TGIF
Time to turn the page.
For the last few years we’ve spent a lot of time here bemoaning the defilement of evangelicalism with political idolatry.
We spoke biblical truth as we understood it and warned of dire consequences if the warnings were not heeded.
We did what we were called to do.
Now it’s time to move on, understanding what we have learned as we walk into the future.
The love of authoritarian leaders, even if abusive, is a feature in this sect, not a bug.
There are large numbers of American Christians who have chosen this politically tinged version of Christianity and I now recognize it for being an expression of the faith that has been present since the founding of the nation,but has now bloomed into full flower.
I believe it to be apostate and a perversion of the work and teachings of Jesus.
Having said that, I’m weary of cursing the darkness and choose to find the light.
We have before us an opportunity to demonstrate to these folks and the world what we believe it actually means to follow Christ.
If things proceed as I expect, we will have endless opportunities to love our neighbors…neighbors as defined by Jesus…those in your life who need to be loved in tangible and spiritual ways.
Things will get harder for the migrant, the poor, the elderly and those who oppose the current powers.
Those who are chronically ill, have chronic pain , those who may think differently than we do…will all need to know that we serve a God of love and compassion.
Many may desire to explore new ways of understanding the faith, ways that reflect the life and work of Jesus Christ.
We need to be prepared to give an answer…not just for the faith we live, but why we live it so differently than others.
There will be times when we need to address evil…and we will do so clearly and fearlessly.
Otherwise,my focus is on finishing well and overcoming evil with good…and equipping people to do so as well.
It’s time to turn the page, take up our cross and connect with like minded spirits…and let others do as they will.
I may end up here by myself just reading Lewis and Bonhoeffer and feeding the cats…it would be nice to have folks to discuss such with.
Liam the Cat can only listen so long…
Make your own application…
Michael,
Yes, few, if any will be helped by us scolding them. We have to offer something better; something unique, something real… I find that in a local community of believers. It’s not exciting or sexy, but it’s real…
Duane,
We all said all we can say…didn’t move the needle much.
We need to talk about what is good in some places already and draw on the deep resources history and tradition can give us.
We can’t be a solid local body of believers, but we can supplement one or substitute while one is sought for.
Definitely real, even if not within the grasp of many. One of the things I’ve been talking to my church about recently is do we really love God, or do we love ourselves in the name of God? Tough question, that I think we have to ask ourselves every day.
I like the idea of this new direction and turning the page. Let the dead bury the dead.
Read Tolkien. It will warm your heart and give you hope.
Well said. Nations will rise and fall, but His church endures to the end. It has outlived countless empires and religious upheavals. (Even the great splits of 1054 and 1517) It will certainly survive modern America’s attempts to compromise it from the right or the left. No matter who our local, state, or national rulers are, Christ remains our King.
I love the idea of focusing on how His kingdom is advancing in our lives and in the society around us. His Spirit is very active, wooing those who we might not have chosen ourselves, because He looks on the inside and not just on the social feed.
“One of the things I’ve been talking to my church about recently is do we really love God, or do we love ourselves in the name of God?”
That’s an excellent question…
https://churchanew.org/brueggemann/beyond-a-fetal-position?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR2zhQ7yrF5GhVtjUVP0TVjFQnTTlx5EDpY2Tl4fZ3T_2ygFnhb7vbfQbto_aem_YFXUqjnXaZG1B7LGAVREWQ
Eric,
I think the Lord is speaking the same thing to many of us…
Elections matter, yet they don’t matter. Our calling as Christians never changes before, during, or after elections. The commandments to love God and love others never take a break. It’s okay to hope a certain candidate wins, but if they don’t, the opportunities to bless and encourage never cease.
Michael,
I really appreciated this. Most of my co-workers are in despair, and my church friends are jubilant. I don’t want to be in despair (most of my co-workers aren’t Christians), and I don’t want to be critical of friends at church. I’ve been praying about the things I can do to be positive and to serve both groups. God may be doing a new thing in the church that we don’t understand yet-like showing us how to live by faith and to put away our political idols on both sides of the aisle.
I am thankful for the distraction of my job. I spent the evening with my class in Japan comparing and contrasting raccoons and raccoon dogs (Tanukis). It was fun and totally non-political!
“God may be doing a new thing in the church that we don’t understand yet-like showing us how to live by faith and to put away our political idols on both sides of the aisle.’
I think you’re right.
Michael, thank you for posting Brueggeman. Knowing he’s a great OT theologian gives his words extra salience right now.
I like this new direction Michael. I want to worry more about making sure our dogs get the attention they need than someone being wrong on the internet.
I’ve learned more about life and love from a little dog who loves me, than I ever did from the Bible and Christianity.
Michael,
I’m going to say something that’s going to sound crazy. You said “The love of authoritarian leaders, even if abusive, is a feature in this sect, not a bug.
There are large numbers of American Christians who have chosen this politically tinged version of Christianity and I now recognize it for being an expression of the faith that has been present since the founding of the nation, but has now bloomed into full flower.”
It goes back farther than the founding of this nation. It began with Solomon. It is the same thing that caused the fall of Judah to Nebuchadnezzar, and subsequently the fall of Judah to Rome. It resurfaced with Constantine’s proclamation, and it has been in steady rise ever since. Moses warned about it in Deuteronomy 32:36-43.
“It is a feature, not a bug”…is correct, because it is the message of the false church…and the false church’s message is the message of antichrist. The beast which has 2 horns and looks like a lamb, but speaks like a dragon, and causes the people to worship the image of the first beast, from which it receives its power, is the false church. It’s outward appearance resembles the appearance of Christ, but it’s message is the message of the dragon – the ruler of this world system/present age.
I’ll understand if you throw me off the forum.
Terrie R. Beede,
I usually don’t ban people I agree with…”the false churches message is the message of anti-Christ”…truth…