I was confronted last week with (some) evidence that my writing is sometimes too harsh. I’m okay with getting the feedback because 1) it’s helpful to get an “outsider’s” perspective on my work and 2) I always want to display humility. I’m not perfect by any stretch of the imagination and being a Christian means walking with a community of believers who can instruct, challenge, and encourage me in how I live out my faith.
The central concern was that using strong ‘divisive’ language in my opinions about politics might be “a stumbling block” to someone coming to faith in Christ themselves.
Be careful, however, that the exercise of your rights does not become a stumbling block to the weak. —1 Corinthians 8:9
It is alright for me to write about faith, culture and politics, but some people (brothers and sisters in Christ, and maybe those who are exploring faith) won’t feel they can discuss it because it is too divisive. Indeed, there a lot of Christians who think politics is evil and that believers shouldn’t have anything to do with it.
I’m not one of them.
I have very strong opinions about American politics and the two main parties in our country. I also have very strong convictions about what is right and wrong with our politics, and I recognize that not everyone will agree with me — even those who would consider themselves to be conservatives like me.
I wouldn’t want any of my writing to bring shame on the name of Christ; nor would I want anything I write to be a barrier to someone’s faith. But I also don’t want to be a shrinking violet.
Jesus was a master of storytelling and sometimes let others have it.
Then Jesus spake to the multitude, and to his disciples, saying, The scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses’ seat: All therefore whatsoever they bid you observe, that observe and do; but do not ye after their works: for they say, and do not. For they bind heavy burdens and grievous to be borne, and lay them on men’s shoulders; but they themselves will not move them with one of their fingers. ([Matt. 23] vv.1-4)
These people love work — they could watch it all day. They love cooking up spiritual things for other people to do. It reminds me of Ambrose Bierce’s definition of a Christian — someone who believes that the New Testament is a divinely-inspired book, admirably suited to the spiritual needs of his neighbor. Was Jesus generalizing? Of course. Were there Pharisees who were not hypocrites? Of course. Did this stop Jesus from letting the whole group have it? Of course not. In fact, we might go so far as to define a good Pharisee as one who acknowledged the justice of Christ’s generalizations.
— Douglas Wilson, “A Serrated Edge,” p. 35
It’s not that I can’t have opinions about politics; the concern is in how I present my opinions. Instead of calling lying politicians “political scum,” I could be more charitable by simply calling them “liars.” Liars like Anthony Fauci, Liz Cheney, Adam Kinsinger, Christopher Wray, Adam Schiff and many, many others.
I have also, many times, called for abolishing the Democrat Party. That’s divisive. But I could add a line or two (or provide a link to a short explainer) that explains why I take that position.
What I won’t do is not comment on politics. Political discussion was in our nation’s DNA before we were even a newly minted country. I’ve got a two-volume set called “Political Sermons of the American Founding Era, 1730-1805” that record sermons, pamphlets and letters defending and advancing the notion that our rulers must be just and men must be free. I’ve also got an academic volume called “Justifying Revolution: The American Clergy’s Argument for Political Resistance, 1750-1776” by Gary L. Steward, which surveys the important role that ministers had in advocating for independence. (To be fair, I’ve also got a volume called, “God Against the Revolution: The Loyalist Clergy’s Case Against the American Revolution” by Gregg L. Frazer.)
I think we’d be shocked by how deeply influenced by the ministerial class our successful rebellion was if we ever took time to understand it.
Today we are hesitant to talk politics for fear that we’ll upset someone or turn someone off to the gospel. But that goes too far, IMHO. Instead, we should readily engage in political discourse as people of faith. We should be willing to speak our convictions, even if it upsets someone in our tribe of faith.
We should also be willing to listen to the “other side,” even when we disagree with them. Maybe especially when we disagree with them. Hearing the “other side” can only help us sharpen our arguments, and it may even result in shifting our thinking.
But, on certain things, we cannot give way, no matter who it offends. For instance, my full-throated opposition to abortion is a non-negotiable. And to unfettered immigration. And to the trans madness that has metastasized across the country.
Church ministers are (correctly) afraid to lose their government tax exemptions if they speak of politics or endorse a political candidate. Perhaps the Church shouldn’t have accepted the government’s largess. And perhaps the government shouldn’t be taxing churches.
There are lots of topics to write about and almost every one could be a lightning rod or a “third rail.” Someone is going to have a different opinion, it’s going to generate emotions, and that’s just how it is.
So I’ll continue to write about faith, culture and politics. I’ll just try to do it with a bit more tact.