As our country has become increasingly divided along partisan lines, so too have churches. Over the past few years, people have increasingly chosen to leave churches where there are political differences to find churches where there is uniformity. We believe this will have lasting negative consequences both for Christian discipleship and for national unity.

The Gospel is not only concerned about the “afterlife” but has implications for “all of life”. While Jesus taught us that his kingdom is not of this world, he also taught us to pray, “Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.” Jesus’ kingdom—his reign and rule—is meant to impact every aspect of our lives, from our personal engagements to our public engagement. If Jesus came to bring only a spiritual Gospel, then the political authorities would have had no need to kill him. We believe that the Gospel of Jesus Christ is political.

While we hold that the Gospel is political, we also hold that it is not partisan. Jesus is not a Democrat or a Republican, and it is our desire to not be defined by partisan politics. Vineyard Church North Phoenix has come to settled conviction about several issues that one might interpret as being either Left or Right. For example, we hold a traditional sexual ethic that some might interpret as conservative. We also regularly speak out about racial injustice, which some might interpret as progressive. Our convictions have nothing to do with being a progressive or a conservative church, but everything to do with taking the Bible seriously. At times, you will likely find yourself scratching your head because our convictions don’t fit neatly into conservative or liberal boxes. Another example—at Vineyard Church North Phoenix, we hold to a consistent ethic of life. That means that we are pro-life in the sense that we oppose the injustice of abortion. But we don’t stop there. We believe that a consistent ethic of life demands that we care for mothers in crisis pregnancies and advocate for parent-friendly policies. A consistent ethic of life also requires that we oppose unjust wars, euthanasia, and the death penalty. Our consistent ethic of life would not be embraced by either the Republican or Democratic party platform.

One of the strengths of Vineyard Church North Phoenix is our diversity. We have Republicans and Democrats and Independents. We have some who consider themselves conservative and others who are progressive. Individuals find themselves across the political spectrum. At the same time, it is our desire to shape the inclinations of peoples’ hearts and minds by a vision of Jesus’ kingdom that transcends our partisan politics.

Does the VC participate in political activism?

Along with prayer and preaching, there are three approaches that Christians have taken to alleviate injustice and suffering in the world—mercy, justice, and advocacy. 

Mercy relieves the consequences of injustice. It’s the Matthew 25 approach to ministry. I gave you something to eat, I gave you something to drink, I gave you clothes, I cared for you. That is mercy. There is no controversy in any evangelical church about showing mercy. No church that I’ve ever heard of is upset when you do a food pantry. Or send medical missionaries to bring relief to those who have just experienced a hurricane.

Justice is something else. Justice deals with the questions of “why”. Why does someone need food? Why are they in prison? Why do they need clothes? Questions of justice are trying to get at the root causes. When you start asking questions of justice is where you start having a real separation among churches. For a number of reasons, many Evangelical churches have opted to not engage in questions of justice. Of course, at Vineyard Church North Phoenix, because we believe that God’s good reign and rule is not just for the future, we are fully engaged in issues of justice. Christians know that when the kingdom comes, justice comes. Peace comes. So we in the Vineyard need to ask questions about justice.

The third level of engagement is advocacy. When you get involved in advocacy, you start dealing with answers to the root causes to injustice. And these require policy choices. Should we pick this solution or that solution, or both solutions? Churches really divide here, and Christians of good will really divide at this point because policy choices can legitimately be debated by Christians of goodwill. Where we have historically been is challenging every individual in the church to get involved not only in mercy, and justice, but also in advocacy. We want a church full of people who are guided by a Christian conscience who are advocating for solutions to the problems around us. But as a church, and as pastors, we have been very selective in our advocacy. On occasion we do, but very rarely.