God Bless America?
Marshall Leggett reflects on America’s heritage of faith, its blessings and challenges, and the Christian call to pray, witness, and seek God’s blessing for the nation.
Politics & Government
Politics & Government gathers Christian Standard articles that explore the Christian’s relationship to civic life through a biblical lens. Here you’ll find thoughtful engagement with topics like authority and obedience, religious liberty, public policy, elections, justice, and how believers should speak and act in the public square. These articles aim to help Christians pursue faithful citizenship with conviction and humility—seeking the common good while keeping ultimate allegiance to Jesus and his kingdom.
November 22, 2009
Christians, Politics, & Ethical Speech
Thomas Scott Caulley urges Christians to reject name-calling, political fearmongering, and win-at-all-costs tactics while keeping faith distinct from partisan and economic systems.
October 18, 2009
Reflections of a Public Servant
Rod Roberts reflects on the faith, family, church, and community influences that shaped his life of service and led him to pursue a campaign for governor of Iowa.
A Test of Our Times
Rod Roberts reflects on Iowa’s same-sex marriage ruling, cultural discernment, and the responsibility of Christian leaders to understand the times and engage moral issues in the public square.
That Old-Time Religion
David A. Fiensy contrasts nostalgic American “old-time religion” with the compassion, courage, and Jesus-shaped witness of the earliest Christians.
A Christian Civics Lesson
 By Rod Roberts On January 9, 2007, the newly elected speaker of the Iowa House gaveled the 82nd General Assembly into session. True to the traditions of the Iowa House, the speaker invited a special guest pastor to bring the invocation that morning. To the surprise of many, the guest invited to pray for the General Assembly was a Des Moines-area Muslim imam. The gesture was, in part, recognition of the election of Iowa”s first Muslim state legislator, who was from Des Moines. In fact, the state Capitol in Des Moines is located in this legislator”s district. The imam
This Is the Church’s Moment
Ethan Magness reflects on David, the ark, and the Obama inauguration to call the church toward humble service and blessing in the public square.
A Capitol Idea of Serving Others
By Rod Roberts I was first elected to the Iowa House of Representatives on November 7, 2000. Since that first election victory I have had the good fortune to run opposed in four subsequent re-election campaigns. At the conclusion of this current term I will have served 10 years in the Iowa House. There are 100 members who comprise the Iowa House of Representatives. A five-term member like myself is a legislator who has seniority among his peers. In addition to seniority, I am a leader within the House Republican caucus. In any state Legislature, seniority and position matter a
February 8, 2009
War . . . What Is It Good For? (Part 2)
Karen J. Diefendorf urges Christians and churches to think morally about war, national interests, consumerism, and the responsibility of informed citizens to speak when soldiers cannot.
February 1, 2009
War . . . What Is It Good For? (Part 1)
Karen J. Diefendorf introduces Christian just war tradition, asking how believers should think about military force, neighbor love, moral restraint, and the church’s voice in public debate.
November 2, 2008
Beyond Tweaking the Code
Jason Rodenbeck challenges Christians to stop trying to tweak worldly systems and instead embody Jesus’ cross-shaped way through mercy, sacrifice, compassion, and faithful witness.
October 29, 2008
Giving a Shrug About Politics
Mark A. Taylor reflects on Christian uneasiness during a presidential election and reminds readers that voting matters, but no candidate can solve the country’s deepest problems.
Can We Talk?
Robert F. Hull Jr. challenges Christians to move beyond labels, partisan reflexes, and combative discourse by practicing humility, listening well, and learning from people who think differently.
They”ll Know We Are Christians by Our Vote
By Mandy Smith When church historians look back on the 1990s, they”ll undoubtedly refer to the “worship war” years. But what will they call our current age? My guess is that when discussing the first decades of the 21st century, historians will talk about “The God Gap.” The worship war looked like a discussion about instruments and songs, but it really swung on, “How much can we allow culture to affect our church experience and the expression of our faith?” Today, the collision of faith and culture continues in new arenas. And as if faith isn”t a hot enough topic
February 6, 2008
Mike Huckabee, Cultural Decay, and Christians Like Us
Peggy Noonan’s criticism of Mike Huckabee drew passionate letters from supporters who see cultural decay as America’s central crisis. The article argues government can’t fix hearts—and lasting change comes through yielding to God’s Word and Spirit.
The Problems with Christian Nationalism: A European Viewpoint
By Patrick Nullens I”ll never forget my first trip to America. After landing in Chicago, I thought, It”s like the movies. I took a cab to a huge hotel. As most tired travelers do, I switched on the cheap television set. That was when I experienced my first cultural shock. A well-dressed woman with giant artificial pink nails was resting her hands on a stack of postcards and praying for sick people. After reading each card, she prayed for each request, one by one. As she prayed eloquently and piously, a number for financial contributions flashed across the bottom of
The Problems with Christian Nationalism: An American Viewpoint
By Ethan Magness A visit to the Anne Frank House in Amsterdam is an unsettling experience. From the outside everything seems so normal. If not for the small line of tourists waiting to get in, it would be indistinguishable from other houses in the beautiful old neighborhood. Cobblestones and a quiet canal belie the dramatic story of good and evil that took place inside the silent building. The house tour leads from the printing shop through the secret door and into the apartment. The furniture is simple and functional. Even the “hiding place” seems comfortable and would have been quite
Our Greatest Hope
Mark A. Taylor urges believers to keep patriotism in perspective—honoring country without worshiping it—and to remember we are citizens of another nation, the kingdom of God.
God 1, County 0
Boulder County’s denial of Rocky Mountain Christian Church’s expansion has become a high-profile test of RLUIPA and First Amendment protections, with federal court scrutiny and significant legal stakes.
December 6, 2006
Interview with Ruth Elliott
Ruth Elliott shares how an unexpected path from Stanford led to public service in Washington, D.C. She reflects on faith, humility in a high-stakes environment, and practical counsel for young people pursuing diplomacy or government work.
