This week at a Phoenix pastor’s meeting, a Lenten devotion turned into a discussion about how a pastor can fairly and honestly lead a congregation to think critically about politics as the country barrels towards the November election. One pastor said he was thinking about having a Christian politician come and speak to his congregation, thinking that could help give his congregants handles on how to best form their political views.
Another pastor immediately spoke up, strongly disagreeing and saying never is it right to have a politician speak at church service. “Jesus said his kingdom is not of this world,” he said. Still, he said church people should vote after studying the issues and praying. Most in attendance agreed with him. Before he finished, he took a breath and said, “There is such a divide among people I wonder if most people even really care any more.” People are so fatigued about hearing that President is too old to lead, and so tired of hearing about President Trump’s 91 indictments, I can see how people just disconnect. I don’t think it’s that they don’t care. They just get overwhelmed and shift their brain into neutral. Who can blame people?
Some pastors privately share their political views with congregants; others never do. No question, outside of the church walls, there is an increasing reluctance of Christian people, including pastors, to even identify as Christian. One pastor in the group said, “I rarely say I’m a Christian or even a pastor. I don’t want to be painted as a White Christian Nationalist and lumped in with those with very different views from mine. That’s happened to me many times.” He said the word Christian has become such a loaded word he simply calls himself a follower of Jesus and lets the chips fall where they may.
This week in my morning reading I read Mark 8:27-38. It is where Jesus asked his disciples, “Who do people say that I am?” After some hemming and hawing among the disciples Peter said, “You are the Christ, the Anointed one, the Messiah.” Whatever Peter or the other disciples thought that meant, Jesus went on to tell them he must undergo great suffering and be killed and then rise again after three days. This shocked Peter and he told Jesus he was wrong. But Jesus immediately cut Peter off by saying, “Get behind me, Satan.”
That strong rebuke reminds me of when Jesus was tempted by Satan in the wilderness and Satan said that if Jesus would follow him, he would give him all the kingdoms of the world. “If you worship me, it will all be yours.” (Luke 4:7). Writer Kristin Du Mez said, “The Devil’s greatest, most essential and powerful temptation for Jesus is to trade in the powerlessness of the cross for the power to rule.”
Jesus turned to his disciples and said, “If anyone wants to follow me, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.” What Jesus had just said about the cross wasn’t just about him, it was about them. To follow Jesus is to bear a cross. Since the day Jesus spoke those words the cross has defined the way for the followers of Jesus.
Throughout church history we read of Christians who fearlessly, willingly went to their deaths, with forgiveness in their heart. On crosses, the Roman Emperor Nero crucified thousands of followers of Jesus. The Apostle Paul was clear: “We preach Christ crucified, foolishness to the Greeks and blasphemy to the Jews. But here is the power and the wisdom of God.”
Still, through the centuries many Christians have turned to the state in order to preserve their power and influence. Why are Christians so afraid someone will come and take away their faith? At the Feb. 22 National Association of Religious Broadcasters convention, former President Trump said to a cheering throng, “They want to tear down crosses where they can, and cover them up with social justice flags. But no one will touch the cross of Christ under the Trump administration, I swear to you.”
Talk about laughable. Of this I am sure, the cross of Christ does not need protection by him or any other human. Kristin Du Mez says if it did it would be totally unworthy of our allegiance. “Jesus Christ is Lord, and he, and he alone will finally overcome all the powers of evil by the power of his cross and resurrection.” We in the church are not the power-brokers in the world. Nor do we aspire to be. We neither cower in fear before earthly powers nor seek that power. In the Sermon on the Mount Jesus describes our calling: We are poor in spirit, humble, pure in heart and peacemakers.
I think of the beautiful crucifix high above the altar in St. John’s Catholic Chapel near the University of Illinois campus. Countless times over the years I knelt before that cross remembering that I solely live by faith in the Son of God who bore the sins of the world on the cross and rose to reconcile us with his Father. That is the faith that inspires me and why I push back against those who seem fixated on abandoning that, aligning themselves with the kingdoms of this world and appealing to power and authority over others in the name of the cross.
donfollis.com 