LOUISVILLE, Ky. (BP) — Richard Nelson never intended to be a culture warrior. He loves the outdoors and wanted to become a wildlife manager. But God had a different plan and orchestrated events that eventually placed the Wisconsin native on the front lines of Kentucky’s political battles.

In 2012, he founded the Commonwealth Policy Center (CPC), Kentucky’s first full-time, conservative non-profit dedicated to influencing public policy.

Nelson details his journey from the forests of Wisconsin to the halls of the State Capitol in Frankfort — and the lessons learned along the way — in a new book, “Christianity & Politics: A Memoir of Spiritual Formation and a Field Guide for Christians in the Public Arena.”

“I wanted to share lessons that I’ve learned in that arena with other Christians so that we can be more effective as we engage and try to influence that realm and also try to honor God and the process,” Nelson told Kentucky Today.

And, Nelson says, there is no doubt that Christians should be involved in politics and public policy.

“If we believe that God’s Word speaks to all of life, and I’m convinced that it does, then we should be involved with politics and in governing. If we believe that God gives us principles of good government, we believe that His word tells us what is right and what we should pursue, then Christians really have an obligation to be involved with politics,” Nelson said.

“I think more and more Christians are realizing today that what happens in the realm of government affects us as Christians, and more Christians realize we should be involved when it comes to religious freedom, when it comes to conscience rights, when it comes to what is being taught in our public schools to our young people.”

The book is divided into 42 short, readable chapters on topics ranging from “Begin in Prayer” to “Growth Within the Crucible of Public Attacks” to “Effectively Communicating in a Post-Truth World” to “Unplug from Outrage Generators.”

Each chapter ends with a reflection and an applicable passage from Scripture.

“Sometimes people look at a political book and they’re like, ‘Yeah, that’s too much for me.’ I wanted to be readable, and I wanted the reader to take away some important principles,” Nelson said.

“I think that the reader will find this a fascinating book that’s grounded in biblical principles that is really a refreshing approach, if I dare say that, as to how we can engage the public arena.”

One theme that is constant throughout the book is the importance of Christians remaining civil in what is often a toxic political environment, and even learning to love their enemies as Jesus commanded.

“I think of Colossians 4:6, which says, ‘Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.’ Think of James 1:27, everyone should be ‘quick to listen, slow to speak, slow to anger, for man’s anger doesn’t bring about the righteousness that God requires.’ We see passage after passage that talks about how we, as Christians, should engage in conversation,” Nelson said.

“Think of Jesus when He taught us how to engage others … He upped the ante when He tells us that we’re to love our enemies.

“The amazing thing is that when we approach the issues and our political opponents with grace and with kindness, even trying to love them as Jesus says that we’re to do, I find the whole debate changes. There’s more willingness for the other side to listen.”

Nelson’s book is also deeply personal, detailing the lessons he has learned from the pain he has experienced, including the pain of divorce.

“As I truly try to integrate these biblical principles, and it has not been easy, I share some painful lessons and some difficult defeats along the way.

“Sometimes we put on a face that we’ve got it all together as Christians, that our life has been perfect and that’s really not the case,” he said.

Nelson adds that past failure should not automatically deter Christians from becoming engaged in politics and public policy.

“I wanted to share my story, and I’m trusting that God will use that part of my story to help others who’ve gone through that or who are going through that,” Nelson said. “Look, we’re all broken people. We all have different stories, so let God work through your story. Let God use that brokenness or that tragic circumstance in your life.”

Let God work through that, and you’ll be amazed at what He might do with it, Nelson said.

Nelson says it is important that Christians who are engaged in politics remain grounded in their local church. He is a Kentucky Baptist, a member of Buck Run Baptist Church in Frankfort. Nelson says he had worked with Buck Run’s recently retired pastor, Hershael York, for years.

“We had worked together on various issues in the past and I thought, yeah, that’s the church I need to go to,” he said. “It has been a joy being a member there and worshiping with the Buck Run family. We have a new pastor, Chris Parish, and he’s doing a fantastic, fantastic job.”

Nelson adds that good cultural engagement begins with good theology.

“Like, for example, the sanctity of life, or conscience protections for health care workers, things like this — gender dysphoria, transgender ideology — we have a good worldview when it comes to these issues, but also good theology speaks to how we engage these issues.

“We need to not just think rightly on these issues, but we need to engage well on these issues. That means we’re careful as we approach those who are on the other side, we speak graciously, we clothe ourselves with the fruits of the Spirit.”

Although Nelson has dedicated much of his life to politics and public policy, he makes clear in his book that what happens in churches across Kentucky is, ultimately, more important than what happens at the State Capitol.

“The government and politics cannot deal in the realm of the human heart. It can’t. It’s incapable of it. The problems we’re facing today, (as) many as they are, are beyond the scope and reach of the government. This is the realm of the church. This is where we need God to breathe life back into us. We need God to, in His grace and His mercy, to pour into our lives.

“As Christians, we should realize that while politics and government are important, and those are areas that we should be involved with, regardless of how an election turns out, we need to remember that God is still God, that He is still in control, and we need to rest in His providence.”

(EDITOR’S NOTE — Lawrence Smith is the communications director for the Kentucky Baptist Convention. This article originally appeared in Kentucky Today.)