Matt07924, Matt, I’m not sure I’m tracking you on the distinction between “politics” and the “state.” Politics is the art or science of governing,including states. The state of Michigan allows employers to fire people just for being gay. When dealing with texts of Scripture that speak of Jesus setting captives free etc. are we to never mention something like this (to remain “apolitical.) One could multiply examples: how “the state” meaning our Federal government is separating children from parents and caging the former — or mistreating immigrants, in direct contravention of Scripture’s warnings. Or the judicial system showing preference for the wealthy and the white and disadvantaging the poor and people of color. And so on.I wonder if what you mean by “political” is really “partisan”. And there I would agree with you that it is not good for Christians to be partisan — meaning “my political party, right or wrong.” Currently, evangelicals seem to be adopting this approach to the Republican party, more so under Trump. But that doesn’t mean that Christians aren’t to “take sides”. Jesus took sides, standing with the poor over and against their oppressors (see Luke 4). It seems to me that it is much easier for pastors who don’t happen to be on the short end of the power stick to advocate for a “non-political” stance since, by definition, the current political status quo tends to favor them. You don’t tend to hear Christians on the short end of the power stick, like African American Christians call for an approach to Christianity that is apolitical.