A Christian Ethos Toward Politics

The Assault

It has existed in my periphery for some time, but three years ago, the issue was brought into laser focus, 20/20 :  the need for Christians to speak truth in the public square.

It was the beginning of the covid pandemic, the government lockdowns, mask mandates and the like.  As a healthcare provider and one naturally inclined to investigate the world around me, I had many questions regarding the changes I was witnessing in my community as well as the country at large.  Even more importantly, as a Christian, I began to recognize a “hush”, an invisible hand that was staying the tongues of decent minded people everywhere.

2020 was the year I learned the answer to a question from my youth:  “How did so many good German citizens turn against their Jewish neighbors?”  Sadly, the reality is, the vast majority of people would rather fit in with the crowd and be comfortable than to stand on truth and face potential criticism or castigation from social circles.  Conclusions drawn from the decades old Milgram Experiment are still true today: 

“Ordinary people are likely to follow orders given by an authority figure, even to the extent of killing an innocent human being.”

People quickly became all too willing to not only shame the unvaccinated but fire them from their jobs or close their small businesses, depriving them of a livelihood.  Aside from the blatant disregard of accurate clinical trials from pharmaceutical companies, the deliberate lies from the FDA regarding one of the safest, most effective drugs on the planet for treating c19,  we saw the breakdown of one of the pillars in western medicine— informed consent.  I watched in disbelief as OSHA decided abruptly to stop reporting vaccine injuries, and many hospitals moved into an authoritarian position, telling people it was more important for their loved ones to die alone than “risk spreading covid to someone else”.  All the while, the elephant in the room grew taller.

The American education system upheld the philosophy of “better to stay home than learn in the classroom” even though our children will now never be able to fully reclaim the years lost to them by way of virtual “learning”.  Students, desperate to be heard, posted videos to social media asking mask mandates to be lifted— claiming that they couldn’t breathe and being unable to see someone’s face and read body language caused anxiety… even though the actual science continually showed children to be in the least likely demographic to be at risk for severe covid infections.  

The silence in Legacy media was deafening while world news continually measured the success of Sweden as they avoided lockdowns and kept their children in school.  But no national conversation or debate among the most educated and experienced ever took place. The professional voices opposed to lockdowns were censored and the locals agreeing with them mostly kept their opinions to themselves.  The elephant grew wider. 

For a brief while, my circle of friends would lament wistfully, “…let’s hang in there.. we’ll get back to normal eventually”  Normal.  Normal?  It didn’t take most folks three years to realize there wasn’t going to be a return to “normal” or, life as we knew it before covid.  Too much has changed..too many questions are still unanswered by our government, our once trusted health agencies and the medical community as a whole.  Too many people have been hurt by our national response to the pandemic..too many lawsuits are pending…too many suicides…too much mental illness…too much fear and confusion.  

All of this chaos has ushered forth a new reality for America and a new dawn for her Christians in particular.  The invasion of uncertainty, chaos and fear has a way of shaping people; it chisels away the extraneous to reveal the character beneath.  Not unlike the Three Youths sent to the fiery furnace or David taking on Goliath…or Judas betraying Christ.  Stress has a way of exposing the inner man and that can be a great asset to a hurting population. 

 “No pressure, no diamonds.”

Thomas Carlyle

It’s a great time to be a Christian; we are prepared for such a time as this! I heard Dr. Stella Immanuel, MD say during a television interview about her successful treatments of patients with covid.  What a beacon of light to know this is absolutely true.  The age we’re living in has unveiled our virtue…or lack thereof.  We’ve had to reconcile our moral compass with the one-way narrative of the U.S. Government, check our professional ethics against the dynamic shift in healthcare and, on a broader scale, take note of the multifaceted way human beings are suffering — our friends and neighbors across America and beyond.  If we’re not taking note, if we’re choosing to look the other way, can we really call ourselves Christians?  

The Second Front

So much has happened in America in addition to the pandemic over the last three years that it would be impossible to try and summarize the transformation in one article.  Every day we learn something new and usually shocking until we want to give in to compassion fatigue or decide to stop being informed entirely.   As a Christian, however, I know where my hope resides and I look forward to each new day, even if I do limit the time I spend reading national and world news.   

Curiously, in 2022 I recognized the second front of attack when it became clear that not all Christians feel the same way about loving your neighbor (Luke 10) and speaking truth in the face of corruption & fear (1 Samuel 17).

For example, when our small Appalachian community witnessed the encroachment of predatory spirits on our children via “family friendly drag shows”, the veil was lifted from many.  There were three major responses by Christians to this sexual display for children’s “entertainment” :

1)  Vocal outrage towards the ones hosting and participating in the show

2)  Private opposition, but a neutral stance in public

3)  Support for the show, while compromising the Gospel

Of course, there are nuances in each respective response group, but, naively, I had thought we were on the same team when it came to protecting the innocence of children.  In hindsight, I should’ve known better given the fact that some believers also support the murder of the unborn or gender ideology.  The very strong desire to be your own god and accepted by the world is a divisive weapon used by the evil one since the dawn of Creation. 

Now, as the West Virginia legislature is in session, we’re hearing more about bills to protect our children, such as WV SB 278 (protecting minors from exposure to sexually explicit displays) and WV HB 2007 (prohibiting gender surgeries).  As I encourage other Christians to speak up and support legislation to protect our kids,  I’ve recognized a sharp dividing line on this too— I’ve heard:  

“We’re fighting fruitless battles… we’re living in the End Times.”

or

“Christians should avoid conflict and be peacemakers” 

or 

“Our kingdom is not of this world, so we should just respect whatever the government decides to do. “

And some don’t even offer any words, they just throw up their hands in abstention— they don’t want to engage with the topic at all.  I’m vexed by the apathetic response, but I respect the pacifist view. I’ve learned from conversations with sincere Christians who have a carefully considered philosophy of non-violent ( or, in this case non-confrontational) resistance, with Christ’s example of going to the cross willingly, like a lamb to slaughter, as their cornerstone.   We can’t all be pacifists though in every circumstance.  If we were, we’d be flying a swastika instead of the Stars and Stripes over our nation.  Our Lord also said, "Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends." (John 15:13)

“There are plenty of brave pacifists out there, but even they understand at some level that their idealism is feasible only because others are willing to be pragmatic in their place.” 

 Ryan Holiday, Courage is Calling 

Taking Up The Armor

I don’t deny that the political climate of our age reflects the prophecies given to us in the Word.  But I also don’t see that as an excuse to stop serving God.  Where in Scripture does it tell us to stop helping those who are vulnerable and suffering because the Lord may return any day now?

“It’s tempting to sit back, study the signs, and attempt to guess when Christ will return.  But our command is to keep working until He comes (Luke 19:13). Let’s be about our Father’s business.” 

Billy Graham

Do Christians bear a responsibility in the governing of local, state and national bodies?  Should they stand up, engage with the political process, lobby for bills, practice civil disobedience or otherwise remain quiet and neutral on social contagions and divisive or unjust laws?  Maybe the answer is some variation at either end of the spectrum, acknowledging the unique talents to every disciple of Christ.   Dietrich Bonhoeffer, German pastor and theologian, martyred by the Third Reich during WWII, is an excellent case study on these questions.  Closer to home, where would we be without the vision, leadership and courage of Martin Luther King Jr.?  

I believe we Christians do bear a responsibility in the political process. For example, how can we remain idle while “doctors” are chemically castrating and mutilating children, under the guise of “healthcare” causing irreversible harm, while at the same time recognizing the inherent value of human beings by God?  

In the words of Fr. Stanley Harakas, Orthodox priest and distinguished teacher in Orthodox theology and ethics: 

 “Without effective Orthodox Christian thinkers and activists in the political structure, the Church is reduced to a mere spectator, forcing her to become disconnected with the world in which she resides.” 

Even though our Constitutional Republic in America grants a separation of Church and State, this should not be misunderstood.  This separation is to grant that there is no official religion designated by the government.  It should not be interpreted to believe it is hostile toward religion, especially given the nature and language of the Constitution itself.   Or that, somehow, politicians are suppose to ‘check their Christian paradigm at the front door’ of the government building when reporting to serve the people they were elected to represent.

When I recently asked my pastor, ‘Why don’t more Christians speak up in the face of evil?”  His thoughtful reply was, in essence:  because not everyone is equipped to do so.  Fr. Samuel is a wise man.  He reminded me that we are all called to use our gifts and talents to glorify God, while at the same time affirming Truth.

To Christians everywhere, I encourage you to put on the full armor of God.  Equip yourself this day.  Read St. Paul’s letter to the Ephesians, chapter six. 

    Be strong in the Lord…

Take up the whole armor of God…

Wrestle against principalities…

Stand… gird your waist with truth

Take up the shield of faith…

Pray always…

Be watchful…

Persevere…

Speak boldly…

These are all calls to ACTION. We are on this earth for a reason.  We are here to be a reflection of Christ. Be bold in the Lord; He is with us, inasmuch as we serve Him.  Use the unique gifts and talents He has given you to speak truth, to share the Gospel and build the Kingdom of God, to care for the suffering and protect the vulnerable, thus affecting the social conscience of the nation toward the statutes of God.