Christians, we must stop our partisan politics!
A month ago the President accidentally tweeted me with a “lightweight” insult as part of his Twitter war, promoting an open letter (http://www.jonathancarl.org/2019/09/TrumpTwitterWar.html) in response that encouraged him to tweet less, humble himself, apologize more, and to keep things in perspective. The letter seems to have fallen on deaf ears. The President’s language and behavior has not changed for the better but for the worse with public cursing, divisiveness, and prideful rants.
When I wrote the first letter, I simultaneously felt the need for a second letter (http://www.jonathancarl.org/2019/10/Christians-Must-Stop-Partisan-Politics.html) to be addressed to Christians & their leaders who are continuing a movement of public religious endorsement of the President. Recent harmful rhetoric from the President, Reverend Franklin Graham, and Pastor Robert Jeffress has made the conversation more urgent and timely. In an increasingly polarized political climate, Christians need to see how their partisanship diminishes their witness.
Here are some thoughts for Rev. Graham, Pastor Jeffress, and many of us evangelical Christians from a concerned Southern Baptist pastor:
1) Stop Partisan Politics
Please stop promoting the President, endorsing the Republican party, and hating on the Democrats. Retract your partisan endorsements and choose instead to focus on promoting Jesus and endorsing His Word. We have a higher calling. Love on and pray for both parties and endorse neither.
• 2 Timothy 2:4 “No soldier gets entangled in civilian pursuits, since his aim is to please the one who enlisted him.” (ESV)
2) Avoid Political Idolatry
Idolatry is a man-created religion that bypasses Jesus to pursue blessings and relief from suffering in their own manner of control. Idolatry sidelines God and gives more passion, resources, energy, and focus into their system of solutions. For many of us, we’ve trusted in, bowed down to, and loved politics more than we care to admit.
• Philippians 3:20 “But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ”
3) Quit Christian Nationalism: A False Gospel
We are called to talk about Jesus to both sides and not isolate our audience with our political dispositions and opinions. We cannot present a distorted view of Christianity that identifies the Christian faith with a particular political party. Christian nationalism in America is advertising that one must vote Republican or you are not really a Christian. This compromise of our Gospel witness should disturb us.
• Matthew 5:44 “Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you” (ESV)
4) Humble Ourselves
We’ve all played the hypocrite and spoken unkindly towards those different than us. It may not be intentional but it is a reality nonetheless for all of us. The world doesn’t need our snarkiness or sarcasm. They need our love. We should be gentle and kind with our “opponents” and remember we are all created in the image of God.
• 1 Peter 5:5 “Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility toward one another, for ‘God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.’”
5) Change Directions Now
We need to stop our public political flag waiving, skip political rallies, put down our posters, remove our campaign hats, and pull out our yard signs. Be informed, vote, and engage the issues but keep your partisan affiliations and endorsements private. People don’t need our polarizing and biased opinions, they need the truth of our King Jesus. Put the Kingdom of God in front of the kingdom of man.
• Colossians 3:2 “Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth.”
May we pray more and politick less, endorsing neither party but loving on them both. There is a way to engage our culture without compromising our Gospel witness. Christians, we can do better.
A concluding thought from someone who learned the hard way about the dangers of Christians being partisan in their politics:
“Evangelicals can’t be closely identified with any particular party or person. We have to stand in the middle, to preach to all the people, right and left. I haven’t been faithful to my own advice in the past. I will in the future.” - Billy Graham
In Christ,
Jonathan Carl, A Monarchist Pastor Waiting for the King of Kings to Return and Make All Things New