Religion and Politics in Today’s World
This past week, Rev. William Barber spoke with unmistakable clarity about the dangers of the misuse of religion in politics. In his words, “Religion [or] morality that claims love for God, or love for justice but says nothing about injustice … this is religious nationalism … it is an attempt to sanctify wrong” (The Guardian). His warning is timely: whenever faith is twisted to justify violence, defend unjust systems, or serve partisan agendas, it loses its soul and strays from the heart of the Gospel.

A Biblical Response to Injustice
The Bible consistently calls out leaders who distort faith for their own gain. The prophets denounced rulers who cloaked oppression in religious language, reminding God’s people that justice and mercy matter more than empty rituals. Jesus Himself offered a strong critique in Matthew 23, condemning hypocrisy and overturning the authority of those who misused religion for power. His example shows us that faith and justice cannot be separated — true discipleship resists manipulation and stands for what is right.

How Christians Can Resist Misuse of Faith
True faith challenges wrongdoing rather than excusing it. Prophetic faith refuses to let Christians be co-opted by partisan politics or movements that disguise injustice with piety. As Rev. Barber reminds us, our faith must speak truth even when it is unpopular, confronting systems that exploit and refusing to bow to ideology. A Christianity that serves party lines instead of Christ is not prophetic faith but compromised faith.

Practical Steps for Living Prophetic Faith
So what does this mean for us today? It means practicing prayerful discernment so we can recognize when religion is being manipulated for political gain. It means speaking truth in love, even when that truth unsettles. And above all, it means keeping Christ—not ideology—at the center of faith and politics. When we do this, we walk in the tradition of the prophets and of Jesus Himself, proclaiming a faith that cannot be bought, silenced, or misused.

Key Takeaway

Faith should never excuse injustice. Instead, prophetic faith resists the misuse of religion in politics and points us back to justice, mercy, and the way of Christ.