After Another Election....

After Another Election…
I am a pastor.

For some reading this, I serve as - or have been - your pastor.

I am not a political pundit…nor would you want me to be.

I am always up for respectful dialogue and conversation on matters of politics, and have appreciated several such encounters over the course of the last few weeks. But if we’re talking politics, we’re generally doing so as friends or acquaintances.

I will - from time to time - offer a pastoral word about politics from a theological, biblical and/or historical perspective. I am, after all, entrusted with the role of teacher vis-a-vis the call of the church. This is not political commentary, but pastoral observation.  To that end - a few observations in the wake of the latest election:

• I believe strongly that the church and state operate best with clear separation. Our missions are different. Our goals are different. Things get messy…even destructive…for both church and state when intertwined. Empires of this earth and the Kingdom of God are not the same thing. They will by their very natures, be in opposition more often than alignment. People of faith can however, faithfully engage in each…
• People of faith (Christian or otherwise) should participate in the political process. How fortunate we are to have the opportunity to do so.  Many people of faith throughout history (early church included) and elsewhere in the world today, have no such option. We can and should champion policies that align with the teachings of our faith traditions. I am grateful that as a citizen of this nation, I have the right to exercise my faith without coercion or influence by the government. I am equally grateful that I have the right to participate in and advocate for the policies of governance that serve the interests I hold dear and believe to align more closely with the teachings of our Lord.
• To that end, we (Christians, formed by Christ) should be advocating for just and merciful policies by participating in the political process far beyond the voting booth. If casting a ballot is the beginning and end of your political participation - then the candidate that wins or loses is your only measure of success or failure. By extension, if a post, like, comment, forward, re-tweet (or whatever they’re called these days) or other social media activity is the sole locus of your political activity - don’t expect much more than accolades or vitriol…change doesn’t happen on those platforms. Write to and call your representatives, show up to School Board and City Council meetings, protest (it is our right, after all) and advocate for what you believe to be merciful and just. Be active between elections if you really want to participate in the wheels of government.
• Wondering what to advocate for? Well, if you are a follower of Jesus…I suggest starting with a fresh reading of the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew 5-7 (thank you for the reminder, Dietrich Bonhoeffer). And then continue with the Gospels, the prophets, the whole of scripture…maybe do so regularly. If you are part of another faith tradition - turn toward your teachers, sacred texts and other resources. Study and worship with others. Be formed in your faith so that you know for what and whom you are advocating. And please…learn. Keep learning. Learn from reasonable, well-researched sources and informed, trusted teachers about the different sides of issues.  Make informed and prayerful decisions…keeping in mind that sometimes your decision about a policy will align with your party…and sometimes it won’t. If you never disagree with your party/politician…your party/politician has become your idol and false god. Not sure where to start? Our denomination declares itself a “publicly engaged church” and provides advocacy tools and information. Learn more at this link.
• Speaking of false gods (and I’m using lower case intentionally)…I’ve seen posts and heard comments about the election results like, “god made this happen”. Stop. No. It makes no biblical, theological or even logical sense to make this claim. God is not on the side of one party or candidate and against the other, no matter the rhetoric. Was god not able/willing to make “this” happen when the other side won and your side lost? Is god sovereign or not? If your god only intervenes when you win…then you have fallen into the trap that the first commandment warns us against, and elevated yourself, your party or your candidate to false idol status.
• The Word - the Living Word Jesus and the word in scripture - is our guide. Do unto others as you would have others do unto you. Agape one another as Christ has agape-d us. Agape is the Greek word for love that Jesus and New Testament writers use to denote “love that serves the need of another”. This is a personal guide that should shape our political choices as well. The prophets, Mary, Jesus, Paul, James and many others in the scriptures remind us of our call to love and care for those who are vulnerable, overlooked, at-risk. Many who are vulnerable feel especially so in the wake of these election results…what are you doing to care for and agape them? Many wonder if the policies and actions of the next administrations (IN & US) will honor their humanity…and have good reason to, based upon the language that candidates used in the campaign. Will you listen to their needs and advocate for them? Will you see them as God sees them? Will you see Christ in them?

I end where I began. I am a pastor. Perhaps I’m your pastor. Perhaps you’d like to check in with a pastor…glad to. My calling as pastor is to accompany you in this time. Need to vent? I’ll listen. Got questions about what’s next? Let’s chat. Want to seek God’s will together - great! Let’s pray.

When Sunday comes, we’ll worship - which means we’ll gather together as a broken bunch of people, who by grace, water, Word, bread and cup will dare to call themselves the Body of Christ…and you’re invited.