBT rights that contradict clear biblical teachings. Yet some of the same political voices object when Christians appeal to the Bible concerning the sanctity of life, marriage, and sexuality.

Certainly, Talarico has every right to allow his faith to inform his politics, but so do conservative Christians. The public should evaluate the substance of competing biblical interpretations rather than selectively dismissing religious arguments we disagree with as inappropriate. 

Furthermore, a robust biblical ethic also requires our acknowledgment that not all moral obligations are equally important. Protecting human life, for instance, should be nonnegotiable for Christians, while debates surrounding tax rates or environmental concerns can sometimes leave thoughtful believers in disagreement with one another. All these issues have moral implications, but they do not carry the same weight. Biblical commands and political strategies are not morally equivalent despite attempts to blur the lines.

Followers of Jesus should never allow their political loyalties to overshadow their Christian identity, but neither should they accept the mistaken notion that faithfulness requires political silence. Though our ultimate citizenship is in Heaven (Phil. 3:20), we should seek the welfare of the world in which we live (Jer. 29:7). Jesus commanded His people to be salt and light amidst a dark, broken creation (Matt. 5:13-16). Certainly, this command requires more than a consistent political ethic, but not less.

Soon, Americans will once again decide who represents them in Congress and in many state and local offices. These representatives will influence legislation, spending, and public policy, all of which bear moral implications. Not only should all Christians vote, but we should also do so with great wisdom and care so as to preserve our spiritual convictions. Distinguishing between unchanging biblical principle and debatable strategies requires attention and diligence.

When moral questions become political controversies, our responsibility is not to surrender our convictions or lower our voices. Instead, we should engage every election cycle with truth, wisdom, humility, and love. Even though the ballot box may be political, the decisions made there often carry profound moral consequences. So, be sure to vote on November 3, and don’t leave your faith at home.