WB Trigger Warning
It has been difficult to preach the gospel since Trump got elected. Suddenly, any part of the gospel that laid claim to how we live in community became a trigger. Pastors preached the same gospel they’d always been preaching, and suddenly families started leaving because they felt like their church had a political agenda. Four years into it, and churches have no choice any longer but to be involved in the political scene. Everything has become politicized. Lines have been drawn and sides declared. A catholic spirit seems nowhere in sight.
Us For Them
In this us or them world, what is the primary responsibility of the Body of Christ in this world? How do we speak up against racial injustice without triggering congregational members who don’t believe systemic racism is real? How do reject the spiritual forces of wickedness if church members refuse to accept their complicity in such forces? Pastors are weary. Church members are weary. Meanwhile the news cycle thrives on creating outrage and and us or them mentality.
We belong to a faith that expects persecution for following the gospel. The problem is, both sides believe they are following the true gospel, both sides believe they’re being persecuted. Both sides tend towards self-righteousness. I mean, I wouldn’t hold my opinions if I didn’t believe they were absolutely right. How do we break the cycle of self-righteousness and pray for our enemies? How do we love our neighbor when our neighbor has that political sign in her yard? And how do we love a person who doesn’t believe racism exists today without betraying the love we have for those who experience racism firsthand?
Seriously, I’m asking here. Because I think it’s an important question that will only get harder to answer when the election goes to hell in a few weeks.
I think the answer is found in our theological anthropology. That’s a big way of saying the answer lies in what God says about our common humanity. Both you and your political enemy are made in the image of God and declared good. Both of you have fallen short of the glory of God and have become disabled by sin. Both of you are children for whom Christ died to redeem. You both have the spark of the Holy Spirit working in you through prevenient grace. Believe it or not, Christ is at work in that person. Just as hard as Christ is at work in you.
There is Christ to meet in your sister and brother.
We just can’t forget that. We almost have to become treasure hunters. Instead of hunting for opportunities to be outraged by the next stupid thing that person says, hunt for signs that God is alive and at work in that person’s life. That doesn’t mean you can’t challenge them when you disagree. It does mean that you can’t write them off, because that person is a child of God. A stubborn one, for sure. But maybe so are you.
New Charlie Baber
The Rev. Charlie Baber, author of Wesley Bros cartoon.
Creator of the Wesley Bros cartoon, the Rev. Charlie Baber, a United Methodist deacon, serves at Highland United Methodist Church in Raleigh, N.C. His cartoon appears on United Methodist Insight by special arrangement.