What is the role of Christians in politics? Jesus asked us to be salt and light.

Matthew 5:13-16 New King James Version (NKJV)
Believers Are Salt and Light

¹³ “You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men.

¹⁴ “You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. ¹⁵ Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. ¹⁶ Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.

What is the meaning of salt and light in this passage? What does it mean that believers are to be salt and light (Matthew 5:13-16)? (gotquestions.org):

• Salt preserves –prevents rot — and influences the taste. As followers of Christ, we must stand against evil and influence our society positively.
• Light chases away the darkness. Through our good deeds, Christ calls upon Christian churches, like a city on a hill, to let His glory shine through to the world.

Note that in the passage cited above “you” is used in the plural. Christ calls Christians to work together to perform good works that glorify our Father in heaven.

How does Christ’s call for good works apply to our political system? Consider that a city is a political entity. A city shines because it is well run. To make our communities shine, Christians must strive for moral laws and against government corruption.

How do we do this? Take the time to examine The Beatitudes (Matthew 5:1-12). That Bible passage immediately precedes the passage that tells us to be salt and light. Here Jesus blesses the humble and the righteous, those who seek justice, not those who seek governmental power to force their beliefs on others. Christianity is not about making other people do stuff. Christians love their neighbors. They don’t boss them around. We recognize the fact that each of us belongs to God. Hence Christians don’t seek to maximize government power. We seek government that does what government must do well.

In Matthew 22:21, Jesus tells us to render unto Caesar what is Caesar’s and to God what is God’s. How do we determine what we should render to Caesar? How do we determine what we should render to God? These are questions Christian churches need to answer. Members of Christian churches should seek guidance from the Bible and their pastors. If we want to be salt and light we must have answers.