We live in a representative democracy, where everyone shares in the governing of the nation. That implies a certain set of duties that can’t be escaped. The appropriate response is not for Christians to throw up their hands…

Christians’ retreat from American politics would be a mistake, argues Michael Gerson, against those who prefer more behind-the-scenes forms of cultural engagement.

As President George W. Bush’s speechwriter for five years, and now as senior research fellow at the Institute for Global Engagement, Gerson has seen first-hand how policy has tangible cultural effects.

Gerson recently co-authored City of Man: Religion and Politics in a New Era (Moody) with Peter Wehner…

Gerson spoke with CT online editor Sarah Pulliam Bailey about why Christians should remain vigorously engaged in the political sphere.

You gently critique the Religious Right, saying, “The biggest problem with the Religious Right has not been tonal or strategic but rather theological.” Could you flesh that out? How might Christians approach politics differently?

We are in a moment of transition. There’s a discontent with an older model of social engagement. One reason is tonal. The Religious Right reacted to the aggressions of modernity, to the impression that leading institutions were imposing an alien vision on American society. Its fundraising appeals presented politics through the prism of a bitter divide. It was the children of light against the children of darkness.

Another element is political and strategic. Because it brought many moral concerns to public life, the Religious Right became an appendage of another political ideology: the Republican Party….but I think the Christian faith stands in judgment of all political ideologies.

[Editor’s note: This article is incomplete. The link (URL) to the original article is unavailable and has been removed.]