I am excited to share a new book written by one of our own Westside Family Church elders, Dr. David Beauchamp.
In Leading Through the Noise: A Biblical Path for Churches in a Polarized Age, David tackles a question Christians increasingly find themselves asking: How do we faithfully engage government and politics without allowing politics to distract us from the mission Jesus has given His Church?
David’s answer is thoroughly biblical and refreshingly gospel-centered.
Rather than calling Christians to withdraw from public life or to pursue political power, David points us to the example of the Apostle Paul. Through Paul’s interactions with governing authorities in Acts and his teaching to the churches, David develops a model of engagement marked by prayer, respect, courage, Scripture, restraint, and confidence in the sovereignty of God.
At the center of the book is a conviction I believe the Church desperately needs to remember: laws and policies can influence behavior and circumstances, but only the gospel of Jesus Christ can transform the human heart.
David writes:
“Our rights are not the mission. The gospel is the mission.”
(p.77, Kindle edition)
That statement captures what I appreciate so much about this book.
David challenges Christians to see the men and women serving in government differently. Public servants are not primarily people for us to influence, criticize, recruit to our political cause, or defeat at the ballot box. They are people made in the image of God. They need encouragement. They need prayer. They need relationships. And, like every one of us, they need the hope of the gospel.
That makes Leading Through the Noise more than a book about politics. It is a book about mission.
Why I Recommend It to You
David serves as one of our elders here at Westside Family Church in Leavenworth and has been a part of our leadership from the start in 2016. I have the privilege of knowing the person behind the words. I have seen his heart for Jesus, his commitment to Scripture, and his desire to build genuine relationships with those who serve in public office.
Because of that relationship, I want to be transparent: this is an endorsement from a pastor who knows David personally. But I am recommending the book because David has personally taught me some of these principles, and what I have read in the book confirms that its message is important for the Church—not just our church.
David does not give readers a strategy for helping one political party win. Instead, he gives Christians a framework for remaining faithful to Jesus regardless of which party is in power, which candidate wins an election, or what political controversy dominates the news.
That is one reason I believe this book has staying power. Elections change. Administrations change. Political parties rise and fall. The mission of Jesus does not.
I highly recommend Leading Through the Noise to pastors, missionaries, ministry leaders, disciple-makers, and followers of Jesus who want to engage the public square without losing their gospel witness.
My hope is that Christians around the world will take seriously the mission field that exists in our city halls, county offices, state capitols, national governments, and the countless public offices in between—and learn to bring the hope of Jesus into those places with courage, humility, respect, and love.
Connect with David & Learn More about this Ministry
If you would like to learn more about gospel-centered engagement with public servants, you can connect directly with David. Email him at david@engagekschurch.com or follow him on Facebook at facebook.com/DavidRayBeauchamp, where he shares his Wednesday Word and other encouragement and resources for Christians seeking to faithfully engage the public square.
You may purchase Leading Through the Noise: A Biblical Path for Churches in a Polarized Age on amazon.com.
Kasey Robinson
Lead Pastor
