Many of you have asked me what I think of the recent Chick-fil-A controversy. I usually stay away from whatever is trending and buzzing. I’m a shepherd and a Bible teacher rather than a trender and a buzzer. Since you asked, here is my perspective on the Christian and political involvement in light of the recent history of the American church:
Books and sermons on a Christian’s relationship to government often fail to distinguish between political power and cultural influence. The primary passages on this subject (Matt. 5:13–16, Rom.13:1–7, 1 Tim. 2:1–4, 1 Peter 2:13–16) clearly teach us that our role is to use whatever position we have to influence society toward righteousness as we submit to governmental authority.
Biblically, influence and power are not the same. The influence is ours, but the power is God’s. Historically, when Christians confuse the two, we lose both.
Confusing influence and power diverts our energies from the only true hope for any society: the transforming power of new life in Christ. The Bible says we’re new creations in Christ (2 Cor. 5:17), endowed with power from on high (Acts 1:8) to live a life distinguished by God’s presence in us (John 14:20).
Where we choose to invest our time and resources depends largely on where we think the solution is. As more and more of us decided that the solution was in political power, it changed our priorities.
We know Christ commands us to influence our culture. And we know that one of the primary ways we do this as Americans is by voting. But, these are the questions that bother me most when I think of all the time and energy Christians have poured into the pursuit of political power in the decades since I first trusted in Christ:
- America hasn’t become more righteous; it’s become more decadent. What would have happened if we had devoted more effort to equipping Christians to get out and tell others about Christ and less to equipping people to get out the vote?
- Families aren’t getting healthier; they’re falling apart. How do you think the families of our country would be different if we had been more passionate about transforming families in the way Christ values—through the hard work of disciple-making in the context of authentic spiritual communities and less obsessive about entrenching the family-value message in Washington DC, or boycotting certain businesses, or eating at a particular restaurant?
- The church doesn’t have more impact; its influence is almost negligible. What if Christians had spent more time studying their Bibles and praying for their neighborhoods, communities, states, and nation, and less time glued to conservative talk radio and cable news while worrying about exit polls and economic trends?
Confusing influence and power also deflects our focus from the final destination of human beings—either with Jesus forever in heaven or estranged from God forever in hell. The Bible says we’re ambassadors of Christ (2 Cor. 5:20) representing Him as strangers and pilgrims (Heb. 11:13). Our earthly citizenship is only temporary because we’re citizens of a better, heavenly country (Heb. 11:16). Our true identity is in Christ and our true citizenship is in heaven (Phil. 3:20).
We said we were standing for righteousness. And we made our stand through our vote. But these are some more questions that bother me when I think of the way Christians have viewed their world through the political prism since the Jesus Movement revival:
- What happens when the judges have all been appointed and the lawsuits have ended? Only faith in Christ can change a life on the inside.
- When the schools have all been reoriented and the curricula have been sensitized to God’s eternal truth, what then? Classrooms will still be full of rebellious hearts. Only God’s Spirit can internalize the Word of God.
- What happens when the wars have been fought, the soldiers have come home, and the suffering is over? Jesus Himself told us that peace couldn’t last. Only in His kingdom will the world know lasting peace.
- When the votes have all been counted and even if our side wins, what then? Each and every man and woman, boy and girl who has lived in the most righteous nation in history yet has not heard and believed the gospel of Jesus Christ will, when they die, slip into the darkness of a godless eternity.
I agree with C. S. Lewis who said, “A sick society must think about politics, as a sick man must think about his digestion.” And I agree with Christian leaders who tell Christians to think about politics in our sick society.
I just think we’ve been thinking about politics too much. It’s time to think a little less about our power to make a difference in this world and a lot more about our influence to make a difference in the world to come.
While our confusion with influence and power dissipated our energy and focus, it also distilled our message. But not in a good way.
Tomorrow I’ll write about our political messages from the perspective of those listening who do not yet belong to Christ.
Saw your Facebook post…followed it here. Good thoughts. It seems so clear. So it only increases the size of the heartache as we ponder how long our Lord’s beloved church has been missing this. It’s too bad we did not learn our lesson. The first social gospel did not work (that of the more liberal persuasion). And now the second social gospel is not working (that of the more conservative persuasion). Thanks for your commitment to a principled and practical biblical worldview.
Ed,
First, thanks. I appreciate your pastor’s heart and head (to whatever degree they’re separate entities). I find myself in a place where, though I have generally strong views on social/political issues (you may not want to get me started, if you know what I mean), I’ve realized that I’m one man with finite resources, especially time. I see people around me at church who seem to be called to join in the fray of the political arena. But that’s not my calling, so when I start letting their passion influence how I use my time & resources, I actually suffer a certain level of disorientation. That’s not where I’m supposed to be spending my time. God has called me to minister to men, so I’m learning to let a lot of good things go by without my getting distracted by them from putting my efforts into what He’s called me to. God bless those folks who are in the trenches in the political arena, and likewise those who are called to preach, or be a stay at home mom, or run a pool care business, etc.
Let me put this in a nutshell. If each of us is walking in our calling, isn’t that when the body of Christ is going to be its most effective? Of course that means we have to have asked ourselves what we’re called to and seek out God with our question. But we’re not going to know life in Christ fully until we’re walking with Him in our cling, that is doing what we think we “ought” to do or to please someone else’s ideas of what we should do. Vote? Absolutely, and we should do so as informed citizens and children of God’s kingdom. But not everyone of us is called to pray in front of Planned Parenthood, for example. If we don’t know what we are called to, though, .
Somewhere in there I think is a reasonably complete thought…
Again, thanks.
Mark
Of course I meant “calling” there not “cling”. Auto correct in action!
Thanks, Rick. This is from a chapter in my book on the Jesus Movement revival I was a part of, Reborn to Be Wild. I saw this sidetrack our revival and it still hurts today. Appreciate the comment.
Ed
I think this is true, Mark. My only addition is that I believe our calling is revealed through community. It’s in the body of Christ that our giftedness and calling and destiny surfaces through the messy process of relationships and speaking the truth in love.
Appreciate the comment.
ED
Ed. I found your blog via a friend on Facebook, and I am glad I did.
I’m speechless. I love this. Love it. It’s so rich.
Thank you.
Ed – no disagreement with you on that.
yep. We need one another.
Thanks, Adam. I’m so thankful it’s helped you some.
If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.
Great verse, but specifically to the Israelites. Not sure this is a promise to Americans. But I tend to be pretty tight with hermeneutics.
Thanks, Ed. This is a great Two Kingdoms argument : ) God Bless your ministry.
Thanks for your insight Ed…..very encouraging to me. I’ve found this week very challenging to those around me. Looking forward to your post tomorrow!
Ed,
Just wanted say that it is so refreshing to hear your perspective on these types of issues. The politicization of the church is hard to watch, especially as someone who is politically left of center. Thank you for your biblically focused thoughts on the role of the church and each of us as individuals. As a politically liberal person I’ve been so comfortable at COD because you can tell COD is not about either political party or agenda, which unfortunately can’t be said for so many churches these days. Keep up the good work!
- Daniel
Thanks for the comment, Robert. It’s always a tension to be living for the world to come while we’re salt and light in the world today.
Ed
Appreciate the comment, Tom. Hopefully the next few posts will also encourage you. All for grace and mercy.
Thanks for the comment and kind words about our church. It’s important for you to know that the left of Christianity is also pretty politicized and has excesses too. My primary concern is that neither left or right will be identified as political but as devoted disciple of Christ loving this world in His name.
Ed
Amen, Brother Ed!
Yes, disciples of Christ.
I agree and disagree. Obviously we must systemically strengthen the body and there are many avenues where this occurs (or should occur). In our homes, in our churches, etc, etc. It is a bit shallow, in my opinion, to just focus inwardly in strengthening our body when there are urgent matters at hand….and if one doesn’t see these as urgent times, we probably have little to discuss. If a fort is under heavy attack and perhaps close to being overthrown, it may not be the best time to gather our young warriors into a board room in order to gird them up for battle. The battle will soon be lost if we don’t put our forces on the front line immediately…using the resources we have been given by our Leader and stirring up the warriors who are sitting in the lunch room drinking lemonade. I’m a big proponent of mentoring and strengthening the body of Christ — and my family, church and friends are my testimony, but as Ecclesiastes tells us, there IS a time for war, etc. Sometimes the war IS on the political battlefield and to ignore it would be ridiculously stupid and disobedient to my Leader, my Maker, my God. I can’t stand the complacency I’m seeing around me, while our casualties are strewn about. I’m keeping on my armor and staying in.
I don’t think I’m saying that we shouldn’t engage with culture. The Scriptures clearly teach that we should. My concern is twofold: First, we should never put our hope in our efforts to engage in culture. Our hope is in Christ. Second, we need to manage the message so that the truth is spoken in love.
Hope that helps you some.
Ed
thanks for the comment
Our hope should always be first in Christ. It’s the response to this truth that is of concern. Christians today have too often acknowledged God’s greatness while sitting back almost as if they’re expecting God to then start acting as their magic Genie. God doesn’t want us to stop after the prayer and worship part. He wants us to be engaged as part of our worship and obedience to Him. Considering where the church struggles today, we need more encouragement aimed at “stirring up” the body. Too many of us are fine with not being “engaged” as it is. Thanks for providing the forum for this discussion to take place.
I agree, but it’s important that we listen to the Spirit’s leading. Only He can orchestrate this in ways that truly help the ones Jesus’ heart is with–the poor, the overlooked, and overwhelmed.
Ed
Again, we agree on what you say. Now let’s get the body off our collective rear ends by writing stuff that gets them moving beyond the “listening” and gravitate into the “doing”, as James would say. I’ll show you my faith BY my works. It’s time to get to work.