Like millions of Americans, I was flabbergasted and deeply saddened January 6th by the words and behaviors flying across social media sites and news programs.
The Washington Post had a heckuva lede in telling the story:
Every person who cherishes their democratic freedoms should feel shaken today.
This is was not democracy in action; this was an attempted coup.
I say this as a pastor and a student of history.
For what it’s worth, here are 3 Pastoral Thoughts on the Washington, D.C. Insurrection:
This is not our Home.
Like Daniel, we are exiles. As C.S. Lewis once said, “We were made for Another World.”
Waving Confederate flags, Jesus 2020 banners, and political signs to the cameras while forcefully desecrating a place of government cherished by millions is not how we will reach the world for Christ.
”Do not put your trust in princes, in human beings, who cannot save.
Blessed are those whose help is from the God of Jacob,
whose hope is in the LORD their God.”(Psalm 146: 3 + 5)
What happened on January 6th makes self-professing Christians look crazier than Mike Tyson in a Spelling Bee.
Gen Z was just handed yet another pitiful example of what happens when you mix politics with religion: you get politics. You want to know why the younger generation has stopped going to church? It’s because they’ve been to a church.
There is a difference between making a point and making a difference. Wednesday’s actions did neither.
2. Walk Away From Your Media Echo Chamber
With so many entertainment and news options offered by whomever we choose to follow on social media / radio / streaming news services, we now live in a time where we can self-isolate within a chosen media echo chamber.
False narratives are unhealthy (and ultimately are what led religious people to crucify Jesus!). Rhetoric is not just empty words; the Scriptures warn us over and over about how the tongues has the power of life and death.
"Do not call conspiracy all that this people calls conspiracy, and do not fear what they fear, nor be in dread. But the Lord of hosts, Him you shall honor as holy. Let Him be your fear, and let Him be your dread.”
(Isaiah 8:12-13)
Let’s choose our fears wisely.
The more you pursue an idol, the less it delivers and the more it demands.
Let’s choose conversation over condemnation.
3. We Have More Work To Do in terms of Political Discipleship.
Jesus said His kingdom is not of this world, for if it was His servants would fight (John 18:36).
Peter struck out with sword, but Jesus said, "No more of this!" (Luke 22:49-51).
Love is:
• patient
• kind
• does not boast
• not arrogant
• not rude
• not irritable
• not resentful
• does not rejoice at wrongdoing
• bears all things
• believes the best
(1 Corinthians 13)
As a pastor, I was disappointed seeing social media responses in the Insurrection’s aftermath from Christians: conspiracy theories, leaps of logic, trumpeting freedom of speech over loss of life.
As a father of three African-American children, I cringed.
The ugliness of white privilege was emerging from within public, online posts from Christians.
The Facebook comments I was reading were coming from my own friends.
Please, please, pause and reflect before posting about any correlations with last summer’s racial tensions.
As Jesus pleaded with the Father, in your anger you know not what you are doing (posting).
Please consider taking some time to try and understand why your African-American and Muslim friends are seeing January 6th’s words and behaviors through a different lens.
We can all make room for more historical education and understanding and empathy in our lives.
Maintaining a posture of humility and teachability is a prerequisite for following Jesus.
In closing, thank you for being open to hearing my thoughts.
I am not perfect.
I am not infallible.
By the grace of God, I am who I am today.
For my part, my door is always open for conversation and understanding.
In Christ, the best is yet to come!
