“Are you one of those right-wing Christians?” My new coworker stood before me demanding an answer. I struggled to come up with an intelligent response to this sudden verbal assault. “Are you talking about politics?” I countered. We proceeded to have a heated exchange that ended with each of us judging the other as the progeny of Satan. Since then we have talked more and understand one another better. To her, calling yourself a Christian implies a pre-determined, mean-spirited political agenda.

Unfortunately her question echoes the views of many in our culture. Bryan Garner in A Dictionary of Modern American Usage (Oxford University Press, 1998) notes the word Christian “seems to be used synonymously with fundamentalist right-winger.” Sadly that mindset does not end at the church door.

Last summer at a church dinner my husband and I sat around a table with fellow church members. We chatted while waiting for the meal to begin and the conversation eventually turned to politics. A few brought up the latest thing a conservative radio talk show host had said, and several heads nodded. Then the man sitting directly across from me began talking about the “other side”—the politically liberal and anyone who would support them. As he spoke, his face clouded with what I can only describe as complete anger and even hatred.

While I love my brothers and sisters in Christ, I have to ask: Does an attitude like this reflect Christ to our culture? I don’t think so. In fact, similar mindsets received Jesus’ harshest criticism during his earthly ministry.

The dividing lines between issues of politics and issues of faith have blurred until many can no longer tell the difference. Gene Carson, retired minister of West Christian Church in Wichita, Kansas, had the right idea. As quoted in the New York Times last fall he said, “When you mix politics and religion, you get politics.” We can’t have it both ways. We must choose whether we want to continue as a political special interest group, or people who passionately obey Jesus’ last words in the Great Commission.

We need to ask ourselves some hard questions. Does organized evangelical involvement in politics damage opportunities to reach out with the gospel? How do we develop a heart for those who need Christ when we allow politics to give birth to loathing instead? Will the lost of our country listen to anyone who they assume hates them?

The time has come to un-blur the lines. If we do not, our reach to those outside of Christianity will suffer. But how do we do that?

First, we need an attitude change. We must refocus our energy on winning our world rather than gaining political clout. Demand it of our leaders; demand it of each other. True change in our culture will only come from within, one person at a time. We won’t gain anything for Christ through political means.

Second, we need to work on our approachability factor. Darrel Bock, professor at Dallas Theological Seminary said, “Evangelicals should lose their Jimmy Cagney theology. Quit telling people they’re dirty rats who shouldn’t be doing what they are doing. Instead show them the gospel in ways that resonate with the culture.” That means we need to get out of our “Christian-ness.” Get some lost friends. Love the unlovable. Live the life of the un-dogmatic. Strive to see people on the “other side” the way Jesus does—not as political enemies.

Third, pray. Pray that God will create in us a heart for those who don’t know him, regardless of how repulsive they may seem or how hard they fight against the things we hold most dear.