Two Minute Devotions

In every generation the church faces the temptation to confuse its deepest loyalty. In the first century believers lived under the wretchedness of Rome, yet the apostles did not center their letters on imperial policy. Instead, they called Christians to live as “citizens of heaven” (Phil. 3:20) and “ambassadors for Christ” (2 Cor. 5:20). Our own age has its Rome, partisan politics and tribal identities that promise salvation but cannot deliver.

When Politics Becomes a Counterfeit God

We are all prone to believe that people who think differently from us must be blind or bad. We focus on divisive issues, feel righteous for holding the “right” view, and tell ourselves we are on mission when we are actually on campaign. But “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Rom. 3:23); none of us sees reality with perfect clarity. When we attach our politics to Jesus as though they were interchangeable, we misrepresent him and give the world a distorted gospel.

If nearly all our convictions align neatly with one party, we should ask whether we are truly thinking biblically or simply absorbing our tribe’s messages. Most of us overestimate our media savvy and our independence of thought. Whether we have a PhD or an eighth-grade education, we all have blind spots and echo chambers. “Every way of a man is right in his own eyes, but the Lord weighs the heart” (Prov. 21:2) describes us more than we would like to admit.

Overfed on News, Undernourished by Scripture

“You are what you read.” Jesus said, “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” (Matt. 6:21). What we choose to focus on reveals the true orientation of our hearts just as clearly as how we spend our money. If our media diet eclipses our intake of Scripture, it is not just a scheduling issue but a spiritual one.

In our digital age, overconsumption of political news almost always coincides with underconsumption of the Bible. The apostles lived under constant political turmoil, yet their letters centered on Christ and his kingdom, not on Caesar’s edicts. Politics matters, but the gospel endures forever. “The word of the Lord remains forever” (1 Pet. 1:25). Revisit the Gospels, Acts, and the epistles to reorient your heart to eternal truths. Otherwise unwise political participation will steadily erode our witness.

Testing Our Hearts by the Fruit of the Spirit

Paul tells us the Spirit produces “love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control” (Gal. 5:22–23). One way to discern whether politics has become an idol is to ask: what is my engagement producing in me? Anger, scorn, and self-righteousness or the fruit of the Spirit?

Jesus taught us to “love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind” (Matt. 22:37). Tribalism undermines this call by blinding the mind, dulling our discernment, and keeping us from seeing the world through God’s truth. Selective outrage, contempt for opponents, and avoidance of people who differ from us are warning signs. Our cognitive dissonance will fight against listening to the other side, but gospel freedom calls us to do it.

Idolatry Masquerading as Mission

Righteous laws are good, but they cannot save. Only the gospel saves. God may choose to use us in the public square, but when we try to turn modern Rome into future Israel we step off mission and confuse the kingdom of God with the kingdoms of this world. Political idolatry is a tempting substitute for the gospel, self-justifying to its participants but off-putting to outsiders. Our call is not to enthrone our platform but to be ambassadors of Christ’s kingdom (2 Cor. 5:20).

Practicing a Better Discipline

Breaking free from tribalism is not a passive process. It is a discipline, like training your body. “Train yourself for godliness; for while bodily training is of some value, godliness is of value in every way” (1 Tim. 4:7–8). We cannot wait for perfect conditions; we must take up practices that move the needle spiritually, even when they are uncomfortable: limiting media intake, prioritizing Scripture, praying for opponents, and seeking out people who think differently. These habits retrain our loves and make space for the Spirit to form Christ in us.

A Hopeful Alternative

The gospel frees us from needing our side to win in order to have hope. Because our true citizenship is in heaven, we can love neighbors across tribal lines, speak truth without self-righteousness, and bear witness to a kingdom that cannot be shaken (Heb. 12:28). As Keller often said, “The gospel is not advice about what we should do, but good news about what has been done.” That good news relativizes all earthly loyalties and enables us to live as a truly counter-cultural community of grace.