We Have To Start Talking About It!
One of the major revelations that surfaced during the Covid-19 Pandemic Era was the polarization and tribalism that exists, not only in our culture, but also within the church as well. Historically, the church has spent a tremendous amount of time teaching on doctrine to ensure that people had a solid foundation of truth in the key areas. Denominations often distinguished themselves by their teaching and adherence to specific doctrinal distinctives, and people would choose a church based on their alignment with a perspective on biblical truth. Over the last twenty years, it seems that these doctrinal issues ceased to be much of an issue.
First of all, the hard lines between denominations seems to have softened a bit.
Secondly, a common worship style and ministry strategy has aligned us. The differences between a Southern Baptist, Christian Missionary Alliance, Assembly of God, and interdenominational church don’t seem to be as important to attendees, because in many ways, these churches feel the same.
What divides the church now is not as much the basic doctrinal beliefs as it is the positions on politics and social issues. Pastor Tim Keller outlined four social issues that should unite all believers, but often divides them. He says that all believers with a desire to stay true to historical orthodox biblical Christianity should take stands for these four things:
We should be 100% against racism, as defined by the historic definition of hatred or discrimination based on the color of one’s skin or their ethnicity.
We should be for helping the poor and the marginalized in society.
We should be pro-life in every way, from the womb to the tomb.
We should teach and model the New Testament ethic on sex, marriage, and sexuality.
Keller’s observation is that the first two issues tend to be ones that those who lean left politically want to emphasize. The second two issues are ones that those who lean right politically want to talk about. But true followers of Christ should care about them all.
This is what tends to divide us. It’s not views of the rapture and the tribulation. It’s not doctrines about tongues, miracles, and the supernatural. It’s not even views of predestination and eternal security. It now tends to be the polarization of politics, and even one’s view of the nation we live in, America.
I believe the way to bring us together again is to have pastors and leaders start to preach the Kingdom of God again. We need to preach the Kingdom above party, above politics, and even above views on justice and the history of the USA. How do we even begin to do that?
#1 - PREACH THE KINGDOM
What does this mean? Probably the most common approach to talking about the issues of the day is to preach along political and partisan points of view. For some pastors, this seems to be the only righteous way. If you are not on the side of __________, then you are not on the side of righteousness or justice. But the Kingdom of God supersedes all politics and no political party completely and accurately represents it.
Jesus did not confront the evils of the Roman Empire by trying to bring political change. He came preaching, “The Kingdom of God is near! Heal the sick, raise the dead, cast out demons, cleanse the leper. Freely you have received; freely you should give.”
#2 - SPEAK WITH HONOR
It is rather easy to fall prey to “preacher smack talk”, where you get a bit excited, and your congregation is heartily giving their agreement. In that moment you might say something that dishonors a person, politician, decision, or group that you disagree with. You may be right in what you are saying, but you have not been honorable.
One of the reasons our culture has become toxic is that we have lost the ability to “speak the truth in love”. We dishonor others by our arrogance and anger. It’s one thing to be factually correct. It’s another thing all together to be pleasing to God in what we say!
#3 - BE ACCURATE FACTUALLY AND THEOLOGICALLY
My personal persuasion is that the New Testament and the Early Church hold the best strategic solutions for a broken and divided world. Therefore, my teaching and my actions are based on principles that I can draw from directly out of the Bible. There is an increasing pressure to adopt ideologies that come from politics, tribes, or cultures. I am committed that my ideology will come from the Scriptures alone.
This is a no-compromise issue for me. I will live and teach out of God’s word. I don’t want my personal preconceived concepts to the added to the word, but I want to only speak out of the penetrating, transformative, society shaping truth of what the Bible actually says. More and more I sense the need to stand for the authority of the word of God. I would rather be beaten, be imprisoned even die, than do anything to undermine His word and the truth that comes from it.
#4 - DEMONSTRATE CULTURAL HUMILITY
James teaches us, “Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to anger, for the human anger does not accomplish the God’s righteousness.” (James 1:19-20 CSB). This verse is the definition of cultural humility.
Be willing to patiently listen to a different point of view.
Don’t react. Listen. Consider what is being said and the pain that is behind it.
Seek common ground.
Demonstrate empathy.
Don’t post on social media out of anger or even indignation.
When you speak, let your words be seasoned with grace.
Take a tone that is soft and gentle. Remember that your tone is everything when trying to make peace and build influence. (Proverbs 15:1)
As a pastor and leader, your personal approach will teach your people how to interact with those they disagree with and are trying to win to Christ.
#5 - COMBINE GRACE AND TRUTH - DRIPPING WITH LOVE
Effective spiritual leaders know what it is to operate with the authority that comes from the truth of God’s word, but the grace that comes from the heart of a loving Father. As it says in Ephesians 4:15, ‘Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ.’
If we are going to keep the next generation engaged, and not running away from their faith—-we have to talk about these issues with both truth and grace.
If we are going to have any voice to a culture that is broken and divided—-we have to talk about these issues with authority and love.
If we are going to win souls who are right now politically opposed to the church—-we are going to have to demonstrate cultural humility, empathy, and yet teach and preach without compromise.
If we are going to see a revival come to our nation—-we can’t be ashamed of the Gospel (Romans 1:16-17), but we also cannot be arrogant in our approach to ministry.
We need a renewal of skilled pastoral leadership that is courageous enough to preach the word but without being partisan, petulant, and pandering. God help us learn to lead well in this generation!