Opinion/Politics/Faith
By Judge John Marshall Meisburg, Jr., 12-16-25
Last week a Christian college in California, Vanguard, University, banned their Turning Point USA Chapter from official recognition on their campus. To me this was shocking and very wrong. Some Christian churches and Christian schools have the attitude that politics is a verboten subject – and cannot be allowed or even be discussed. They do not like the concept of political speech. They are afraid it is too “divisive.” I would like to show you today why that attitude is not Biblical, contrary to American values and is very short sighted and dangerous in 2025.
Number one, nearly every political issue of our day is also a spiritual issue. Look at the key issues today: abortion, gay marriage and homosexuality, illegal immigration, communism and socialism versus capitalism, political violence and murder, law and order, freedom of speech and religion. They all have major spiritual implications for our society.
Number two, Christian young people must be prepared to discuss political issues from a Biblical point of view. They must be able to do this in college and in life. Otherwise, they will be brainwashed by liberal professors and will lose their faith. It is tragic that 75% of all Christians lose their faith in college. That happens because their faith is very weak and they have not been prepared in high school years to defend their faith and issues from a Biblical world view.
Number three, politics is very important to God, and the Bible tells us to be involved in politics. The Bible is replete with references to submission to authority, honoring our government and praying for our political leaders. In addition, the Bible is also replete with stories about God using men and women of faith to confront political and government leaders such as Moses and Pharo, and Paul and Rome.
Number four, God tells us to be light and salt in our culture and be bold and courageous and stand up for our faith regardless of the circumstances. Matthew 5:13-16.We must speak the truth in love. Ephesians 4:15. Jesus himself was very polarizing controversial, politically inflammatory, and divisive. We must always strive to be like Jesus. Jesus said He did not come to bring peace on earth, but a sword. Matthew 10:34-36.
Number five, Christian schools and colleges should encourage their students to be involved in politics, not discourage them! Political science is a major in most universities, and that was my major. College is supposed to be about the search for the truth and a place where open debate and discussion are greatly honored, not suppressed. America is in a serious moral and political crisis today because the church left the domain of politics
and allowed atheists and agnostics to run our country. Now is the time to be engaged, and not put our head in the sand and live in a little spiritual bubble. We must be engaged in our culture!
Number six, Political debate and discussion are not antithetical to the Gospel. The two are inextricably intertwined. As young people see the truth of the Biblical worldview they will be more open to the Gospel and the need for salvation.
So for all these reasons, I submit that Christian colleges and schools should be heavily involved in the politics of the day. They should have Turning Point USA Chapters in all of their schools, so that their students can learn to discuss the political issues of the day from a Biblical worldview. The future of America and the success of the Gospel hangs in the balance.
Judge John Marshall Meisburg, Jr. is a retired judge and practicing attorney in Nassau County
The views expressed in this commentary are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official position of Citizens Journal Florid
