When Faith & Politics Collide

To say 2020 has been an odd year is an understatement. At some point I started waiting for Ashton Kutcher to come out of a giant van and inform the world that “We’ve just been PUNK’D!” So far, however, it appears Ashton is nowhere to be found, and this is indeed reality. The most recent bizarre event I heard of included a meteor headed straight for earth, which in all honestly, is one of the least surprising things to happen this year. In March, COVID-19 went from being a ‘joke’ to a ‘pandemic’ in a matter of days. “Flatten the Curve” banners & “Stay Home, Save Lives” mantras were everywhere. The toilet paper disappeared from stores, and the tin foil hats came out in full force. 2 weeks turned in to four months in the state of CA, and the confusion of how to proceed is most definitely as alive and well as it was day one of the statewide shut down. People have certainly questioned the integrity of the government, the motives of big pharma, & the role of the private citizen as we question who indeed the government really works for (if you are an American, this is my not so subtle reminder that the government works for you. WE THE PEOPLE ‘should’ be in control.)   We have sat in isolation, empowered by our laptops and articles. We have eaten up the ‘media of the day’ in hopes that consumption of one-sided information should surely ‘keep the covid away.’ It’s interesting, isn’t it? 

 

I do not pretend to be an expert on the US constitution or science. In fact, I don’t even really do that many essential oils, so I don’t pretend to be an expert on homeopathy either. I have been a law-abiding citizen, a relatively quiet millennial, anti-politics, generally pro-vaccinations, and over all might classify myself as 
“just some cute church musician who writes poetic monologues and scripts from time to time.” I am nothing special. No genius, no degree other than a B.A., 8 years experience in the work-force, a mom of two, and a worship pastor in a mega church who has become a center for scrutiny in the wake of ‘defiance’ regarding Governor Newsom’s orders. To say the last several months have challenged me, molded me, and inspired me would be as grand as understatement as claiming COVID is nothing to worry ourselves with, because it is ‘temporary.’ To say the last several months has not philosophically, politically, sociologically, and Theologically uprooted me would be a grave and dishonest assessment of myself. 2020 changed everything for me, and I believe it is changing everything for the Church. 

 

I have been blessed to grow up in a family where differences of opinion and beliefs were welcome topics of conversations. Even when tense, disagreements were never a source of belittlement, rather, we were encouraged to think and feel deeply (even when it was uncomfortable.)  We were allowed to ask questions. We were encouraged to find the Truth. As a child, I vividly remember telling my parents (at 5 or 6 years old) that I did not care whether they believed in Santa Clause, because I did, and I would not be convinced otherwise. I have never been swayed by the popular opinion, because even as a child, I was allowed to be rooted in conviction & passion, even if it was in fact, unpopular. I was taught the art of appreciating differences, but also simultaneously grounding myself in Faith, UNBENDING in a worldview where Jesus Christ was the center of it all. Love God. Love People. Growing up in this great nation, my millennial self was privileged and gifted the ability to DISAGREE with my government and with other authority figures around me. GIFTED with the ability to choose, discover, research, journey, and DECIDE who I would align myself with and WHAT I would align myself with. Could you imagine a world where we were UNABLE to disagree with each other without being labeled ‘evil,’ or ‘hateful?’ Prior to a few months ago, I could not imagine that world… But I have begun to see the writing on the wall as who I am as a Christ follower & a conservative have in fact threatened to cancel me, and any relationship I have built with those who do not share my beliefs. What a terrifying world that would be… a world without the freedom to think freely & act according to your moral convictions. 

 

Over the course of the last several weeks, as my church made the bold decision to remain open and hold indoor services despite the governor’s orders to shut down and either meet outside in groups less than 100 (in over 100 degree weather, no less) or go back to online services, I was confronted with a question I never had to ask before… “WHAT do I believe God is asking us to do in this moment? WHO has the final say? WHAT does the first amendment mean TODAY?” The simple answer that I have heard far too often from my Christian friends has been Romans 13.. which, in essence, encourages believers to obey the governing authorities, because it is in fact, God who granted them authority in the first place. The problem with this exegetical interpretation is this: When the government goes against your belief system, do you bend your beliefs and convictions to follow them? Is Government the new God? This over-simplified and out of context exegetical response to Romans 13 is a VERY American way of thinking: As if Christians in China submit to their government, as if Christians in Iran submit to their government, as if Christians all over the world accept SUBMISSION & OBEDIENCE to government OVER submission & obedience to God (who, by the way, is Sovereign, and does not change or bend to support the woke agenda. Just in case you forgot, God is not an American, and He is not a politician.)  The decisions I have made in my life over these past several months, and the choice to align myself fully with the decision of my church has not been one that was made out of rebellion, haste, or stupidity. It was one made prayerfully, thoughtfully, and boldly, with a healthy amount of fear behind the curtain of seeming defiance. (Reminder that things are NEVER as simple as they appear.)  

 

At the end of the ‘decision’ journey rose a conviction and an awakening like I have never experienced. A discomfort with the truth: The Church was being called out of hiding, I was being called out of comfort. I was being called to stand for something so that I would not fall for anything. Called to be salt and light. Called to love. Called to worship. Called to create. Called to open my eyes and see that our struggle was in fact not against flesh and blood. There was evil at work, and it was not an agenda or a human being… it was the work of the enemy, cunning and crafty. Speaking half-truths that appeared sexy and appealing, and doing exactly what he did in the garden with Eve when he simply asked the question “Did God really say?” There has been a careful dismantling of the American church that began with Christians entertaining an interpretation of Scripture that is convenient, sexy, and grey. There has been an attack on conviction, labeling such as ‘indoctrination.’

 

Prior to 2020 I had no interest in politics or these types of conversations, because I felt they did not affect my way of life, or my Faith. I felt I could have a ‘silent witness,’ package up my ‘Jesus’ in an appealing way that would not ‘offend’ in order to not ‘hinder my witness.’ The sentiment and heart of what I was indenting was good, but my friends… Because of this crossroads we have been faced with as a nation and as Christians, I have realized with full disclosure… I have been wrong.  We cannot be salt & light and remain silent. We cannot be quiet in our pursuit of liberty, or silently fight for life. We must live our lives as if the Kingdom of Heaven was near (because it is). I must live my life in a way that glorifies Christ, but may appear foolish to those who do not know Him. I must live in the tension of serving God the best I know how with the full knowledge that at times, I will get it WRONG.

 

To sum up the decisions I have made over the past several months regarding my Christian Faith juxtaposed with my citizenship as an American citizen?

 

I would rather be labeled a religious fanatic and holy roller than be woke, silent, or frozen. I will not be on the wrong side of revival. I have come to understand that your faith and politics cannot be separate, because one always should affect the others.  

 

I will ALWAYS believe in the infallible, unchangeable word of God. His Word is the most ‘woke’ material you will ever get your hands on. Anything outside the Word of God is mere and clever deception parading itself as a sexier version of ‘truth’ that will eventually devastate.

 

For as long as God continues to have His Hand of blessing over this country? The country I live in? I will not stay silent, because as previously stated… Faith & Politics go hand in hand, and they cannot be separate. 

 

So I will vote, for the first time ever with a true and passionate conviction to do so. I will vote for HOPE. For Religious Freedom. For Life. For Justice. For Equality.

 

I will vote, as the left says, “Like my life depends on it,” because it does, and so do my children’s lives, and so do your lives. I will vote for capitalism. I will vote for people over party. For Democracy.  For the right to teach my own children about gender and sex in the way I see fit. I will vote for real diversity and not popularity. I will vote for a nation where unity is the narrative. 

 

 

2020. What a time to be alive. 

 

-RS