Mike Rutledge.CA

With what some have called the most significant election in American history now yesterdays news, I think it is time to stop, take a breath, and think.

I understand that for many people, the institution of politics – it’s parties, figures, and activities – act as a kind of social or cultural Saviour. The mechanism of protection for, or the proliferation of, some kind of vision for the way the world should work, and often, becomes a draining and emotionally charged fight. In that context, we can begin to see that a loss in an election, or a law not being passed, or legislation getting held up, etc., is at best a loss in taking cultural ground (a loss of ‘progress’ as some would define it, though what progress looks like changes from person to person) and at worst, the demise of human kind for those on both sides of the political spectrum. And a win, well a win becomes a hope quickly realized, yet just as quickly to be disappointed.

Given this kind of relationship to politics, I can sympathize – to a point – with the kind of fear, emotionalism, irrationality, social shaming, prejudices, lack of humility, degrading of people with different opinions – i.e. assuming they are all either dumb, or uneducated, or Neanderthals, or baby haters, or lairs, or womanizers, or bigots, or racists, or corrupted puppets… the list keeps going. But the issue is that this is all done without actually taking the time to engage in meaningful, rational conversation about those differing opinions. But although I can understand this kind of reaction from some people – given ‘saviour complex politics’ –  that doesn’t mean we should excuse it or leave it ignored until something like this whole political circus happens again, and again we use the anonymity and relational distance of social media, among other forms of modern communication, to wage verbal war on each other without seeking understanding – especially if you are a Christian.

Christians, you (should) believe in the freedom of speech, in non-coerced belief, in the rational soul of all humans, the thoughtful criticism of injustice in the government, and whether not you like who is leading the country, honouring the government (Romans 13:1).  But Christian, we take things way to far when we forget that ever before we are ‘political’, we are followers of Jesus, united by grace.

Your political standpoint is secondary or even tertiary compared to the grace we all received. If you disagree with someone’s political choice, your job isn’t to assume they are less of a believer than you are, or assume that God happens to be unquestionably on your side. Plus considering the basic theology that gets thrown around at these times, we know that who ever is the leader of a country, is not a surprise to God and God is going use them in some way – granted perplexing at times how – to advance his purposes. So a side note to Americans, was God on Trump’s side or Hillary’s? Probably neither, but as long as Trump is in office, your job is to pray and pray, and pray.

It feels almost foolish to say, but it seems like so many Christians forget that in any human led institution, there are elements of both good and evil. Political parties are led by broken humans. The party that you do or don’t align with is led by broken souls in need of the same grace as you are. And so we must fight the urge to be so self righteous in our position. Have your opinion, hold it with conviction. But express it with humility.

I think, sadly, that if this election has exposed something about us all, it is at least this, we have generally lost our desire or ability to have meaningful and respectful conversations with those who disagree with us. So, Christian or not, maybe we can humble ourselves enough to start actual conversations. One’s where we choose to let go of the preconceived assumptions we hold about an individual or a group.  A conversation where we are willing to disagree, yet remain able to stand together. To do the hard work of truly seeking to understand instead of lazily dismissing those with differing beliefs for the safety of our protective echo chambers.

But not only has this past US election exposed a general loss of civil conversation, it has also exposed something a little closer to home for me. It has exposed a concerning at best, disappointing at worst, reality about the church that has caused those who aren’t in the faith to question us. That reality is this: we are far too political, both in identity and hope.

And because of this it seems we have skewed our faith in a scandalously grace centered, upside-down, counter-cultural kingdom by seeking out political power here in our little kingdoms. We have politicized our faith so much that we cannot even see the hypocrisy in our positions, we judge the salvation of other Christians based on political choices, and can’t seemingly find the humbled wisdom it takes to wade the difficult and complex waters of political policy, civic engagement, all while holding onto our values.

As a Canadian evangelical, recently I have become increasing hesitant to even admit that I am one, not because of the gospel, but because of the clarifications I have to add on to it and explanations about why I am not like the other ones we hear about in the media.

See, I believe that it is possible to believe that our universe was designed and created, to believe that Jesus is God, who died for sin, and rose from death, for our redemption, as most evangelicals would AND…

… believe that caring for the environment is important and climate change is an issue – in fact, I would argue that the creation theology of Christianity is the strongest motivation for environmentalism.

… believe that faith and science are not at odds, and can be beautifully reconciled, strengthening each other.

… decry the racism, sexual abuse, and other moral failures of President – elect Trump and at the same time decry the corruption, abortion laws, and moral failure of Hillary.

… and not be a white supremacist, but believe that Black lives matter and racial injustice is a concern that the church must address. All the while, honouring the police who do serve well. I refuse to chose sides.

…I can believe what Christians have believed for 2000 years about marriage, sexuality, and gender, yet not be the ‘regressive Neanderthal’ that hates every LGTBQ person and thinks they are out to destroy my faith or that they don’t deserve basic human rights. But actually want all human beings to flourish as humans (though we may honestly disagree on what flourishing looks in every instance).

…I can critically engage with other faiths, have genuine concerns about doctrine, and fundamentally disagree, without thinking that those who follow those faiths should not have the right to express it, or make sweeping judgments on whole faiths.

…have concerns about national security yet genuinely want to help refugees.

I believe that I can be an Evangelical in Canada and not be aligned with the exaggerated American caricature that gets presented in the media.

Maybe we need a new category here in Canada, I don’t know. But maybe before we need to do that, we the church can reclaim it. We can realize that although we are to be “in the world but not of it” Jesus didn’t call us to use our rhetoric to build fortresses that keep ‘outsiders’ away, and condemn from a far, but to run to the places no one else wants to go. We need to remember that when the Pharisees wanted to judge and condemn, Jesus forgave and healed. When Jesus spoke his harshest words, he reserved them for the ones who thought they had it all together and were morally superior, and oppressed the marginalized, not for the ones who were called sinners. We need to remember that Jesus is so much more than we let him be. He is far more dangerous to every persons status quos than we want to believe. He is so much more demanding of our lives than we want to admit. He is so much more gracious than we can fathom. He is so much more righteous and holy than we know how to deal with. His mission was far better then we understand, in His own words he was not sent, “into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.” (John 3:17) The Jesus we are called to represent doesn’t need PR help when we actually take his instructions seriously. People may not like our fundamental beliefs about life, God, family, the future, but that doesn’t mean they can’t like us.

If you aren’t a Christian, the ask is simple. Don’t be so quick to assume our motivation towards you is ill-willed. We may disagree, and that may make things tense, but we are both human, with inherent dignity, value and worth, and we are living in this world together. Let’s at least give each other the courtesy of being judged as a individual, no matter the labels we hold.