Divided
Pastor, what if our words are telling half the population of the U.S. that they are not welcome in our church? Would you stop using those words or would you simply not care?
We are approaching another deeply divisive election cycle. Someone is going to run against President Trump and the mud slinging will be fierce. What breaks my heart is when pastors get sucked into discussions that result in those with a different political view concluding they are not welcome in our churches. What breaks my heart is when pastors get confused about the gospel and politics.
I get it…you have an opinion about Trump, Pelosi, guns, the role of the government, taxes, health care and social services. I have strong opinions on these matters also. However, when pastors place those things ahead of the gospel of Jesus Christ, we are telling those who think differently that they are not welcome, that they are spiritually deficient or worse. It is good to have an informed, and even a passionate opinion. It is also good to remember the context in which those opinions are shared.
Jesus spent time seeking out the lost. Paul, while in prison for hacking off the political rulers, did not rant about injustice or rail against Rome but instead, sang about Jesus and a prison guard was saved.
Could their be times when we would need to speak about political matters? Absolutely. However, we are guilty of at least being distracted from the gospel. People in America are not convinced that God is for them and they may believe the American church is against them, especially those who have different political views than our own, whatever those views may be.
Let’s be careful in 2020 to not get sucked into needless and frivolous debate that detracts from the good news about Jesus. Let’s be known as a Christ-following people who are as passionately FOR people as Jesus was. Let’s be known as a people filled with the good news of a Savior who loves us and desperately desires to help us find abundant life.
The Kingdom of Heaven will not rise and fall on this election. The Kingdom of Heaven will not be deterred by a Democrat or a Republican. The Kingdom of Heaven will not be thrown off course by laws or judges. The Kingdom of Heaven has come, however, and will advance through the life of one who follows Jesus and loves another human being in the Name of Jesus Christ. I want to be a part of the Jesus-following crowd that shows a world desperately in need of him that I love them, see value in them and that my love has nothing to do with their political views or political party.
Will you join me? Neither your political affiliation nor your love / hate relationship with the President will change the love I have for you.