DISCLAIMER: The following topic may be too incendiary for some small groups. It's recommended that you know your small group members fairly well before proceeding into this challenging though necessary topic. Like mama always said, you shouldn't talk politics or religion in polite company.
We're about to combine the two.
This small group Bible study idea should help your group members understand the place of government in a Christian's life, the need for all Christians to pray for their local, state, and nationally-elected governmental officials, and ways to engage politically-minded people so that disagreements on the issues don't lead to disintegrations of relationships.
The Icebreaker
Sign up for an account at PollEverywhere.com. So long as you have 40 or fewer members in your group, the free account will suffice. Create three polls, each with a different question. Since these polls are anonymous, group members should be willing to answer the questions. However, don't force anyone to take part.
- Multiple choice: Who did you vote for in the last Presidential election?
Obama / Romney / Other / I didn't vote
- Multiple choice: How political do you consider yourself?
Highly / Somewhat / Not at all
- Open-ended: When it comes to politics, I describe myself as ...
Members can answer these questions either via text message or through a custom website accessible through the web, which is even made mobile-friendly. You'll want to enable the "Push" option on PollEverywhere.com to create the site where members can answer via the web. The answers then display in real-time on your screen. For a larger display, consider connecting your computer to a living room TV or mirror your iPad to an Apple TV.
While it's not necessary to talk at length about the results, you may find it helpful. For instance, when my small group answered these questions, we found a shocking number of similar responses to the last question, even though everyone could type in anything they wanted to. It was worth commenting on because it brought forth a glaring similarity between group members.
The Questions
Feel free to ask these questions in any order. From my own experience, one question below naturally flowed from our similar answers as to how we describe ourselves politically. As you listen closely to your small group members' responses, look for ways to segue into another question.
Be very wary of allowing the discussion to become specifically topically-based, i.e. one member starts ranting about a particular issue. Gently remind them that there's a time and place for such discussion, but the group is now attempting to understand the broader context of how Christians should take part in politics.
- How often do you pray for government officials?
- Why should we pray for them? Why don't we?
- Do you consider yourself well-informed when it comes to public policy? What do you do to stay informed?
- How do you take part in politics?
- Relate a bad experience you've had in dealing with a highly political person. How can you better engage such a person? (Tread lightly with this topic. Some highly political people may be in your group!)
- What can we do to be more active in politics?
- Would you, or have you ever, called out another Christian (in real life or on a social network) when they've said or posted something demeaning to the President or another government official? Why or why not? For instance, have you ever unfriended someone over what they've said online or in public?
The Bible
Read Romans 13:1-7, where Paul speaks about a Christian's responsibility to pray for government officials and to obey wordly authorities. Talk about how that should affect a believer's daily life.
Contrast Romans 13 with Revelations 13:5-8, when a Christian's resistance to government may be necessary out of obedience to God.
Read Acts 4:19-20 and Acts 5:29, where Peter and John defy the government, declaring that they "must obey God rather than men." Discuss historical times when Christians have rebelled against an unjust government. Talk about when such actions are necessary.
Read 1 Timothy 2:1-4, Jeremiah 29:7 and 2 Chronicles 7:14. Discuss the necessity of prayer for your nation. Which is more necessary: to vote or to pray?
Time permitting, discuss practical ways you can become more politically informed as well as more politically active for causes that are important to you or your group.
Lastly, pray for your local, state, and national leaders. Encourage your group members to make such prayers a regular part of their spiritual life.
As a follow-up exercise, consider using an online gathering place, like a free FaithVillage group, to post links to helpful resources like the Denison Forum on Truth on Culture or sites where you can contact your local, state, and national leaders.
For Further Reading
- Christ and Culture, H. Richard Niebuhr
- A Faith of Our Own, Jonathan Merritt