
The Christian movement has always been one that attempts to speak truth to power. All four gospel writers are very clear about Jesus' call to side with the poor, the oppressed, the marginalized, and the outcast. After all, this is who needs a savior, isn't it? The earliest gospel, Mark, begins with a subversive political statement, "The beginning of the good news of Jesus Christ." This might not sound like a political statement to us, but to it's ancient reader, they would have heard radical words of opposition.
You see, when the Caesar would enter a conquered land a notice would be distributed to all the people that would proclaim, "This is the good news of Caesar your Savior!" The Caesar was consider god like and after the empire would crush a new territory they would enter as if they were saving that land despite the fact that they were the ones who destroyed it! Mark begins his gospel with the exact words that Caesar would use, utilizing the language of the time to subvert the power and politics towards the kingdom of God that Jesus comes to usher in.
Every generation says it, but it certainly seems more true then ever, these are unprecedented times. Our politicians seem to be at war with one another. There are executive orders being hammered out one after another, many dehumanizing people on the margins. Hate is being spread via social media faster than ever before. And, maybe most harmful of all, there is a "Christian" narrative mercy is not an act of Jesus and has no place in politics. What is the church to do in such a time as this? This is the question I have been ask many times this past week or two. Honestly, I'm not 100% sure. I believe this is part of our discernment as people of God, to seek the ways each of us can use our gifts and talents to proclaim the good news and to speak truth to power with mercy and grace.
There are a few things I know we must do as the church in response to the world today.
Proclaim the Gospel.
There are many narratives and messages out there. Jesus' message of grace, mercy, and love MUST be one of them if not the loudest of them all. As an ordained pastor, this is one of the largest parts of my call. But this isn't reserved just for the pastor. All of us can proclaim the gospel through word and deed. If you aren't sure about how to do this, I recommend start by reading the gospel stories in the bible! Be loving towards your neighbor. Care for those in need. Treat EVERYONE like a child of God. If you are curious about what a pastor's ordination vows are, you can check them out below. But just because I agreed to these things in my ordination doesn't mean you can't also agree to them!
Pastoral Ordination
Before almighty God, to whom you must give account, and in the presence of this assembly, I ask:
Will you assume this office, believing that the church’s call is God’s call to the ministry of word and sacrament?
The church in which you are to be ordained confesses that the holy scriptures are the word of God
and are the norm of its faith and life. We accept, teach, and confess the Apostles’, the Nicene, and the Athanasian Creeds. We also acknowledge the Lutheran confessions as true witnesses and faithful expositions of the holy scriptures. Will you therefore preach and teach in accordance with the holy scriptures and these creeds and confessions?
Will you be diligent in your study of the holy scriptures and faithful in your use of the means of grace? Will you pray for God’s people, nourish them with the word and sacraments, and lead them by your own example in faithful service and holy living?
Will you give faithful witness in the world through word and deed, that God’s love may be known in all that you do?
Hear the words of the apostles: Pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance, gentleness. Fight the good fight of the faith; take hold of the eternal life to which you were called. (1 Timothy 6:11-12)
And again: Take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you guardians, to feed the church of God, obtained with the blood of God’s own Son. (Acts 20:28)
And again: Tend the flock of God that is in your charge, not under compulsion but willingly, not for sordid gain but eagerly. Do not lord it over those in your charge, but be examples to the flock. And when the chief shepherd appears, you will win the crown of glory that never fades away. (1 Peter 5:2-4)
And again: Think of us in this way, as servants of Christ and stewards of God’s mysteries. Moreover, it is required of stewards that they be found trustworthy. (1 Corinthians 4:1-2)
...care for God’s people, bear their burdens, and do not betray their confidence. So discipline yourselves in life and teaching that you preserve the truth, giving no occasion for false security or illusory hope. Witness faithfully in word and deed to all people. Give and receive comfort as you serve within the church. And be of good courage, for God has called you, and your labor in the Lord is not in vain.
Remain united as the Church.
Each of us will respond differently in times like these. Some will respond fast while others need time to process. Some will get overwhelmed while others will become fueled to do more. Some will become scared while others become more bold. This goes not just for individuals but whole communities. We must recognize the differences and not hold these responses against one another. One church's response might be to pray without ceasing while the other might choose to march in a protest. Both are needed. We must lift each other up and realize that the church is not just a building or a place but a gathering of people, each with their own gifts to the whole body as Paul writes in his first letter to the Corinthians chapter 12.
Listen Deeply
One of the bigger issues we have in the country and world right now is the lack of understanding. The only way we come to an understanding is by listening deeply to the other. I have had MANY conversations in the past months with people who I disagree with and have found that when I stop and listen instead of trying to figure out how to defend and respond, I end up asking better questions and have discovered common ground. In a recent Facebook exchange with someone over the rights of the Trans community I discovered that issue the behind the words of the person I was in debate with had nothing to do with a person's gender and identity. Instead, it was fear that people were grooming children and forcing them to change their bodies. While it seemed like a wild and improbable issue, we found common ground, BOTH of us agreed that behavior such as this should not be allowed! Certainly, that was not the end of the conversation but it was a point of connection to take us to the next place.
In addition to listening deeply to each other, we must also listen deeply to God. Each of us and together as community must discern what God is calling us to. This takes time to listen deeply to the Spirit and pay close attention to how the Spirit is moving. Again, this will be lived out differently in each person and community but if we remain united as the body of Christ, we will accomplish so much more!
Act Boldly and Faithfully
In times like these, we are called to be bold. To be bold we must trust. To trust we must have faith. If we believe that resurrection is promised for each of us then whatever happens to us in this life is not the final thing to happen. Resurrection is! With this faith and trust we are freed from fear of sin and death to boldly act for our neighbors and those on the margins. This is where we can begin to respond in mercy and with compassion. Our actions will not always be perfect. They will not always go the way we want them to. But if we act faithfully and remain true to the gospel, the Spirit will move through us and there are no limitations to what God can do through us.
Respond with Grace
Here in lies the hardest and most important act. If we proclaim to be people of grace, love, and mercy, then we must ALWAYS act and respond as such. This means providing grace and mercy towards those whom we might see as enemies. This is also where we ensure the separation of church and state. The church is not democratic or republican. It is not liberal or conservative. The church's ONLY allegiance is to our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ and his kingdom. Period. When our acts no longer are graceful, we begin to create an us versus them, and inside and an outside. Sides are chosen and all of a sudden we have church's aligned with political parties (Christian Nationalism as one example). We must remain a community where all are welcome, no matter who you vote for, republican, democrat, independent, or any other affiliation. That doesn't mean that we don't hold people to the standard of the gospel or allow for bad behavior. In fact, even more so as people of the gospel, we hold everyone to a higher standard but are filled with grace. We must be a place that doesn't offend. Maybe push outside of your comfort zone and be challenged but not offend.
I recognize that this list is not necessarily tangible things that you can pick up and do immediately. But this is where we must start. I recognize that I am not an activist pastor. I live out my call by preaching the gospel as an advocate and ally. I live out my call by building relationships with those on the margins and understanding their stories, hoping to bring their voices to those who have ears to hear. I live out my call by equipping, empowering, and supporting those who advocate on the streets for all people. This is me. What about you?
So I ask you, what is the church to do? Maybe even more so, what is it that you are feeling called to do and how can the church support you in that? How can you lead a charge of proclaiming the gospel and live out your call as a disciple of Christ? I'd love to know your thoughts and ideas. If you'd like to share any, please send them my way at PastorKenny@ChristServes.org. I look forward to hearing how we might take action together in the name of Jesus!