Can Politicians be Followers of Jesus?

[Soloist]

I just don’t see how they can be appointed by God and rejected by Him.
Interpretations abound, not always representative of Gods heart & judgement.

Babylon was appointed by God to judge Israel. Then rejected by God and brought down.

Was Biden ordained by God or not?
Was Hitler ordained by God or not?
Was Trump ordained by God or not?

According to Daniel it is He who sets up kings and removes them and leaders are ministers of God for good and not evil. He allows whomever he allows and someday it will be THE AntiChrist

You’re the one who questioned how they could be ordained by God and then rejected. Yet you reference verses supporting exactly what I said.

[Ernie]

I think Christians should be calling these people out. After all, Jesus said,

46 “Why do you call me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do what I tell you? 47 Everyone who comes to me and hears my words and does them, I will show you what he is like: 48 he is like a man building a house, who dug deep and laid the foundation on the rock. And when a flood arose, the stream broke against that house and could not shake it, because it had been well built.[a] 49 But the one who hears and does not do them is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation. When the stream broke against it, immediately it fell, and the ruin of that house was great.”

Grok gave me this list for starters.

1. Jimmy Carter
39th President of the United States; former Governor of Georgia.
Quote: "I am a follower of Jesus Christ, and I believe that the teachings of Christ are the most important teachings in the world."
(Source: Interview with The Christian Science Monitor, 1976)
2. Mike Pence
48th Vice President of the United States; former Governor of Indiana; former U.S. Representative.
Quote: "I’m a Christian, a conservative, and a Republican, in that order. I’m a follower of Christ."
(Source: Speech at the Republican National Convention, 2016)
3. Tim Scott
U.S. Senator from South Carolina; former U.S. Representative.
Quote: "I am a follower of Jesus Christ, and my faith is the foundation of my life and my work."
(Source: Interview with The Washington Post, 2017)
4. Justin Trudeau
23rd Prime Minister of Canada.
Quote: "I am a follower of Christ, and I believe that faith can guide us in public life."
(Source: Speech at the National Prayer Breakfast, 2016)
5. Angela Merkel
Chancellor of Germany.
Quote: "I am a follower of Jesus Christ, and my Christian faith is a guiding principle in my life."
(Source: Interview with Die Zeit, 2012)
6. Scott Morrison
30th Prime Minister of Australia.
Quote: "I am a follower of Jesus Christ, and my faith is central to who I am."
(Source: Interview with The Sydney Morning Herald, 2019)
7. Cory Booker
U.S. Senator from New Jersey; former Mayor of Newark.
Quote: "I am a follower of Jesus Christ, and I try to live my life according to His teachings."
(Source: Speech at the Democratic National Convention, 2016)
8. Jacinda Ardern
40th Prime Minister of New Zealand.
Quote: "I am a follower of Christ, and I believe in the values of compassion and justice."
(Source: Interview with The Guardian, 2018)
9. Rick Santorum
Former U.S. Senator from Pennsylvania; former U.S. Representative; 2012 Republican presidential candidate.
Quote: "I am a follower of Jesus Christ, and my faith shapes my worldview and my politics."
(Source: Interview with Fox News, 2012)
10. Tony Blair
Prime Minister of the United Kingdom.
Quote: "I am a follower of Christ, and my faith has always been an important part of my life."
(Source: Interview with The Telegraph, 2007)
11. Ben Carson
17th U.S. Secretary of Housing and Urban Development; 2016 Republican presidential candidate.
Quote: "I am a follower of Jesus Christ, and I believe that faith is essential to public service."
(Source: Speech at the National Prayer Breakfast, 2013)
12. John Kasich
Former Governor of Ohio; former U.S. Representative; 2016 Republican presidential candidate.
Quote: "I am a follower of Jesus Christ, and I try to reflect His love in my actions."
(Source: Interview on CNN, 2016)
13. Byron Donalds
U.S. Representative from Florida.
Quote: "Congressman, husband, father and follower of Christ proudly serving #SWFL fighting for freedom, liberty, 2A & school choice."
(Source: Official X profile bio, @ByronDonalds, as of March 27, 2025)
14. Sarah Palin
Former Governor of Alaska; 2008 Republican vice-presidential nominee.
Quote: "I am a follower of Jesus Christ, and my faith guides me in everything I do."
(Source: Interview with CBN News, 2008)
15. Keir Starmer
Prime Minister of the United Kingdom; former Leader of the Opposition.
Quote: "I am a follower of Christ, and my faith informs my sense of justice and fairness."
(Source: Speech at a Labour Party event, 2021)
16. Jair Bolsonaro
President of Brazil.
Quote: "I am a follower of Jesus Christ, and I seek to honor Him in my leadership."
(Source: Speech at a church event in Brasília, 2019)
17. Michele Bachmann
Former U.S. Representative from Minnesota; 2012 Republican presidential candidate.
Quote: "I am a follower of Jesus Christ, and that’s the lens through which I see the world."
(Source: Interview with The Christian Post, 2011)
18. Brian Kemp
Governor of Georgia.
Quote: "I am a follower of Christ, and my faith drives my commitment to serve."
(Source: Campaign speech, 2018)
19. Marco Rubio
U.S. Senator from Florida; 2016 Republican presidential candidate.
Quote: "I am a follower of Jesus Christ, and my faith is the cornerstone of my life."
(Source: Interview with CBN News, 2015)
20. Nancy Pelosi
Former Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives; U.S. Representative from California.
Quote: "I am a follower of Jesus Christ, and His teachings inspire my work for justice."
(Source: Speech at a Catholic charity event, 2010)

[Ernie]

I don't think Christians should only be calling out politicians. I think they should call out anyone who is not following Jesus and anyone who supports those who are not following Jesus.

Romans 1
They were filled with all manner of unrighteousness, evil, covetousness, malice. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, maliciousness. They are gossips, slanderers, haters of God, insolent, haughty, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents, foolish, faithless, heartless, ruthless. Though they know God's righteous decree that those who practice such things deserve to die, they not only do them but give approval and take pleasure in those who practice them.

[Ernie]

I've been thinking a lot about this question in regards to another question some of us have been discussing - should Anabaptist followers of Jesus publicly call out politicians who claim to be followers of Jesus who don't actually follow Jesus' teachings?

If we should publicly call them out, what should they be called out for?
A. The fact that they are part of an anti-Jesus kingdom, which goes against our understanding of two kingdom theology?
B. The things they support that are in opposition to Jesus' teachings?

Ernie mentioned Byron Donalds in another thread as an example of what should be called out. So the question I have is this, if the struck through part was not included, would he still need to be publicly called out?

Byron Donalds
@ByronDonalds
Congressman, husband, father and follower of Christ proudly serving #SWFL fighting for freedom, liberty, 2A & school choice. Official Account:
@RepDonaldsPress

If the answer is no, is not publicly calling him out an endorsement of the idea that he can be a followers of Jesus as a politician?

If the answer is yes, I think I could get on board with calling out the idea that being a politician in a worldly government is not compatible with the nature of Jesus' Kingdom. When we call out "Christian" politicians from this premise it seems to me it can be done from a truly apolitical standing. I'm not sure that calling out their support for fighting for freedom, liberty and the 2A will ever be viewed as apolitical, simply because those are hot button political issues. IMO, those issues are the symptoms, not the root problem.

I think the answer is "yes".

[Ernie]

I think we can always call people to a closer walk with Jesus but there is a self defeating element to doing it to politicians. Fighting fire with fire is ultimately admission that fire is morally neutral and calling out politicians is itself engaging in politics.

This addresses another question I haven't been quite sure how to answer. Is there an element involved with politicians that is different than dealing with non-politician Christians who support the same things "Christian" politicians support?

I think I'm getting closer to an answer that brings some clarity for me. When a Christian gets involved in actually running the affairs of "that other kingdom" there is a direct conflict of interest involved that may not be as pronounced with those who are not politicians.

"running the affairs" definitely make a person more accountable. But as I mentioned earlier, Paul says giving approval and taking pleasure in their actions seems to have the same consequences.

[Grace]

That question often crossed my mind. But I am glad I am not the judge on whether political leaders can be followers of Jesus or not. I am doing an in-depth study of the Book of Esther and how God put her into the political realm of her day. We as Anabaptists would have looked down on Esther. She was married to an ungodly, drunken, vile, self-centered king. She shared his bed before she was married. However, we know the whole story and we know that God put her there to save and preserve God's people. We don't know what or how God is moving in our political leaders today.

The primary distinction is that in these last days God has spoken to us, not through the fathers by the prophets, but by His Son. His Son has made it clear what our role as followers of Himself is and that's what I choose to live by. What God does with the present kingdoms of this world is His prerogative. We have clear NT teachings on how we are to relate to the kingdoms of this world and none of those teachings are at odds with what our role is or with what God is doing with those kingdoms.

Thanks for that answer and clarification.

[JohnH]

I think we can always call people to a closer walk with Jesus but there is a self defeating element to doing it to politicians. Fighting fire with fire is ultimately admission that fire is morally neutral and calling out politicians is itself engaging in politics.

This addresses another question I haven't been quite sure how to answer. Is there an element involved with politicians that is different than dealing with non-politician Christians who support the same things "Christian" politicians support?

I think I'm getting closer to an answer that brings some clarity for me. When a Christian gets involved in actually running the affairs of "that other kingdom" there is a direct conflict of interest involved that may not be as pronounced with those who are not politicians.

"running the affairs" definitely make a person more accountable. But as I mentioned earlier, Paul says giving approval and taking pleasure in their actions seems to have the same consequences.

Do you feel better with a President who doesn’t claim to be a Christian? Trump is the first President in recent memory who hasn’t claimed this (for his first term). (Nowadays he claims to have some sort of faith, mostly attributing this to being narrowly missed from being assassinated to making him believe in divine intervention and thus in the divine.)

[GaryK]

I think Christians should be calling these people out. After all, Jesus said,

46 “Why do you call me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do what I tell you? 47 Everyone who comes to me and hears my words and does them, I will show you what he is like: 48 he is like a man building a house, who dug deep and laid the foundation on the rock. And when a flood arose, the stream broke against that house and could not shake it, because it had been well built.[a] 49 But the one who hears and does not do them is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation. When the stream broke against it, immediately it fell, and the ruin of that house was great.”

Grok gave me this list for starters.

I definitely see the issue you see in the Grok list of politicians. In these verses Jesus addresses the foundations of those who call themselves Christians but don't do what he taught as well as those who call themselves Christian and do what he taught. I believe followers of Jesus should focus their attention on alerting those who don't do what He taught that their foundation is faulty. Doing so is possible without appearing to be political.

[R7ehr]

Do you feel better with a President who doesn’t claim to be a Christian?

Interesting question. I think of the verse about lukewarmness. I think at best a Christian President is lukewarm. So that isn't great. And I think of the damage it does to the name of Christ. That isn't great. On the other hand, the more or closer anyone - a nation or person - adheres to Biblical truths, the better off they are. After all, the Bible is instructions on how humans should live their lives. And so the more you obey the instructions, the better off you are in this life.

[joshuabgood]

Re OP - Yes they can. And we shouldn't be shy about challenging them to more closely follow what Jesus actually taught and practiced. And we also needn't be shy about challenging the nonChristian ones. Herod was challenged.

Christianity is political and it has political ramifications. It is in competition with the pagan nation-states for dominance...that is "reigning." Insofar as the Kingdom of God is strong, the powers of this world are threatened. Insofar as the Kingdom of God is weak, the powers of this world are not threatened. Who is your allegiance to...that is, your faith in? Or your faithfulness/fidelity to?

Jesus called all those whom he came into contact with to acknowledge is Kingship.