Tag: activism

Only What Cannot Be Shaken Will Remain

Gary Pollard

Political divide in the church is not new. I’m sure, to some degree, idealogical division has existed since the church’s conception. It’s not a coincidence that Jesus chose a militant political activist and an enemy of that political activist to be among his apostles. He expected them to set aside their differences in favor of a truth that transcended anything earth-based.

We understand this intellectually, but it’s hard for most of us to see how that’s relevant when American political issues are so different from first century issues. Most of us think (rightly so in many cases) that the intrinsic differences between conservatives and progressives are moral rather than merely ideological. How could anyone claiming to be a Christian vote for a leftist politician when theirs is the party of abortion, hedonism, and (which is ironic and paradoxical) restrictions on fundamental freedoms? 

Conservative values do intersect with Judeo-Christian morals far more than progressive ones. But our values can (and have — I’ve witnessed it myself many times) cause us to ignore or blatantly violate scriptural principles. Are we ugly to people who’ve been deceived, or who tell themselves that they’re voting on an issue-by-issue basis? Do we love our enemies and pray for them? Have we determined that — even in matters not covered in scripture — we will defy governing authorities that God put in place? Do we elevate certain political or ideological figures to deity by how we perceive them? The number of conservative Christians who have conflated faith with flag is staggering. More than a couple of times, I’ve heard a Christian say something to the effect of, “God expects me to fight for my faith and my family.” Where is that even implicitly taught in scripture?

But this is not new. The overwhelming majority of Americans before (and during and after) the Civil War were reliable church-attendees.1 Brother excluded brother on the basis of ideology and ethnicity.2 I’ve preached at some old churches whose ancestral members (during the Civil War) brought their rifles to church so that they could fight their fellow countrymen after services. The odds of a believer leaving worship to slaughter a believer on the other side were quite high. 

This year has been tense, to grossly understate reality. We are divided over legitimate issues of national identity and security, individual freedoms, and behavioral regulation. Christians all over the country wait with bated breath to see if the “right” political figures are installed in the next election. To conservatives and progressives alike, this is seen as a fundamentally existential election. The future of our country depends on it! 

This may be true. We do live here, and we have legitimate concerns about our future and about the sanity of our culture. But many American Christians put the principles of their supposed faith in the back seat once before — at the cost of 620,000 lives (equivalent to roughly 7,000,000 Americans today by percentage of population3). 

Don’t read, “Gary doesn’t think these issues are important,” or, “He doesn’t understand how bad things have gotten.” I’m far more plugged in to these issues than I should be as a die-hard conservative who professes belief in Jesus. We’ve gotten to the point, though, that we can’t have both: it’s time to choose. 

Are we Christians, or are we conservative Americans? Or even progressive Americans? Don’t fall into the trap of conflating faith with flag, or faith with political issue(s)! This planet is not our home. We are not American Christians. We are Christians who happen to live in the United States! Our view of people is supposed to be colored by how Jesus would treat them — not by how friendly or hostile they are to our Constitution or Bill of Rights or natural laws! God expected his people to show patience, love, humility, and altruistic care to godless, hedonistic, depraved people who illegally put them to death (cf. Mt 5.44; I Pt 2.12-14, 3.9, 3.15, 4.7; Rom 12.14, 12.17-19). 

We could legitimately say that our political opponents are, in every sense of the word, enemies. Existential, moral, ideological enemies. Do we love them? Do we pray for them? Are we kind to them? Do we bless them? Would we turn the other cheek? Do we want, more than anything, to see them saved on the last day? We do not have a monopoly on salvation — in fact, Jesus will determine who leaves with him and who stays behind by how we treat each other (cf. Mt 25.32ff). No “Christian” who fails to live by Jesus’s principles of godly love will be saved on the last day (Hb 12.14). 

“Try to live in peace with everyone. And try to keep your lives free from sin. Anyone whose life is not holy will never see the master. … You have come to the meeting of God’s firstborn children. Their names are written in the heavens. You have come to God, the judge of all people. And you have come to the spirits of good people who have been made perfect. You have come to Jesus — the one who brought the new agreement from God to his people. You have come to the sprinkled blood that tells us about better things than the blood of Abel. Be careful and don’t refuse to listen when God speaks. Those people [the Israelites] refused to listen to him when he warned them on earth [not to touch the holy mountain]. They did not escape. Now God is speaking from the heavens. So now it will be worse for those who refuse to listen to him. When he spoke before, his voice shook the earth. But now he has promised, ‘Once again I will shake the earth, but I will also shake the sky.’ The words ‘once again’ clearly show us that everything that was created will be destroyed — that is, the things that can be shaken. And only what cannot be shaken will remain. So we should be thankful because we have a kingdom that cannot be shaken. And because we are thankful, we should worship God in a way that will please him. We should do this with respect and fear, because our God is like a fire that can destroy us” (Hb. 12:14,22-29).

 1 Irons, C. Religion during the Civil War. (December 07, 2020). In Encyclopedia Virginia. https://encyclopediavirginia.org/entries/religion-during-the-civil-war

 2 Verboon, C. (August 14, 2020). Irregular secession: The political nature of religious space in the reconstruction-era south. In The Journal of the Civil War Era. https://www.journalofthecivilwarera.org/2020/08/irregular-secession-the-political-nature-of-religious-space-in-the-reconstruction-era-south/

 3 Civil war casualties. (September 15, 2023). American Battlefield Trust. https://www.battlefields.org/learn/articles/civil-war-casualties

Our Cosmic Mudball

Friday’s Column: Brent’s Bent

Brent Pollard

Happy Earth Day! Yes, fifty-two years ago, the annual event created by peace activist John McConnel began. McConnel intended that we observe Earth Day on March 21 in connection with the vernal equinox. But instead, the academics and bureaucrats from the United Nations who got behind and promoted the annual observance chose April 22, which happened to coincide with the birthday of Vladimir Lenin.  

McConnel, a Pentecostal, hoped that more Christians would get involved with Earth Day, finding inspiration in God’s declaration that he had made the earth for humanity (cf. Psalm 115.16). McConnel felt that March 21 was a more natural date and less likely to be politicized. However, he admits that Earth Day has become politicized, alienating Christians and conservatives.1 

This year’s Earth Day theme is “Invest In Our Planet.” In addition to the alarmist hype that our time to “fix” things is short, you’ll note the following: “This is the moment to change it all — the business climate, the political climate, and how we take action on climate. Now is the time for the unstoppable courage to preserve and protect our health, our families, our livelihoods… together, we must Invest In Our Planet.”2 

So, when did fighting pollution and conserving our natural resources become about changing business and politics? Those usurping the Earth Day idea from McConnel prove his point about its politicization. However, I will not write another lengthy post about climate change but refer you to an article posted on this blog on January 7, 2022, “Worry Not; The Sky Is Not Falling.” 

In the meantime, as you hear people talk about our terrestrial home today, I wish to remind you of our eternal one. We are told not to love this world or the things therein since they will be destroyed (1 John 2.15-17). And while that doesn’t excuse us from being good stewards of the planet, it can be unhealthy to become so invested in a cosmic mudball that will only one day melt with fervent heat (2 Peter 3.10). Set your mind on things above (Colossians 3.2). 

Jesus is coming. He promised to prepare His followers a dwelling place (John 14.1-3). With that promise is the one of His return. It is certain. Note the testimony of the angels at Jesus’ ascension that our Lord will return one day in the same way He left us (Acts 1.11). Our task is to prepare for that great day since we know not the day or the hour (Matthew 25.13). Are you ready? 

Sources Cited 

1 Sparks, Nicole, and Darrin J Rodgers. “John McConnell, Jr. and the Pentecostal Origins of Earth Day.” Assemblies of God Heritage Magazine, Flower Pentecostal Heritage Center, ifphc.org/-/media/FPHC/Heritage-Magazine/2010.pdf. 

2 “Earth Day 2022: Invest in Our Planet™.” Earth Day, EarthDay.org, 21 Apr. 2022, www.earthday.org/earth-day-2022/. 

“Virtue” Is Not A Dirty Word

Monday’s Column: Neal At The Cross

sunset and sweetie

Neal Pollard

Did you know that the term “virtue signaling” is now in the dictionary. An expression that has been used a lot in the wake of the pandemic and social unrest of last year and into this year, it means to “publicly express opinions or sentiments intended to demonstrate one’s good character or the moral correctness of one’s position on a particular issue” (Apple Dictionary, 2.3.0, 2005-2020). “Virtue signaling” is typically used in a derogatory manner. It is felt to be synonymous with jumping on the bandwagon of a popular cause or moral grandstanding, and is considered by those diagnosing a “virtue signaler” as one trying to win praise or acknowledgment from the likeminded for showing support for a social or political cause or to reprimand and rebuke those who feel or behave differently (dictionary.com). The disdain for this practice often arises from the apparent motives of the signaler, wanting to seem more caring, more righteous, or better than others on a given issue. Cancel culture and “wokeism” are often the more virulent strains of this social malady.

Jesus had a low threshold of tolerance for the ancient equivalent of the virtue signaler. Especially in Matthew 23, Jesus calls it out. “They say things and do not do them…” (3-4). How often have we seen people being hypocritical or inconsistent in matters they call out others on?  “They do all their deeds to be noticed by men” (5). Only God knows a person’s heart, but is that ever at play in this matter? “They love the places of honor…” (6). Especially may this be evidenced through social media where one may revel in the admiration or recognition of others for occupying the high ground by their signaling. The silent majority may be intimidated by virtue signals, but they are not inherently improved by them.

Depending on your point of view, you may well think that “virtue signaling” is a dirty phrase, that is bespeaks hypocrisy, political correctness, or the like. But, may we never tar the word “virtue” with the same brush. In a list of characteristics better known as the “Christian Virtues” (2 Pet. 1:5-7), Peter urges adding “moral excellence” or “virtue” to our faith. The word refers to “consummate ‘excellence’ or ‘merit’ within a social context” (BDAG, 130). While the Stoics and writers like Homer reserved it for “military valor or exploits, but also of distinction for other personal qualities and associated performance that enhance the common interest” (ibid.), inspired writers coopted the term to mean “uncommon character worthy of praise” (ibid.). While the word is only found a handful of times and more often refers to God (2 Pet. 1:3 and 1 Pet. 2:9), it should describe us, too. If we are praised for demonstrating virtuous qualities, we are to double down on filling our hearts with true righteousness and virtue (Phil. 4:8). 

Virtue, as God defines it and guides us to genuinely show it, will encourage others to look at God, glorify Him, and seek to follow Him. Humble, genuine godliness, seeking no attention and wanting no praise, is a powerful persuader. In fact, it’s central to how God wins the hearts of others (cf. Mat. 5:14-16). Let’s stay out of the virtue signaling business, but let us strive for truly virtuous living! God is counting on us to reflect His moral excellence to those foundering and floundering in unrighteousness. 

Paper straws: Environmental friendliness or an attempt to drive us crazy?

PREACHERS AND POLITICAL ACTIVISM

Neal Pollard

Being patriotic and having a political heritage like we do in this country, we may have strong, personal convictions in the realm of politics. Engaging in the political process, from volunteering to voting to political meetings, can help us not only be a positive agent of change but also salt and light before the world. But nothing can have a quicker negative impact on ministry than a “stumping sermonizer” or “campaigning church man.” I’ve known preachers who seem CONSUMED with politics and can hardly speak without ranting about it.  It just comes out! Beware that the mouth speaks out of the abundance of what’s in the heart (Mat. 12:34). Some preachers betray that they’re dwelling more on things below than things above (Col. 3:1-2).

The church began in the midst of political rottenness and corruption. Tacitus wrote of Augustus Caesar that he “seduced the army with bonuses, and his cheap food policy was successful bait for civilians. Indeed, he attracted everybody’s goodwill by the enjoyable gift of peace. Then he gradually pushed ahead and absorbed the functions of the senate, the officials, and even the law. Opposition did not exist. War or judicial murder had disposed of all men of spirit. Upper-class survivors found that slavish obedience was the way to succeed, both politically and financially” (https://facultystaff.richmond.edu/~wstevens/history331texts/augtotib.html). Of course, certain Jews did consume themselves with political interest and revolted against Rome—A venture that ended badly at Jerusalem and Masada. Read Tamarin’s classic book, Revolt In Judea, if you want the horrible details.  Politicians of the first century were guilty of wanton sexual immorality, including homosexuality and adultery; They practiced infanticide and whet their appetites for death and violence in their stadiums and arenas.  Where is Peter’s or Paul’s diatribe in scripture against vices and corruptions that sound a lot like our day? Where are the early Christians with their pickets and protests against the government?  Instead, “They went everywhere preaching the word (Acts 8:4)!

Political activism will hurt our efforts to effectively evangelize. How tragic to lose a soul trying to win a political argument!  Political activism, in preachers, can negatively impact what the church has paid them to do. They certainly didn’t pay him to spend all day on social media trolling stories or writing quips. They didn’t hire him to go to political rallies, being more wrapped up in affairs of state than affairs of heaven.

Paul was actually able to have an audience with the most prominent politicians of his day. Was he interested in discussing national or imperial policy with them?  Before Felix and Agrippa, he preached righteousness, temperance and judgment to come.  In Acts 27, he says God appointed him to speak before Caesar.  What could happen among us if more were devoted to spiritual revival than political reform?