Years ago, a woman stormed up to me after worship and told me she was angered by the political propaganda in the ladies’ restroom. Unaware of anything like that, I asked what she meant.
“All that information about domestic violence,” she growled.
“Do you mean the help hotline,” I asked?
“Yes! How dare you take sides on a political issue! I was so enraged,” she shouted, “I tore it all down and stuffed it in the garbage!”
For her, posting help for victims of domestic violence was a political topic and therefore had no business in the church. The congregation disagreed. So did I. For us it was a matter of following Jesus, offering a source of help for those in a desperate situation. Just because someone claims an issue is political doesn’t make it so.
Politicians don’t get to decide what issues the gospel should address. We confess that Jesus is Lord of all, which includes our business ethics, our relationships, our church life, our finances, our enemies, and, yes, even our politics. Rather than letting our political views determine how we interpret the gospel, shouldn’t the gospel of Christ interpret our politics?
You may have noticed that I don’t hesitate to talk from the pulpit about poverty, hunger, immigration, justice, LGBTQ, racism, or other issues that can prove difficult. Some people would say that once a politician speaks on an issue that the gospel no longer pertains to it. Or at least it is now off limits. Or at least shouldn’t be addressed by the pastor. Or at least not in a sermon.
That seems backwards to me. Jesus spoke very clearly about difficult issues and how the reign of God was different than the approach taken by many leaders of his day. In fact, the gospel he proclaimed and revealed had the most impact when addressing those real-life, difficult issues.
Seeking how Christ and his gospel address the difficult—even divisive—issues that are part of our daily lives seems an imperative for those of us in the church. What, other than the gospel, should be the lens through which we view these hard things? Rather than avoiding difficult life issues in the church, we need to seek how God through scripture informs us on them!
Here’s the thing. The gospel will encounter you differently than it does someone else. We will disagree with others—even friends—on important matters. But disagreement shouldn’t mean avoidance. In fact, our diversity is part of the grandeur and wonder of the Holy Spirit. We ought to come together and share with each other how the gospel of Christ influences our views. Together we get a fuller picture of what God might be up to in the midst of hard issues. And, honestly, isn’t that what we want—to be influenced by God?
How do scripture, the gospel, and Jesus continue to challenge your perspectives on the hard issues we face? I’d love to hear about it!
In God’s Peace,
Pastor Rob