A Barna Group survey released this month examined how several faith communities respond to campaign efforts.

The survey found that the recognition of a candidate’s name and how favorable a candidate is intensifies political campaigns. Many of those surveyed believed that in more recent presidential elections, American faith communities have played a major role in the election of presidents and other important figures.

Survey reveals Evangelicals’ preferences

According to Barna Group, the 7 percent of the population who are Evangelical Christians are mainly concerned with moral issues and are involved in religious activity. They favor Mike Huckabee, who was the governor for Kansas, over Sarah Palin, who was Alaska’s governor and 2009 Vice President nominee for the Republican Party. Meanwhile, current President Barack Obama was a favorite among Protestants and those of a non-Christian faith.

Christians’ role in politics

Scott Waller, a political science professor at Biola, used Scripture to back up the Christian perspectives in elections. Waller said that Romans 13 speaks of the key role of governance–– to restrain evil while keeping public order. Paul says God ordained government for this very purpose.

“Here in the U.S. we have the privilege –– one that many around the world lack –– of being able to give input on who our leaders will be,” Waller said. “It really is a privilege to be able to participate in this process. It may not always go the way you want it to in that your candidate may not end up being elected, but what cannot be taken for granted is that we have an opportunity to play a part in shaping how our country will be run. Ask yourself how many of our brothers and sisters around the world do not have this opportunity.”

There are Christians that feel that the government is corrupt and prefer to have nothing to do with it, while others feel that Christians should be more involved in politics, Waller said.

Participation through prayer

Biola Student Jennifer Miller said she thinks Christians should be involved in politics. She said that Christians are a part of the country, and, as a part of this country, they have the right to be involved in politics.

Waller added that while politicians may set the direction of the community, they has an impact on people as individuals as well.

“While not many Christian thinkers believe that the role of politics is to bring about some kind of theocratic state, many believe that our involvement can have a leavening impact on society as a whole,” Waller said. “God calls us to be in the world, but not of it. In the area of politics, this can be a tricky balance.”

Waller said that part of achieving this balance is to be informed about the big issues that our country is dealing with, to participate in government in some way, to pray for those who have political responsibilities, and to be realistic about how much this government system can accomplish.