Are You in the Wrong War?

Some more…

for far too many Christians, we are at war with the very people we’re called to reach. Christian friends, God has not called you to a culture war, a holy war, or any war against flesh and blood. The church is not an outpost in a political struggle, and pastors are not its generals. Instead, Jesus commanded us to “Love your enemies” (Matthew 5:44), “Pray for those who persecute you” (also Matthew 5:44), and said, “Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven” (Matthew 511-12) because, after all, “Human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires” (James 1:20).

One point of disagreement, we are in a culture war and are called to fight in one. But it’s not a war against people. It’s a war against ideas, and that should make it obvious what kind of approach is required (hint: this is a war of persuasion not a war of coercion)

5 We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ, (ESV, 2 Co 10:5)

When Paul stated, “advance the gospel”, it is the very message that the Church is missing today. Instead we are focused more on advancing a political ideology, a candidate, a media personality in attacking those who we deem are aggressive towards our morals in order for us to resurrect a government and society that re-establishes these morals through legislation and practice. We have entirely forgotten what the gospel is, how to spread it and the power that it contains. The gospel stands in stark contrast to the darkness of the world. It shines brightest when it is darkest and we can’t share it with those that we have shunned.

What I am glad for today is that it has become quite clear that legislating morality has clearly failed and that it cannot take the place of the gospel. We can’t make sinners good by outlawing alcohol, abortion…. And Christ has clearly shown how quickly this can “spin on a dime” and change and fall away.

Unfortunately many people confuse the gospel and citizenship but in a way that most won’t consider. They believe that gospel ministry/witness and faithful citizenship cannot coexist. We can either be faithful gospel witnesses or we can be faithful citizens who work for, yes even fight for, our civil and civic rights. Some, particularly over the past year, seem to think that we cannot do both. It has been an unfortunate scenario.

Truth be told, Christians should be at the front of fighting for civil and civic rights because they are matters of justice, not convenience. Christians, more than all other people, have a reason to fight for these things, not just for themselves but for the good of society.

So when someone says, “We have entirely forgotten what the gospel is, how to spread it and the power that it contains,” I am not sure who “we” is, but I will not allow myself to be put in that category. The point of legislation is not to make sinners good but to make society better for us all. And what’s the alternative? Have no legislation? Or leave the legislation up to unbelievers? Of course very few would claim the former and only the most radical of the radical Reformationists would claim the latter. To the contrary, faithful Christians must be faithful citizens, trying to influence society for the better through legislation, public policy, and good citizenship. And faithful Christians must never confuse that with gospel work.

[Larry]

Unfortunately many people confuse the gospel and citizenship but in a way that most won’t consider. They believe that gospel ministry/witness and faithful citizenship cannot coexist. We can either be faithful gospel witnesses or we can be faithful citizens who work for, yes even fight for, our civil and civic rights. Some, particularly over the past year, seem to think that we cannot do both.

Larry, what would be the biblical precedent or justification for your view?

Larry, what would be the biblical precedent or justification for your view?

I assume this is tongue in cheek.

You’ve made an assertion, sounds like a strong position. I’d like to see if you have a scriptural foundation for your position

I didn’t imagine you were seriously questioning whether we should love our neighbors and enemies and work for the best of the society we live in. My apologies.

I guess I could quote a bunch of verses on loving our neighbors and our enemies. I could quote some verses on justice and kindness. There are verses on doing good for all men. I could go with teaching on respecting and caring for the image of God in man. I wouldn’t think that would be either hidden or controversial but I guess I am wrong on that. My apologies for thinking that was tongue in cheek.

Interestingly, this seems to be the very type of thing the article was about (and you posted it didn’t you?). If we don’t like unbelievers, they likely won’t listen to us. Part of liking unbelievers is working for their good in society.

equal to revelation?

[Larry]

Larry wrote:

Unfortunately many people confuse the gospel and citizenship but in a way that most won’t consider. They believe that gospel ministry/witness and faithful citizenship cannot coexist. We can either be faithful gospel witnesses or we can be faithful citizens who work for, yes even fight for, our civil and civic rights. Some, particularly over the past year, seem to think that we cannot do both.

I would say Larry that “Some, particularly over the past year, seem to think that citizenship overshadows the gospel”. I think we would all agree that we should be good neighbors, and love others. What we are seeing in our churches is that we have shifted from a Spiritual war to a political war. Yes, they lay connections between the political war and the spiritual war, but the goal for many seems to be less about winning souls and expressing the gospel and more about overthrowing Biden and establishing Trump at all cost, or war against the government in general (mask, vaccines…. everything else in this list). It is surprising the emphasis that people have put on the “overthrow” of the political establishment. Both Christ and the Apostles lived under intense persecution (including practically all of them losing their life over their beliefs), and despite all of that, there is no reference to “fighting for their civil and civic rights”. Instead the NT is replete with Scriptures that focus on government being established and ordained by God. Living peacably with government… For me that emphasis has guided my life to wane on the side of obeying government with a good attitude and focus on changing people’s lives through the gospel. It doesn’t mean that we shouldn’t vote and speak out against injustice, it just means it is not our focus. The Israelites were seeking that from Christ and He didn’t give it to them. I see nowhere Scripturally that stormig the capital building to overthrow the law and resestablish Trump, based on nonsensical reasoning is scripturally justified. Not saying that you are saying that either, but there are many in our churches who would love to see the Pillow Guy’s ideas of having Trump reinstated by the Supreme Court as a good thing.

What confuses me is that many on SI who think we are too preoccupied with politics are often the ones who keep bringing up politics.

[JD Miller]

What confuses me is that many on SI who think we are too preoccupied with politics are often the ones who keep bringing up politics.

I think we respond when political topics are raised, but I don’t recall “bringing it up”

There’s a difference between bringing up the topic of politics and being driven by political concerns. It’s like talking about combustion engines vs. riding in a car. You can do the former all day without doing the latter.

Unfortunately many people confuse the gospel and citizenship but in a way that most won’t consider. They believe that gospel ministry/witness and faithful citizenship cannot coexist. We can either be faithful gospel witnesses or we can be faithful citizens who work for, yes even fight for, our civil and civic rights. Some, particularly over the past year, seem to think that we cannot do both.

This touches on the idea that medium = message, which has been on my mind the last few days. Someone said—in some other context—“Say it with gentleness so that your emotion isn’t louder than the truth.” What seems to be happening with evangelicals and conservatives lately is that the way we’re pursuing what we believe is best for society/our country is drowning out the substance of it—and drowning out our ability to be witnesses in the Acts 1:8 sense as well.

So in a war of persuasion, a vital question is, what are we really communicating? I think many hear hate, whether that’s what we mean to transmit or not. (I believe too many really are hateful but that’s another topic.)

So yes, Christian/gospel living and passionate citizenship can co-exist but it’s really easy for the less important of the two to be much louder than the most important.

Joab,

Thank you for sharing the story of your son in-law’s family and how they risked their lives to reach freedom. I recently visited with my cousin’s husband who fled Viet Nam. His father got out first, and it took him 11 years before his father was reunited with his mother. I told him that he should write down the account of all that had happened. You and I may disagree on politics, but I do agree that few in this country understand what living under Communism is like. One of the reasons that many Evangelicals want to protect the freedom we have here is so that we can continue to distribute Bibles and literature as well as sermons and podcasts throughout the world. I have a brother in law who got saved after listening to pirated podcasts.

I am praying for your daughter.