Published April 25, 2025
For much of the modern era, evangelical political engagement in America has been perceived—sometimes rightly, sometimes wrongly—as a quest for power. The rise of the Religious Right in the late 20th century was framed by many as a strategic movement to “take back” the culture, to assert Christian values through political dominance. That framing—whether entirely accurate or not—has left a lasting impression on public consciousness. But that is not the story of evangelical politics today.
There is a maturing underway.
Something deeper and sturdier is shaping the posture and consciousness of a new generation of Christian political activism. While past movements may have sought cultural or political ascendancy under the banner of Christianity and to make sure that everyone knew America was a “Christian Nation,” today’s evangelical engagement is increasingly uninterested in power for its own self-interest. Rather than seeking to rule, the focus is on preserving the moral architecture that makes a just and ordered society possible.
Click here to continue reading.
EPPC Fellow Andrew T. Walker, Ph.D., researches and writes about the intersection of Christian ethics, public theology, and the moral principles that support civil society and sound government. A sought-after speaker and cultural commentator, Dr. Walker’s academic research interests and areas of expertise include natural law, human dignity, family stability, social conservatism, and church-state studies. The author or editor of more than ten books, he is passionate about helping Christians understand the moral demands of the gospel and their contributions to human flourishing and the common good. His most recent book, out in May 2021 from Brazos Press, is titled Liberty for All: Defending Everyone’s Religious Freedom in a Secular Age.
