Walter Kim, president of the National Association of Evangelicals, captured the core principle: “The pulpit should be used in a prophetic manner, bringing the gospel to bear on today’s complex cultural issues. Church leaders should inform, uplift, and draw people into deeper discipleship that impacts how they engage in their communities, including how they vote. Endorsing a political candidate is rarely helpful and most often breeds division.”
The Data Behind the Crisis
Ryan Burge, research director of Faith Counts, analyzed the 2024 Cooperative Election Study. His findings reveal deepening partisan divides within American Christianity. White evangelical support for Trump reached 83% in the 2024 election, up from previous elections.
Research from Hartford Seminary’s Faith Communities Today survey shows congregations with high political engagement demonstrate lower rates of:
- Spiritual discipline participation
- Evangelistic activity
- Cross-cultural fellowship
Gallup polling confirms church membership stands at historic lows of 47%, while political polarization reaches record highs.
The Strategic Framework: 3 Diagnostic Questions
After decades of research and practice, I propose a simple but powerful diagnostic framework. Every church leader should ask three questions:
1. What captures more emotional energy in our congregation—political outcomes or spiritual transformation?
Church consultants working with struggling congregations discover revealing patterns: Lay leaders consume political media far beyond the time spent in Scripture reading or prayer. Some congregations show greater generosity toward political causes than church ministries or missions work.
The SIMPLE Congregational Well-Being Assessment, developed by Lutheran Church Missouri Synod’s Southeastern District, provides a framework for evaluation across six dimensions: Spiritual Vitality, Impact, Managing Emotions, Purpose, Life-giving Relationships, and Engagement. Based on Acts 2:42-47, this tool helps congregations assess where devotion actually flows.
2. Are we losing people because of politics rather than attracting them because of Christ?
Research indicates that politically focused congregations struggle to attract younger members seeking authentic spiritual community over political alignment. Young adults notice the disconnect. They seek genuine faith, not partisan warfare masquerading as religious language.
3. Do our conversations about Scripture start with theology or end with it?
When Scripture becomes ammunition for predetermined political positions rather than the authoritative source of transformation, functional idolatry has taken root. The question is not whether Christians should think theologically about politics. The question is whether political allegiances determine theological interpretation.
The Strategic Solution: A 5-Part Framework
Based on research from Church Answers, VitalChurch Ministry, and decades of ministry experience, here is a practical framework for addressing this crisis:
Phase 1: Honest Assessment (Months 1-2)
Utilize established tools such as the Church Health Assessment Tool (CHAT) or the Church Vitality Survey. Add specific questions about time allocation, emotional investment patterns, and priority hierarchies. The goal is not to shame but to reveal reality.
Sam Rainer, president of Church Answers and lead pastor at West Bradenton Baptist Church, emphasizes starting with truth: “The unchurched are not hostile; they are disengaged. That indifference can be overcome through two powerful prompts: a spiritual nudge from God and a personal connection with a friend or family member.”
The same principle applies to congregations captured by functional idolatry. Disengagement from spiritual priorities requires honest acknowledgment before transformation can begin.
Phase 2: Theological Recalibration (Months 3-4)
Preach a series on what receives our ultimate devotion. Use biblical examples: Israel’s golden calf, the rich young ruler, the Pharisees’ traditions. Show how good things become ultimate things.
