Can Christians stay Christian with politics? For the Colson Center, I’m John Stonestreet with The Point.

Many Christians—me included—struggle about what to do with the moral failings of elected officials, especially those on “our side” of important issues, like abortion and religious freedom.

Here’s a simple framework that’s helped me, and maybe can help you. First, character. As Chuck Colson and Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn reminded us, character matters. And the character of elected officials reflects the character of our culture.

Second is company. Every elected official comes with a team. In the case of the president, it’s a big one—thousands. Much of an administration’s work comes from that team. Wise counsel, Proverbs says, is essential.

And finally, there’s policy, which on the most important issues brings life or death, flourishing or vice, to millions.

Christians can and must make distinctions. We don’t need to rationalize a failure in one area because we like what we see in another. We can embrace the good that’s there, and also acknowledge that some failures deserve condemnation.

God give us discernment, and help us keep our Christian witness, even in politics.