Political Engagement

Political tension in America is not new. Polarization, anger, and hostility have, to some extent, been part of our culture for centuries. However, the state of our public discourse today is particularly poor. Shaped by social media and the 24/7 news cycle, many Americans—including some Christians—feel obligated to take positions on every topic and to attack those with whom they disagree. Our culture often demands the same from institutions and organizations. The Austin Stone Community Church is regularly asked to make pub-lic statements about cultural issues, advocate for legislation, comment on court rulings, and endorse political candidates. What does Christlike engage-ment in the public square look like? When and how is our church called to speak to political issues?