Dallas Megachurch Pastor Todd Wagner Urges Christians to Serve Communities and Engage in Politics

Pastor Todd Wagner, senior pastor of Watermark Community Church in Dallas, Texas, spoke with My Faith Votes about whether Christians should be involved in politics and whether the Church can still influence culture. Watermark requires every member to serve as a condition of membership, and Wagner encourages members to be educated, active voters.

Wagner, who wrote the book *Come and See: Everything You Ever Wanted in the One Place You Would Never Look*, argues that “weekly meetings of mostly bored adults who regularly attend services have nothing to do with God’s vision for His people.” He says God intends to bring His people into “an adventurous life full of authentic relationships, powerful transformation, and seemingly impossible significance and meaning.” In his view, when Christians live transformed lives and act together in their communities, the Church can help answer the problems facing society.

Wagner said that “a lot of the things government is doing, government shouldn’t have to do,” and suggested that meeting the needs of the community is the role of the Church. He said Christians should be so active in addressing the needs of their neighbors that no need would remain for government assistance. He urged the Church to equip believers to “deploy their gifts” in service to the community.

Watermark launched a free medical clinic, Watermark Clinic, where dozens of medical professionals from the church serve. The clinic is not funded by insurance, and the source describes it as the largest clinic of its kind in the country. According to the report, the clinic has saved the city of Dallas more than $10 million in social and human services to date. Volunteers seek to meet physical needs while looking for opportunities to share the Gospel message, a practical form of care for those in need (Isaiah 58:7).

Wagner encourages Christians to use their resources, talents and skills to “serve the God that has done so many great things for you,” and says every Christian has an equal opportunity to be used by God. He also said believers can take part in civic life by supporting local legislation and ideas that strengthen their communities and align with biblical values. Christians, he said, should vote to fill civic leadership posts with people of integrity and a servant’s heart.

Wagner said it is inexcusable for believers to be uninvolved in the political process. He pointed to Scripture’s account of God raising up and removing leaders and said the same principles apply to leadership today. “Politics and politicians are not our Savior, but they aren’t our sworn enemy either,” he said.

Source: Read the original report