The Church Must Reject Political Violence
Today the world should be witnessing the Church celebrate the baptism of Jesus. Instead, many have become convinced that Christians are responsible for violence at the Capitol.
The baptism of Jesus is one of three key events in the Epiphany (means "bring to light") season that also includes the gifts offered by the traveling Magi, and the wedding at Cana where Jesus turned water into wine. Epiphany is a season when we celebrate the truth that Jesus Christ, the Son of God, has been made manifest to the world for the life and healing of all humanity and creation. The Church is called to join Jesus in this ministry of bringing life into the world.
As a Christian pastor it grieves me to see the name of Jesus aligned so publicly with the violence at the Capitol this week. David French has an excellent piece highlighting this reality. For me, and I pray for the leaders of the American church, what happened at the Capitol is a dividing line in the sand. Will Christians stand with Jesus in bringing life to the world, or will we align the Church with the destructive American political machine that is leading our nation to division, disaster, and the death of our great nation? Will the Church cozy up to extremism, conspiracy, and make a clear path for violent Christian nationalism?
It saddens me to see the Church turned into a partisan machine. The Christian message does not fit neatly into American political categories. Living out the Good News of God's mercy for sinners will lead us to liberally compassionate concern for the poor and marginalized who are neighbors to be loved. We will embrace the cause of equity on issues of race until the full dignity of the image bearers of God is embraced. Obedience to the mastery and lordship of Jesus will also lead to the confession that our bodies are "not our own but belong to our faithful Savior Jesus Christ." The ways in which we handle the gifts of life, family, food, money, beauty, sex, and wealth will not easily conform to the most current trends in secular life.
Following Jesus will mean that, as the Church engages American politics, it will have to be comfortable being both friend and foe to the Republican, Democrat, Green, Libertarian, or any other party. It will mean registering as a voter with a party whose values do not align with 100% of the stances you have prayerfully and conscientiously chosen. I know from firsthand experience how this makes one feel like a stranger, an alien. It has forced me at times to support a particular policy a party is promoting, but to resist the divisive cheerleading both major parties are guilty of that treats the other side as an enemy to be destroyed. It means refusing to partake in, or be influenced by, the fear mongering politicians too often yield that pushes us to irrationally stand with and defend leaders who lack integrity.
The followers of Jesus do not hate our enemies as a strategy for winning a culture war. I recall the powerful leader of an influential PAC once telling me that he wakes up every morning with the goal of destroying his political opponents. Christians do not have the endorsement of Jesus to blindly support nor hate Donald Trump, Mike Pence, Joe Biden, or Kamala Harris. We pray for our leaders, recognizing their brokenness and frailty and need of God's help. Nor should we be afraid to stand for the truth or to lovingly critique them when they act lawlessly or recklessly. The people of Jesus cannot afford to be aligned with hypocrisy or to endorse the gross lack of integrity in our leaders. To walk in the way of Christ is to carry a cross that represents our willingness to suffer in love even for the people who are intent on the destruction of our own life. It means praying for and desiring the good of your enemies. Jesus will not endorse our participation and complicity in the destructive, partisan politics of the current age.
The Church is united to Jesus Christ in her sacrament of baptism. Today should be a feast but a day of sorrow and repentance is in order. The life of Jesus Christ is to be made manifest in the world today through the Church. Today we have a choice: to lose our witness as Christians in America as we participate in a broken political war that led to the senseless deaths of five people at the Capitol, and will surely lead to further acts of domestic terrorism, OR to identify with Jesus in the waters of His baptism to bring life and healing to the world. It was in the waters of the Jordan River that Jesus identified Himself with fallen humanity. Will the Church identify herself with Him?
Church: we have one Lord Jesus Christ. Now is the time to listen to Him and follow in the way that brings life to the world.
Do not fear. This is not a day for confusion. Jesus is leading the Church to bring life into the world and away from political violence. God is in control.
Lord have mercy. Christ have mercy.
