Believers in Christ have a unique calling to be part of a family, of a glorious Church, the body of Christ - and we have to be very determined to maintain that sense of connection with our fellow brothers and
sisters, which has been difficult in light of COVID. Hebrews 12 expresses how we need one another:
12 Therefore strengthen the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees,
13 and make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be dislocated, but rather be healed.
14 Pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord:
15 looking carefully lest anyone fall short of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up cause trouble, and by this many become defiled...
Verse 14 contains two very important words that somewhat summarize this passage: "pursue peace." We are placed on this earth with people, people who behave and believe differently than we do. Rather than ostracize others based on our differences, we can seek to reach out in love and to esteem them better than ourselves, as Scripture exhorts us. When we lay aside selfishness and put others first, building them up in the Lord, we can cultivate an attitude and atmosphere of peace.
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It's day 17 of our 25-day Christmas Advent-ure from Faith Radio, based on our Advent Guide, available free from our website, that highlights 25 different names of Jesus. We're back in Isaiah 9 today, and I have another name to share from this passage:
6 For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given; And the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
7 Of the increase of His government and peace There will be no end, Upon the throne of David and over His kingdom, To order it and establish it with judgment and justice From that time forward, even forever. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this.
Jesus, the Messiah and Savior who was to come thousands of years after this passage was written, is described as the Prince of Peace. That word, "Prince," is a regal term, a royal term, a term that has a sense of officiality. We know that all things are under the sovereign hand of Almighty God, and Jesus is executing the plan of God in this world. His government, which will ultimately bring peace, will know no end.
So, does that mean there is no role for human governments? Absolutely not (to use a double negative)! Daniel chapter 2, Romans 13, and 1 Peter chapter 2 all underscore the authority of human governments under that sovereign hand of God. So, are Christians called to participate in human government, in the political realm? Certainly - I believe we should be responsible to be involved, perhaps passionately so. There is a pejorative term that has been bantered about, and not in a positive way: Christian nationalism. These presumed "nationalists" are accused of putting country over God, of idolizing politicians over their relationship with Christ. It's a divisive technique that has been embraced and enthusiastically spread by high-profile "leaders" in Christianity.
For some context, let's walk through where we are in the 2020 Presidential Election. A number of so-called swing, or "battleground" states voted narrowly for former Vice-President Joe Biden over incumbent President Donald Trump. The Trump campaign observed some overnight reports of votes from some of these key states that were concerning. Other organizations and attorneys have become involved in challenging the results of the election in these states, which could affect the overall total of electoral votes.
The basis of these lawsuits is that there were widespread instances of voter fraud that had been reported, including charges of fraud in the arena of mail-in and/or absentee ballots, as well as possible inconsistencies in voting machines in tabulating votes. There were also changes in voter laws prior to the election that were not carried out by state legislatures, as provided in the U.S. Constitution. There have been a variety of court cases brought, utilizing these arguments. So far, there have been very few court "victories" for those challenging the election, but there are legal challenges that are continuing.
Meanwhile, the Electoral College met Monday and cast their votes for Joe Biden. However, in some states, an alternative slate of electors was chosen - that was reportedly in order that legal claims could continue to be pursued. Despite the media's lockstep reporting that claims of voter fraud are "baseless" or "without evidence," to me, there is widespread evidence of voter irregularities.
And, many Americans seem to agree. According to a poll that was sponsored by four universities, Northeastern, Harvard, Northwestern, and Rutgers, 67% of those surveyed believe that Joe Biden won the election. 97% of Democrats and 61% of Republicans hold to that belief. 38% said they were not confident in the "fairness" of the election.
In a Quinnipiac poll, 70% of Republicans surveyed said they do not believe that Biden legitimately won the election. Just over 6-in-10 of independents say they believe the outcome is "legitimate." Again, you have 38% who do not believe the election is fair. Quinnipiac University Polling Analyst Tim Malloy said, "Was the election on the level? 'No way' say the vast majority of Republicans. The dearth of Republicans in the House and Senate willing to acknowledge the Biden win is in step with their base..."
And, just this week, Rasmussen stated that "36% of Likely U.S. Voters believe court challenges of election results in several states will result in President Trump’s reelection." 21% say that is "Very Likely." 57% of Republicans believe the challenges will result in the reelection of the President....took to Twitter Sunday to voice her frustration and seeming bewilderment at the Christian zeal for Trump, saying that in her more than 63 years, she has “never seen anything in these United States of America I found more astonishingly seductive & dangerous to the saints of God than Trumpism.”
With a warning to her nearly one million followers that she would be blunt, the founder of Living Proof Ministries posted a thread in which she called on Christians to “move back” from Trumpism and insisted Christian nationalism “is not of God.”
There's that term: Christian nationalism. What does that even mean? Well, I would imagine that would probably include George Barna's SAGE Cons, the Spiritually Active Governance Engaged Conservative Christians that turned out overwhelmingly for Trump. According to Arizona Christian University website: "The survey from the Cultural Research Center at Arizona Christian University... found that this key group of voters distrusts the election results amid allegations of election fraud and voting irregularities, with a large majority (79%) believing there were 'numerous instances of abuse' in the election and a mere 1% believing the voting process was legally carried out and votes were accurately counted.
Todd Starnes was direct in his assessment:
Move back from defending unborn babies? Move back from peace in the Middle East? Move back from defending religious liberty? Move back from prison reform that unfairly targeted minorities? Move back from school choice? Move back from appointing constitutionalist judges?
Does Mrs. Moore take issue with President Trump providing financial aid to historically black colleges and universities? Does she take issue with the president protecting small business owners who simply wish to follow the teachings of Christ in their businesses?
Allie Beth Stuckey responded earlier this week on Twitter, saying:
Lots of Christians love their country. Lots of Christians believe that a president should prioritize the welfare of their constituents (just like a good mayor prioritizes the needs of his city). Christians, like all people, allow their beliefs to inform their views.They’re not CNShe added, "I’ve also seen a definition that says CN proponents encourage Christian discourse & engagement in politics & culture. Ok, so Christians are supposed to check their views at the door, but secularists aren’t?" She added in the thread, "define your terms!" Almost in lockstep with the Moore Twitter activity, renowned never-Trumper David French, an attorney of whom it has been said that his hatred for Trump has clouded his judgment, released a piece referred to in the article:
David French published a column Sunday on The Dispatch titled, “The Dangerous Idolatry of Christian Trumpism,” maintaining that “the frenzy and the fury of the post-election period has laid bare the sheer idolatry and fanaticism of Christian Trumpism.”
And, the Religion News article noted that:
Karen Swallow Prior, an evangelical author and professor, tweeted Friday (Dec. 11) that she was ashamed to have voted for local and state GOP candidates, many of whom backed lawsuits challenging the election.
“What a bunch of money-grubbing, power hungry, partisan cowards who care nothing about conservatism,” Swallow Prior, a self-described life-long conservative, said in her tweet.
It seems as if one of the contentious areas had to do with the Jericho March, according to Religion News, which said, concerning Moore:
Her tweets came a day after thousands of pro-Trump protesters gathered in Washington, D.C., on Saturday for the “Jericho March,” with speeches by Catholic Archbishop Carlo Maria Vigano and evangelical commentator Eric Metaxas, both of whom invoked their faith in support of President Trump and his allegations of voter fraud in the November election.
Eric's friend Rod Dreher over at the American Conservative wrote an article about the March, calling what he observed by watching online as "bonkers," and saying:
This phenomenon is going to matter. Divinizing MAGA and Stop The Steal is going to tear churches to bits, and drive people away from the Christian faith (or keep them from coming in the first place). Based on what I saw today, the Christians in this movement do not doubt that Trump is God’s chosen, that they, by following him, are walking in light, and whatever they do to serve Trump is also serving God. They have tightly wound apocalyptic religion to conservative politics and American nationalism.
I was disappointed at the the tone and name-calling of Dreher's piece - I have quoted from him before, and while I disagree with his concept of the isolation of Christians using the so-called "Benedict Option," still I think he has generally makes some good points. This column was beneath him.
Metaxas was not amused, tweeting out:
WHAT IN THE WORLD? What is so crazy about protesting and praying if you feel a presidential election was stolen? What am I missing? Seriously, what am I missing? Is it just that you have general contempt for all these people and are expressing that contempt? WHY???
Metaxas, who, along with Jim Garlow, have provided leadership in the regular online prayer meetings regarding the election, also tweeted:
Scores of millions of Americans are convinced this election was conducted improperly. So "we the people" -- who ARE the gov't -- cannot move forward w/this process UNTIL all legal votes are counted & we find out what actually happened. This is the American way. God bless America.
An article at The Gospel Coalition website went so far as to say that there is a "cult" of "Christian Trumpism." The author, Michael Horton, is perhaps best known as a voice of the White Horse Inn radio program.
One note on the Jericho March: I have been a part of numerous "unity" events blending people together from a variety of backgrounds. When you have people from a variety of faith perspectives trying to come together, you are going to likely encounter practices or expressions that you do not agree with or do not feel comfortable with. In DC on Saturday, there was also the element of non-believers who were aligned who had a different agenda...that may have been a blind spot, certainly a flaw, but does not give Christian leaders a right to make generalized, blanket indictments of the motivation of the participants.
You may not agree, but I believe there is significant interest in being involved in the political process, even to the extent of supporting someone who many Christians view not as a saved man, but a man who is sympathetic to their concerns. Christians who love their country and enthusiastically support candidates whose policies line up with their values. But, to say their so-called "Christian nationalism" is a sin. Wow - that is certainly beyond the pale.
The Bible lists the "works of the flesh" in Galatians 5 - nationalism, in the sense of loving your country, is not there. Yes, we are called to reject idolatry, but I am not sure how enthusiastic support of a political candidate and the questioning of the integrity of an election fits there. We don't have to agree all the time, but calling something sin without a Biblical basis for doing so is sinful in and of itself. hat's what the Critical Race theorists do, as well.
We have to rely on our Prince of Peace - our supreme authority who comes to unify humanity ultimately around His principles and presence - to bring us together as one body under Jesus, which can help us to come together as one nation under God.
But, I will give one word of caution: we have to be on guard against anything that would distract from our principal mission, which is to love God and to love others. And, that love results in our willingness to share what He has done in our lives. Period. We have to avoid turning the "weapons of our warfare" on each other, recognize the true enemy, and seek to unite in order to be a faithful witness to the glory of God.
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