You should be talking about politics in your student ministry.

When you read that sentence, you most likely tensed up. I get it.

After all, depending on your context and experience, you may have been hurt by churches that teach political ideology, expect teaching about political issues at church, or believe church should be a politics-free safe space. 

Not only do we all have vastly different experiences and expectations when it comes to discussing politics in church, but the United States also has a complicated relationship with religion and Christianity, more specifically. 

Based on these realities, it’s probably best to amend the previous statement. 

You should be talking about how to engage in politics (and political conversations) in your student ministry. 

We just released a free one week lesson on talking about politics with high schoolers. So, let’s unpack why, and how you should be talking about this with students.

Why you should talk about politics

Students are talking about politics. 

Gen Z is known as one of the most politically engaged generations. They are known for their zeal for justice and activism. So, many of the students in our ministries are already engaged in political discussions. 

Consider these statistics, 

According to research done by United Way, 
51% of Gen Z have attended a protest or rally for a social cause they care about. 
32% of all Gen Zers are regularly involved in activism. 
33% of Gen Zers have contacted politicians about a cause they care about. 

Gen Alpha also appears to be engaged, at least in current issues. 

According to a survey by The Week, 
84% of American children 8-14 discuss the news once a week. 
24% of American children 8-14 discuss the news daily. 

Of course, not every student is engaged in political activism or well-versed in current issues related to politics. However, even the most politically disconnected teenager is likely to see political content on social media or listen to adults in their lives discuss politics. We have the opportunity to influence how teenagers view and talk about politics so that they can navigate political tension respectfully and thoughtfully. 

How we treat each other matters

Jesus said that the world would know His disciples by our love–not our political involvement or our voting history. That doesn’t mean that politics don’t matter. The laws that govern our country and communities impact our daily experiences. Part of loving our neighbor often involves advocating for laws that help them flourish. 

However, it’s no secret that we all have different perspectives of what that looks like and the government’s role in creating thriving communities. So, as we work together despite differences, we must learn how to respect each other. We also must remember that It’s possible to advocate for all of the right things while dishonoring God because we mistreat each other in the process.

We have an opportunity to help the next generation navigate a politically polarized culture and demonstrate God’s goodness to that culture by loving people they disagree with. We can equip the next generation to create a more unified world than the one they are growing up in. 

So, what can this look like? I’m not an expert in leading through political tension, but I have learned from some incredible leaders who lead in politically diverse communities. Here are a few practices I have seen them model or practices that I think could be helpful in this election season. 

How to talk about politics

Assume people with different views are in the room

Chances are, the teenagers in your room have a variety of political beliefs. If they don’t, they know someone who has different political leanings. So, when you speak ill of any side, you are most likely speaking about someone’s parent, family member, or friend. When you consider that, it changes how you speak about someone, even if you disagree. 

So, consider these questions:
– How would your messaging differ if you assumed people with diverse political opinions were in the room?
– Are there ways you can help people develop empathy for the other side?
– Are there any assumptions you make about what your audience believes?

Avoid misinformation

As Christians, we often talk about delighting in truth. However, when we ignore reality or the facts and research related to different issues, we are not practicing this. In most contexts, you probably aren’t talking about specific political issues from the stage, but sometimes, students ask us questions we weren’t prepared for. In those moments, we can feel pressure to give an answer immediately, even if we are not well-informed on the topic. We may even rely on messaging we have heard in the news or on social media related to the topic without knowing for sure if what we are saying is true. 

So, what do we say? I am not perfect at this, but here are some phrases, I have found helpful in political conversations: 

“Some Christians believe . . . .” 
“I am not sure, but I will do some research.” 
“I think I have heard this, but let me Google it to confirm.” 
“Have you asked your parent about that?” 

This is even more complicated in a digital age where we are inundated with misinformation and biased media. Sometimes it’s hard to sort out what the facts are when different sources say different things. It is often helpful to rely on primary sources and look at multiple sources to avoid bias. We have a responsibility to do our best to share facts or exhibit enough humility to avoid speaking about issues we are uninformed about. At the same time, when we share our perspective on what is true, we must also remember that truth is best shared in love. 

Reject violent language

If you are reading this, you are probably not inciting violence or sharing violent content. That being said, sometimes we are desensitized to the violence we find in the Bible and the violent language found in Christian content.

For instance, let’s consider the lyrics of some worship songs . . . 
“This is how I fight my battles.” 
“Sing a little louder (In the presence of my enemies)” 
“You win every battle.”

Now, it’s not wrong to sing these songs. They are great. At the same time, this violent language comes straight from the Bible. But, what if Christians are literally singing about their brothers and sisters who vote differently as enemies? At the very least, when we sing worship songs, we should define the words we use and not encourage violence against people who vote differently. When we teach Scripture that includes violent language, we should explain the context and not use it to justify violent action.

At the same time, if we are looking for how to treat our enemies, we should probably look to Jesus’ words. He says to love them. 

That’s also why we should . . .

Refuse to insult or dehumanize

This is a given, right? We should be kind as we try to follow Jesus. However, as we watch social media feeds filled with memes that aren’t about policy but about people’s looks and life choices, it must be said. We can elevate how we navigate political tension by always treating people like they are made in the image of God

Eat meals together

This one may be the most important. There is something about eating food that humanizes us. It’s hard to be enemies with someone you have shared a meal with. In this political season, we may need to be more intentional about eating meals together with our students, with our volunteers, and with our community. When we have moments of laughter and know each other’s stories, it changes how we disagree. 

How to set up the conversation well

Hopefully, these practices can help you foster unity and model what it looks like to love others in the midst of a politically tense season. But, practically, you should do three more things this fall to set your student ministry up for success. These are the most important.

Partner with parents

You do not want to catch parents off guard when it comes to this topic. If you teach about how to engage in politics in your ministry, they will most likely have big opinions on what is said or not said. So, communicate with them beforehand. Allow them to have their students opt out. Be open to answering questions and talking through concerns.

Train your volunteers

Your small group leaders will be the ones fielding complicated questions. Equip them by providing some scripts for questions they don’t feel comfortable answering. Remind them that their role is to create a safe space for discussion, not change a student’s mind. Setting up your volunteers for success will be essential for this season.

Communicate with leadership

Parents will call you and the pastor if they have questions or concerns. Avoid potential conflict by giving your leadership a heads-up and an opportunity to review what is being said. This may look different depending on your church culture and dynamic, but it can make difficult conversations go more smoothly if your leader is not taken by surprise. 

Get a free lesson series on talking about politics

If you want to learn more about elevating political tension discussions, check out the XP3 series Let’s Talk About When Adults Disagree and Elevating Conversations About Political Tension. You can download it free at https://thinkorange.com/elevate.