What Worldview Divides?
We are in a familiar place. Deja vu all over again. The tension in our city is thick. Emotions are high. Race, ethnicity, policing, politics—the fault lines are there again. As Christians, we ought not be governed by the 24-hour news cycle, the constant demand for a hot take or public statement for or against the latest flash point. But we do need to walk wisely—God has appointed the time and place in which we live (Acts 17:26).
2020 All Over Again
Because we are in a familiar place, we should be better equipped this time around. We saw six years ago how churches were wrecked and Christians set against one another because of differing impulses in responding to cultural crises. This time around, we cannot miss that the air we breathe is the prevailing worldview of division. A couple authors have termed it "tribalism," an "us verses them" mindset. It's the mindset that concludes, "If you don't 100% agree with me on this topic, then you hate me." Others have more acutely identified it as identity politics that gets inflamed by the critical theory divisions of oppressor and oppressed.
Is that the worldview that will govern our interactions together? Such dynamics play well for the politicians because it mobilizes their voting base. If people get worked up enough with fear and anger, then they will more reliably show up to vote. And such moves swing both ways, to the right and to the left.
I'm not proposing some happy medium, a "third way-ism," or suggesting that the Democratic and Republican Parties are equally valid camps for Christians to associate with. What I am saying is that we need to be aware that our culture shapes our thinking and impulses far more than we are likely to give it credit. And that worldview will sweep us away in the current if we are not intentional to observe the current and hold fast against it.
Is that the worldview that will govern our interactions together? Such dynamics play well for the politicians because it mobilizes their voting base. If people get worked up enough with fear and anger, then they will more reliably show up to vote. And such moves swing both ways, to the right and to the left.
I'm not proposing some happy medium, a "third way-ism," or suggesting that the Democratic and Republican Parties are equally valid camps for Christians to associate with. What I am saying is that we need to be aware that our culture shapes our thinking and impulses far more than we are likely to give it credit. And that worldview will sweep us away in the current if we are not intentional to observe the current and hold fast against it.
The Bible for Our Present Tensions
This familiar place with its challenging tensions, these are not easy things to navigate. And it is overly simplifying things to point to a single Bible verse and draw a straight line to a particular response or policy decision. Here are a number of current fault lines that Scripture would hold us in tension:
"Are you pro- or anti-ICE?"
- Paul insisted the Roman Empire was instituted by God as his servant, entrusted with the sword to carry out God's wrath on the wrongdoer (Rom 13:4).
- We ought not be surprised that there is oppression and injustice done by government officials (Ecc 5:8), and we ought to be quick to condemn such acts as wicked (Amos 2:6-7; Mic 3:1-12; Mal 3:5).
"Are you pro- or anti-immigration?"
- God made counter-cultural provision for the stranger, the alien, the foreigner (Ex 23:9-12; Lev 23:22; Deut 1:16, 10:18-19, 24:14-15; Matt 1:5; Heb 13:2).
- God establishes borders, prohibits foreigners from certain activities, and makes a way for the assimilation of peoples (Gen 17:12; Ex 12:43-48, 20:15, 23:31; Lev 22:25; Deut 15:3, 23:20; Ruth 2:10; Acts 17:26).
"Are you for the freedom of speech or the freedom of religion?"
- God desires all people to worship him (Psalm 117:1, John 4:23-24, Acts 17:26-27) and “the desecration of Cities Church” last Sunday was wrong.
- The freedom of speech flows from the innate value and dignity of humanity (Genesis 1:27) that would have us speak up for the defenseless (Isaiah 1:16-17).
- These freedoms are not mutually exclusive, nor is one exercised to the detriment of the other.
"You're racist if you are concerned about fraud."
- The sin of partiality, based on race, ethnicity, socioeconomic status, or any other basis, is wrong (Ex 23:2-3; Lev 19:15; Deut 1:17; Jas 2:1-9).
- The sins of lying and stealing, which comprise fraud, are wrong (Ex 20:15-16; Ps 55:9-11; Jas 5:4).
"No Christian, let alone an elder of a church, can work for ICE."
- Joseph was second only to Pharaoh over Egypt (Gen 41:39-40), Daniel had authority over all of Babylon (Dan 2:48), and Esther had a voice before the king of Persia (Esther 2:17, 4:14). All these are commended for their faithfulness, even as they conducted themselves for the benefit of wicked governments.
- John the Baptist told a Roman soldier that repentance looked like carrying out his duties righteously, not resigning from his post (Luke 3:14).
- The Roman Emperor was God's servant (Rom 13:1-4) to whom Christians ought to submit (1 Peter 2:13) and for whom Christians ought to pray (1 Tim 2:2).
On Earth as in Heaven
There is much more to consider. The above is by no means a comprehensive political theology. Rather, the aim is to highlight that the tired tribalism of our culture has no place among Christians who should instead wrestle together with God’s Word with charity toward one another. And it should drive us to pray, because most of us have not been given the authority or responsibility to directly bring about change. But we know the Maker of Heaven and Earth who delights in his people calling for his will to be done on Earth as it is in Heaven. And going to the Father in the authority of King Jesus by the Spirit does far more than social media activism.