A Consequential Election
A Consequential Election
a statement of personal conscience
I post this as a public letter to my own congregation, and to promote the non-partisan “Confession of Evangelical Conviction,” to which I was an original signer. I have also subsequently signed a “Statement on Faith and Democracy” whose main concerns I also share.
You may ask why this is coming so late in the political season. There are a number of reasons, including the busyness of life, and desiring to be prayerful and slow to speak (James 1:19). Another reason is that I am not interested in influencing my member’s votes for a host of reasons, both spiritual and practical. What I am interested in doing is influencing our integrity going forward, and helping us navigate what might be some very rough waters ahead.
It should go without saying that I am speaking only for myself in this letter. In fact, our church’s constitution forbids our church courts from speaking into civil matters except in extraordinary circumstances (Westminster Confession 31.4, PCA Book of Church Order 3-4). This is my statement of conscience and mine alone.
Teach us to care and not to care
Teach us to sit still
even amongst these rocks.
~ T.S. Eliot ~
Dear sisters and brothers,
There is no perfect way to write this letter. If I said everything I wanted to and tried to prove every point, it could easily run to 20,000 words. If I say too little, it could lead to misunderstanding and fractured fellowship among brothers and sisters. As it is, I am going to have to trust that you will offer me the judgment of charity, and that I have in mind our spiritual good above all other concerns. My aim is for us to follow Jesus well together in a difficult cultural moment, as those who are still in this world but not of it (cf. John 17:15-16). Most importantly, we must remain in prayer together for our nation and community.
Please know as I write this, I love and respect each of you deeply. That is not a throw away line that must be said. When I think of each of you, specifically, you bring me joy - each one of you in different ways. I sometimes spend my days thinking of what wise, lovely goofballs you all are. I love being your pastor, and I love the team God has raised up here. Now, to the subject at hand.
Many Christians have strong opinions about national politics, and I take that to be a good thing. They care about their neighbors and want what is best for them, and public policies play a role in that. As Christians, it is hard to balance our responsibilities in this world while remembering that ultimately, we are only passing through to our True Country. As T.S. Eliot prays above, we need to care and not care, all at once. That is tough to do just right, and we must give one another a large measure of grace as we all navigate this moment’s challenges differently.
I have written and rewritten this letter many times, and in the end have decided to leave out most of my cultural commentary, as well as multiple links to demonstrate my points. I read a good bit of 20th century history and am tempted to make comparisons and point out trends. But I am a pastor, not a professor. I think it suffices enough for now to say I am gravely concerned about the direction of our nation’s political culture, enough so to write this.
None of us know what the next few months may hold. What is predictable is that our culture will likely continue to fracture, and that people we know and love - including many of our own members - will be greatly affected by this year’s election. So I pray the below may offer some wisdom going forward together as a church.
The Election and Christian Freedom
When American pastors write about elections, they tend to do one of two things. The first is to tell you the “Christian” way to vote. They line up a few moral issues and explain how one party is more in line with those issues, and then use their sacred office to urge their members to vote in the same way they do, even if they never mention names from the pulpit. This is understandable, especially when those issues are so Biblically clear. But what if the pastor’s preferred party is also morally compromised on different Biblical values? What if the means towards those Biblical ends are unlawful or unwise? That’s where it gets complicated.
This one-sided approach also tends to create church cultures that are more or less monolithic around the pastor’s politics, and hinders the church’s ability to reach all kinds of sinners across society. Even worse in my view, many pastors end up parroting talking points from their preferred party and begin to sound more like political operatives than ministers of God’s grace. As a result, churches become either red or blue, never purple colonies of heaven with people of different practical persuasions united together by their love for Christ and His grace.
A second approach is preferable to the first and probably easier, truth be told. It is for a pastor to either remain silent, or to “both sides” an election, advising their members about errors in both major parties, and remind them that they are citizens of heaven first. This keeps the pastor “above the fray,” but may reveal a certain degree of fear in the face of evident political dangers. He cannot be fired for his social views, because no one knows what they are. He can keep ministering to his people with his head down, even as he watches marginalized segments of society harmed by unjust policies or immoral character that he refuses to address. If I am honest with myself, I suspect this is what I would’ve done in the Civil Rights era. I would have been what Martin Luther King Jr. describes as a “white moderate” - silent, safe, and useless.
For the sake of my own conscience, and with all that is at stake this year, I want to find my courage, and not opt for either of these approaches this year. The first is a shameful abuse of the pastoral office. The second is a safe, ivory tower approach that ignores our calling to courageously minister faithfully in our own time and place. As hard as it is, pastors should try to be some of the most objective public figures on the scene, calling out sins all sides while proclaiming God’s love to all.
I will not tell you whether or how I voted. Nor will I pressure you to vote or ask you how you voted. For one thing, not all our members are US citizens. Christ’s church is not defined by political borders. But among American Christians, many are opting out of the presidential election this year. Others are voting third party, or writing in a candidate. Others are voting for one of the two major candidates, despite their flaws, as “the lesser of two evils.” All are acting within their Christian freedom (Westminster Confession Ch. 20), and following their own conscience. That should be respected.
That said, I don’t want to be cowardly or evasive. Many of you know that I am a traditional conservative who has never been able to support some of its more recent manifestations, which I believe to be more radical than conservative. As near as I can figure, that makes me a small minority in American life and possibly in the PCA as a whole. It can be a lonely place at times. I have long been resigned that I am not entirely in lockstep with any one movement in the United States. But I have to be true to my own conscience, for as Martin Luther said, “to go against conscience is neither right nor safe.”
To be clear, I do not want our society to become more progressive on various social issues, but I am also one of those who is concerned with rising nationalist, authoritarian-like strains in the West. Nothing in human nature prevents the falls of democracies, especially if the safeguards are removed. I don’t want us to be driven by fear, but as Christians who are realistic about sin, history and the ability for whole populations to be manipulated, I don’t want us to be naive either. We must pray.
I don’t expect everyone to agree with my conclusions which is rather the point. I respect your right to disagree, and if we discussed it I suspect we would probably agree on many social concerns. This may seem a bit strange but I also think laypeople have a bit more freedom in their political calculations than clergy. There are some things by virtue of my calling I can’t budge on and I don’t think you’d want me to.
What I want to focus on here is to try to help prepare us for the aftermath of the election as a church, regardless of the outcome, and to help us continue to be a witness for Christ in our community. I will not give you my opinions on things like tariffs, infrastructure, or the Federal deficit. No one needs that. What I will do is address some of the moral issues involved from my point of view, and how we can play our part in preserving a civil democracy.
Finally, this is not meant as a general brief about the relationship between church and culture, which I have written about fairly extensively elsewhere. The short version of is that I take our church’s marching orders from passages such as Paul’s instructions in I Corinthians 5:9-13. Paul’s ethical concerns for the church are broad, but what he says we should focus on is the church’s own holiness, not that of the culture at large. What concerns me more is when the opposite happens - when the world’s ethics make its way into the church, from either left or right.
I make this statement of conscience in two ways. First by the two documents I have signed, referenced above. Second, by the following commitments going forward, regardless of the election’s outcome and aftermath.
My statement of conscience: Ten Commitments going forward
FIRST OF ALL, PRAYER. The apostle Paul writes, “First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way.” (I Timothy 2:1-2). This is where I want to begin and end. Our God loves this world and by the Gospel is bringing redemption to all its corners until Christ Jesus returns one day to make all things new. This redemption does not come about by force of arms, but by the preaching of the Gospel, deeds of love - and by prayer. I must pray. I must trust that God loves this world, including all those within our nation’s borders. What others may intend for evil, God will work for good (cf. Genesis 50:20; Romans 8:28). We must pray.
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GRACE, RESPECT & HUMILITY. I always want to lead with and major on God’s grace to all sorts of sinners through Christ Jesus. That includes any discussion about politics. I want to show respect towards those who disagree, as both image bearers of God, and those who are probably right about some things that I am not. Political choices are always something of a dice roll and no one is responsible for all the unintended consequences of what on their face may seem like moral or sound policy choices. Smaller government seems great until services or oversight our neighbors need are no longer there. More government services seem like a good idea until spending becomes a drain on the economy. None of us know the future or how God may use flawed office bearers for His own purposes, whether for blessing or judgment - or more likely, something of both.
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Even when I may be more right about something, I must remember that “knowledge puffs up but love builds up” (I Corinthians 8:1). Let us be a body that builds one another up because first and foremost, we love one another. Even if you or I are less than holy or informed in any of our political opinions, that is no different than other faults that we all struggle with. Paul warns us that if we bite and devour one another, to watch out lest we consume one another (Galatians 5:15). Let us endeavor to sharpen one another in all truth, but with grace, respect and humility.
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CHURCH CULTURE. In all this, what I am most interested in is helping build a church culture that can withstand any secular government structure. I am gravely concerned for the state of democracy and justice in our nation, but many of our brothers and sisters have things far worse in their homelands with governments that actively oppress Christians. Whatever happens, we are first and foremost citizens of heaven. It’s going to be alright in the End for all of those in Christ. It really will. We must believe that. In the meantime, we must love one another - and our enemies - as Christ commanded.
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Whatever happens, let us continue to follow the model of the early church, who “devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers… And all who believed were together and had all things in common.” (Acts 2:24, 44). Let us continue to remain an outpost of Christ’s kingdom, welcoming all He sends us. Let us remember that Jesus came to “preach peace to those far and near,” reconciling men and women to God - and to one another, breaking down the walls of hostility (Ephesians 2:17). Simon the Zealot and Matthew the Tax Collector served side by side as apostles, laying aside their political differences for the sake of Christ.
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As Paul reminds us, “For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. “There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus” (Galatians 3:28). Let us live like that.
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NOT MANY POWERFUL. I want us to remember that, very often, authentic Christians have not had much access to societal power, as Paul wrote to the Corinthians, “Consider your calling, brothers: not many of you were… powerful, not many were of noble birth. But God chose what is… weak in the world to shame the strong.” (I Corinthians 1:26-27). Keeping this in mind, we should soberly recognize that in our day many large cultural powers beyond our immediate control have been in play for the past few decades.
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If you will permit me a bit of historical opinion, it seems to me that we are living through a period of cultural retrenchment not too dissimilar to the 1920s. Since 1970, the disparity between rich and poor in our country has grown as the middle class continues to shrink. Supreme Court decisions have allowed more big money into politics which sway the masses through control of social media algorithms. Large foreign actors interfere through social media bot farms and other ways to manipulate the public. Great Society programs and government ethics reforms have been rolled back one by one. In short, it seems to me that our republic is becoming more plutocratic and oligarchical at the national level, all of which are structural problems that have no quick fixes. In all this, Christians of integrity often have little influence, precisely because they refuse to compromise their ethics for continued access to power (cf. James 2:1-6).
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But this is the way it has always been throughout Christian history, even when churches were officially established by the state. As James reminds us, “friendship with the world is enmity with God.” (James 4:4). So what is our role in all this? We must pray, be witnesses for Christ in love, and do our best to remain impassively removed from these worldly influences. We must remain men and women of integrity, committed to Scripture. That is all Christ ever called us to do.
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I am farther than ever I was from expecting great matters of unity, splendour, or prosperity to the Church on earth, or that saints should dream of a kingdom of this world, or flatter themselves with the hopes of a golden age, or reigning over the ungodly.... On the contrary, I am more apprehensive that suffering must be the church’s ordinary lot, and Christians indeed must be self-denying cross-bearers, even where there are none but formal, nominal Christians to be the cross-makers; and though ordinarily God would have vicissitudes of summer and winter, day and night, that the church may grow extensively in the summer of prosperity and intensively in the winter of adversity, yet usually their night is longer than their day, and that day itself hath its storms and tempests.
~ Richard Baxter, c. 1660 ~
SADNESS. In the midst of all this, I think it is alright for me to admit that I am sad about where we are, morally, as a nation. I am sad for the younger generation of voters that did not know a time when public service was less contentious and when the two major parties were less polarized. I am sad that many of the dangers I feared eight years ago have now become normalized in large parts of our political class, namely dishonesty and self-interest. I am sad that abortion rates have gone up, despite the just overturning of Roe vs. Wade. I am sad for those experiencing gender confusion - and that many respond to their struggle with fear and hostility rather than compassion. I am sad that some countries are so destitute or riddled with violence that families flee them to the U.S., entering any way they can. I am sad at the frequency of mass shootings, some fueled by bigotry. I am sad that the tragedy of January 6th occurred and that a current candidate for president was “practically and morally responsible” for the disruption and injury that day. I am sad that political violence and intimidation has been excused or dismissed by so many, including the PCA when we had a chance to speak to it.
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I do not want to grow cynical or become inured to these things. I want to remain sad, and for that sadness to fuel my prayers for others. It is better, in my opinion, to be sad than angry at all of this, as Solomon writes, “For with much wisdom comes much sorrow” (Ecclesiastes 1:18). I have been angry many times at things that have happened in our nation, seeing so many people manipulated and harmed. But in the end, it’s better to be sad and prayerful than angry - and to remember where our true hope lies. I hope you see Christ’s joy in me, but if on some days that joy is obscured, I’d rather you see sadness than anger. And God forbid, never hatred. As John reminds us, “Whoever loves God must also love his brother.” (I John 4:21).
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COURAGE. I want to endeavor to preach and disciple with courage in a culture increasingly governed by fear and intimidation. I want to pick up my cross and follow my Savior wherever he leads, without fear of man, in church or government. I say this because this is one reason it has taken me so long to write this statement of conscience. It is one thing to live in a pluralist society when many fellow citizens make different moral choices for themselves. But it is another to live in a nation when so many are fearful about the consequences of speaking out against the bullying impulses that are increasingly evident from a powerful segment of our political class - sometimes imitated by professing believers.
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I have not shared this with you yet, but many of my friends across America are fearful for their livelihoods or their family’s safety because they have dared to speak out against those in power. Some pastors have lost their jobs. Other friends require deep counseling because of the threats and hatred they have faced. Fear is growing - and that’s precisely what many in our country want.
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Given this, I suspect that many pastors are tempted to “obey in advance” with their silence. For my part, with God’s help, I want to continue to stand for Biblical convictions, as well as the importance of honesty, kindness and peacefulness in public life, even if it gets me “cancelled” in certain circles. I want to continue to speak the truth to power, with appropriate dispassion and moderation, and yet plainly, even as Paul spoke to King Herod Aquila: “Whether short or long, I would to God that not only you but also all who hear me this day might become such as I am - except for these chains.” (Acts 26:29).
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And in this, may I remember not only the example of St. Paul, but the promise of the apostle John, that “perfect love casts out fear.” We must love because God first loved us (I John 4:18-19).
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A German referendum ballot concerning the annexation of Austria in 1938. A relative of mine was a Reformed Christian and committed pacifist when this vote occurred in his small, Bavarian town. He was one of only two men to mark the smaller circle. While our situations are vastly different, I want to be able to emulate that sort of courage in my public life and ministry. OBJECTIVE TRUTH. I want to remain committed to the objectivity of truth and facts, no matter the personal cost. On the few occasions I have discussed politics with family or friends, I have sometimes been taken aback by the denials or downplaying of clearly evident facts. It has become clear that we all receive news from different sources these days, some of which are more reliable than others. I am sympathetic regarding the dilemma we all find ourselves in. Many of us are unaware of the influences upon us, and like many Americans, what moves us are the images and “feels” that events convey. Likewise, “confirmation bias” - believing what we want to be true - is becoming increasingly widespread as we all retreat into our media bubbles. I know I have at times fallen into this, contributing to false narratives before I had done due diligence to double check. This is a form of breaking the ninth commandment, and it is done all too casually in our time.
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And yet, through all this, Christians cannot downplay or deny the reality of objective truth and facts. We live in a post-truth era, and believers are not immune from this relativist approach to news stories or even science. Sadly, this is often true of professing Christian news organizations, who slant the truth to fit their own political biases, or to satisfy the activists who provide their funding.
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So in terms of living “in this world but not of it,” I would like us to become aware of the many bad actors who profit off disinformation, outrage, and partisan bias. Other political actors “flood the zone” with so many “alternative facts” that it causes many to give up on the concept of truth itself as if it were too hard to discover. This is part of their strategy to gain power because in the end, many will just shrug their shoulders at reported stories or scandals, and say “who can know?” So we side with our preferred party’s narrative. For instance, already we are being told to doubt the election returns unless they fit what obviously “feels” to us what must be an accurate return, based on “common sense,” perhaps fueled by deceptive polling. This in turn may fuel more political violence.
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This is not a Christian approach to establishing facts. We must resist being so manipulated (by any side). Truth is not relative. On any given issue, I must be willing to admit that I could be wrong and willing to change my mind in the face of evidence, often backed up by courts of law with greater expertise than I have. And in the case of moral matters, I must be willing to be “convinced by Scripture and plain reason,” to quote Luther again. Truth is not relative.
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How do we navigate our way out of this information chasm? I am not sure, but as a start, I have found this chart helpful, particularly the vertical axis. I try to get my information from sources closer to the top. In any case, let us commit to being people of truth, facts and science. God is the author of truth, and this is His world. Because our eternal fate is secure in Christ, believers have nothing to fear from truth, no matter the source or what it may cost us in this life.
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THE LOCAL OVER THE NATIONAL. I want to commit to doing small good locally, rather than focusing on large national stories over which I have little sway. This is one reason I say so little about national politics. It is also one thing that encourages me most about our church, that you all already focus on the local, serving your neighbors in need in so many ways, politics aside. The Good Samaritan did not consider the policy implications of helping a Jew lying beside the road. He simply saw a man in need and loved his neighbor as himself (Luke 15:25-37).
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Even in terms of large political issues, I have always tried to preach and emphasize this. As a church, we have always thought it was more important to help the local Pregnancy Resource Center (PRC) than to lobby for changes in the law. Even if the abortion laws change in Virginia, support for the PRC will still be needed. It’s a truism, but laws don’t change hearts. People often find ways to get around them. Prohibition comes to mind as an obvious example.
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All of this plays into this year’s election and the way forward together in our Christian freedom. As you know, the United States has a federal system of government. Some powers are reserved for the states and local governments, while others are delegated to Washington. That means that many of the issues most dear to Christians - protection for the unborn, equity for the poor, and preservation of traditional understandings of gender - are those best adjudicated at the local, not the federal level. There is some degree of overlap of course, as the need for Brown vs. the Board of Education (1954), and the Voting Rights Act (1965) demonstrated. But, in general, the federal government does not decide local school board issues.
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In this year’s election, one of the key moral issues of our time, abortion, has now been primarily moved to the states, thanks to the Dobbs decision overturning Roe vs. Wade. Even the GOP platform has recognized this, as GOP leadership softened the language on abortion to one of “states rights.” It is extremely unlikely that either major party can get the numbers they need in Washington to change this new political reality, which is also true on several other moral issues of concern to Christians. (At least in terms of any new laws - the judiciary is a different matter and not a small consideration.)
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Meanwhile, there are other issues that only the Federal government is charged with, such as national defense, immigration policy and maintaining our alliances. Therefore, it is not irrational for some pro-life conservatives to prioritize these other matters in their voting choices, while remaining pro-life and socially conservative. I am not arguing that they should do so, only that it is within their Christian freedom to think along these lines without abandoning their pro-life political commitments - precisely because they are more committed to working at the local rather than the national level. That is simply their attempt to be faithful in the complex time and place in which we live, part of being in this world but not of it. All are free to make their best judgments and follow their own consciences in this regard, even as we work together to support the cause of life and justice, both here and abroad.
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UNCHANGING ETHICAL STANDARDS. With God’s help, I will not shift my commitment to Biblical ethics with the changing political winds. This is perhaps the rub of this statement of conscience. I want you to be able to trust your leaders as men and women of integrity. I am still imperfect, a sinner desperately in need of God’s grace. But I should nevertheless try to be impartial, to call balls and strikes fairly, not shifting my views due to social pressure from within or without the church.
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To be very frank, what distresses me are the many public Christian leaders who have changed their minds since 2016 - or gone quiet as the political ground has shifted. Some have shifted leftward on issues of sexuality. Others who declared that they would never vote for a presidential candidate with amoral character have now acquiesced to what they once condemned. What has changed in the meantime? Not the candidate’s character. What has changed is the political success he achieved within his party - and his ability to shape them to his view of public morality, rather than the opposite. It would have been better had they said nothing in 2016 (or 1998 for that matter), but since many are given to political commentary that was hardly likely.
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Specifically then, I will endeavor to preach God’s high standards of behavior on the following ethical matters, to cite just a few. Some of these concern policy and some concern character. After all, it is persons who fill offices, not policies. I have not linked every claim, trusting that readers are well enough informed on current events.
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My purpose here is not to persuade but to clearly state my own conscience going forward, and so you all know where I stand. I also want to be clear - I am not saying that how someone votes necessarily reflects what they think about any of the below. There are many considerations that inform a person’s vote, and once more, I want to honor that freedom of conscience. Here then is where I stand on specific issues, trying to maintain my own integrity in today’s setting:
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a) Abortion ~ I will continue to support the PCA’s position on the sanctity of all human life, from “womb to tomb” as it is often put. I am not a medical or legal expert, so will not speak to specific laws, but I believe that all humans should be “welcomed in life and protected in law.” I support public policies that practically reduce the number of abortions, as well as encourage our church to support those who minister through adoption and foster care, a wonderful way to follow Christ and display His love.
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b) Human sexuality ~ I will continue to support the PCA’s position on gender identity and the Biblical ideal of marriage as between one man and one woman, while recognizing that we live in a complicated, pluralist society, and must show love and respect to all our neighbors. Our goal should be to lovingly disciple those in the Church who are undergoing confusion or difficulties on this matter, showing compassion, and not highlighting any one sin struggle over another, as Paul refuses to do in I Corinthians 5:9-13. At the same time, I support religious freedom, the rights of parents, and the safety of children as families navigate these issues in society at large. I want to honor all in our church whether they are called to faithful marriage or faithful singleness according to God’s gifting.
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c) Women ~ I stand against misogyny and the denigration of women, including all forms of sexual abuse and assault. Personally, I have always held that such behavior is disqualifying for public office. I do not want my political views to ever cause women in our church to feel that they are unsafe or unsupported. Likewise, I strongly support the civil rights of all women, including the 19th amendment and their right to vote. I wish this did not even need to be said, but sadly, this has come under attack from some in the Reformed world, who are gaining influence in political circles. Even with differing roles in marriage and church, God has made men and women equal in society. I will continue to herald the dignity and rights of all persons.
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d) Xenophobia and Racism ~ I will stand vigorously against all the forms of xenophobia, racism, and nativism that have been increasing in public rhetoric. I am aware that this is a sensitive subject as some believe that institutions have over-corrected from past wrongs, or have themselves experienced what felt like reverse racism. I want to be Biblical on this subject rather than driven by any side of culture. As I understand the Scriptures, I cannot overlook or excuse the dehumanizing of whole people groups or immigrants as “vermin,” having “bad genes,” or “poisoning the blood of our country,” purposely imitating the language of an earlier nativist, deadly era. Nor is it kind or good public policy to highlight tragic, anecdotal stories of violence in order to blame “the other,” rather than relying upon sound crime rate statistics.
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As an Anglo-Saxon American with ancestry that dates back to the colonial era, I celebrate the United State’s more recent history of legal immigration from many lands, including millions of Christians, many of whom fled persecution. Our church would not look the same if these reforms had not occurred. I fear that any sort of new “Muslim travel ban,” would place friends in jeopardy, as well as lessen the peaceful cultural exchange between nations. Whatever one’s opinions about how best to solve America’s immigration and border policies or however you vote, we must guard our hearts and the church from the dehumanization, hatred and racial divisiveness that has become more acceptable in the current political environment. May we, by God’s grace, be a different sort of Kingdom, sinners from all backgrounds, brought to the same table of grace together in love (cf. I Corinthians 11-13).
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e) Honesty, Transparency and Impartiality ~ Call me naive, but I continue to expect public servants to honor the rule of law, rather than seek office out of self-interest or personal profit, especially from foreign emoluments. Personally, I do not want my political positions to cause anyone in the church to think that I wink at dishonesty or infidelity to oaths of office in church or society, the very heart of conservative constitutionalism. I stand with longstanding evangelical convictions that private character affects public life, and that words reveal the heart. Dishonesty and a lack of transparency in high office can literally cost thousands of lives, as we have seen in the recent past. I will look for and celebrate integrity in all walks of life, large and small.
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f) Rule of Law ~ I will continue to stand against all forms of political violence and intimidation, proclaiming the way of Christ. His followers should lead the way as peacemakers in society, not excusers of arson, vandalism, violence or cruelty because it suits “their side.” I stand against the use of public office to punish opponents and grant favors to friends. We may expect corrupt behavior from those in the world, but Christians should have nothing to do with the abuse of power. I will remind church members who are active duty military or law enforcement that they cannot violate their oaths of office or obey unlawful orders. In such difficult (and hopefully, rare) cases, they are called upon to follow Christ, not man. For all Christians, we must continue to follow the principle, Lex Rex, not the other way around. I will continue to point us to the strong and gentle rule of our loving King, Jesus, that we may follow Him, reflecting His character to the world. “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called the children of God” (Matthew 5:9).
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g) Christian Nationalism ~ As I preached several weeks ago, I cannot support the current iteration of Christian Nationalism that is currently gaining political traction. Many of its leaders have heretical and dangerous theologies and others have a clear lust for power, committed to a “might makes right” code of ethics. In short, I want civil government positions filled by those who are first competent and honest, not primarily driven by questionable theologies or defective views of the interplay between God’s two kingdoms - church and society. To paraphrase Lutheran theologians, Christians must continue to live by a theology of the Cross, rather than a theology of glory.
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As Peter reminds us, we always do well to “not repay evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary, bless… For it is better to suffer for doing good, if that should be God's will, than for doing evil. For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that He might bring us to God.” (I Peter 3:9, 17-18). As hard it as it to apply to modern life, may that be our politics, letting the civil authorities handle justice (Romans 13:1-7). Let us instead focus on and celebrate Christ’s ever growing kingdom of grace, filled with people from every nation, tribe, people and language, all “standing before the throne and before the Lamb” (cf. Revelation 7:9).
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JOY AND BEAUTY. And finally, after this election and its aftermath, life will go on. If we are lucky, any negative results will remain far away from our quiet lives, as men and women of power hash things out amongst themselves, like a distant House of Lords, leaving us be in our peaceful shires. Either way, we must continue to focus our lives on that which is good, true and beautiful. We must remain in prayer, Scripture and Christian community. We must maintain our hobbies and spend as much time outside as possible, hearing the rustle of leaves and the chirping of birds. We must continue to produce works of wonder, joy and beauty in our lives, as CS Lewis reminds us in his sermon, “Learning in Wartime.” Life goes on. Find joy and beauty wherever you can.
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Whatever happens, let no one gloat, and let no one despair. Let us be gentle with ourselves and with one another, as Paul reminds us, “Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice. Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.” (Philippians 4:4-8).
Puddleglum’s Foot
Having read all this, you might see what I mean that I do not fit in easily anywhere in current American culture. You are free to disagree on how to apply any of this politically, or perhaps weigh some moral matters more heavily than others. That is part of how we sharpen one another, each part of the Body doing its own part, all trying to be faithful together in our time and place. And if I have not said it enough, I love and respect each one of you and honor your convictions.
I will admit that I have sometimes felt like Narnia’s Puddleglum stamping on the fire to wake us all up from the enchantment of misinformation, worldly ethics and partisan spin that have overtaken so many, including me at times. Doing so may be helpful for our sanctification, but it also scorches the foot. This has not been an easy letter to write. Mainly, I pray for peace and for justice to prevail in our land that as believers we may “aspire to live quietly, to mind our own affairs, and work with our hands” (cf. I Thessalonians 4:11). I want us to remember what James tells us is pure religion: “to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world” (James 1:27).
Please know that I am extraordinarily grateful for the United States, in both her origin, and recent history. The United States - while far from perfect - has historically led the world in expanding enfranchisement and democracy around the world. It is not the Kingdom of God, but it is a land where Christ’s kingdom has done much good, both here and abroad. Whatever happens, may that continue, as we pray for His blessing and mercies, “fixing our eyes not on what is seen, but what is unseen; for what is seen in temporary, but what is unseen is eternal” (II Corinthians 4:18).
Be still, and know that I am God.
I will be exalted among the nations,
I will be exalted in all the earth.
~ Psalm 46:10 ~
Courageous, insightful, masterfully written, with such a clear minded pastor’s heart. Worthy of being circulated and read wisely. Thankful for leadership like this in the church.
I appreciate your thoughts on this, Chris. After following you for years on Twitter, I’m glad to have found you over here!