The Partisan Paradox VII: Another Self-Righteous Clown

Although we shouldn’t overtly align ourselves with politicians and secular ideologies, neither should we be wholly ignoramus about the culture around us. We should not be ignorant of the major political and cultural controversies of our day. Frankly, ignorant Christians are more irritating to me than ignorant secular folks. At least the secular have an excuse for being depraved and blind to Scripture and God. They make no pretense of ever being knowledgeable about it. Christians that live blindfolded to the world and isolated need to check themselves at the door. Perhaps actually assure they are what they think they are. Mainly....Christian.

How can a Christian engage the culture meaningfully if they are ignorant of the cultural hot-button issues of the day? We are heading into heady times. On some issues we're in the thick of it. There are major ethical and moral issues confronting the culture nowadays that would benefit from having a well-informed Christian perspective. Not blanket brainless Christian shout-downs. 

"God abhors the ho-mo-sexual!" 

"God hates drug addicts. No drugs ever!"
"God hates....blah blah blah."

Thanks so much for being God's public address system. Thanks so much for being a really poor example of Christian grace, mercy and charity. As if Scripture and a kind but persuasive word cannot do that job. As if a the reminder of our sin in and of itself doesn't suffice via the conviction of the Holy Spirit. 

Instead we should be engaging the public in meaningful conversation about what we really believe and why. Explain why we find abortion abhorrent. Why, in some cases, capital punishment is needed to send a message to others that would attempt to perpetrate the same crimes. Why not all drug use is problematic (some is medicinal). Christians that believe any use of marijuana is illicit need to reread their Bible and stop being swept up into the crazed eisegetical fervor that the partially biblically literate church ‘leaders’ champion. Not all φαρμακεία /pharmakia is the same. Its all about intents/purposes of the heart. We need to admit that we might even have mixed feelings about things that the Bible says are sin but we haven’t reconciled in our lives or in other people’s lives. Admit that Christians are sinners and at times are conflicted about our own actions (Paul in Romans 7).

We all struggle with our sin which is exactly why we shouldn’t be pointing out other peoples sin devoid of Scriptural support. No one cares about our opinions but Scripture...Scripture carries much more credibility. When we advocate for certain political viewpoints that are critical of others in their sin or error while simultaneously ignoring our own we deserve the label given to us.

Hypocrites.

Hence the danger of aligning to a politician or political party no matter how ethical and moral their stances against the things Scripture clearly says are sin or abominations. Call it whatever you want. Moralizing. Virtue signaling. Self-righteousness.

Its preferential behavior and its disgusting. It is totally unbecoming of a Christian and does not send the Gospel message either in words or behavior. We all know those in the church that do this. I even did it as an immature Christian. No wonder people in and outside the church couldn’t stand me (us) when we act this way. If I could’ve stood next to myself ten years ago I’d have punched myself right in the throat. I now find the old me intolerable.

Imagine what the world sees when we moralize and virtue signal and they already hate God and the Bible. Sadly, we project our beliefs onto the politician we align to for all the world to see. Therefore, that politician acts as proxy for our moralizing. Trump and Obama weren’t hated for who they were…they were hated for what they represented. To the ‘other side’ just another ostentatious self-righteous clown by proxy. No one likes a twisted self-righteous clown. Come to think of it, self-righteousness is antithetical to the Gospel itself. The Gospel properly understood empties and humbles us. Not aggrandize us. It doesn't mock, it comes along side and helps. It doesn't give a beat down, it lifts up.

As evangelicals, we are called to use our minds for the glory of God and to test all issues, whether religious or political, by the standard of Scripture (Acts 17:11; 1 Thessalonians 5:21; 1 John 4:1). At the same time, however, we must recognize that the Bible will not always be as clear or direct in addressing the issues we currently face. In these issues we should act in grace. Firmly but not always dogmatically.

“We should have Christian approaches to politics, recognizing that there will be a variety of these, but we should not expect to produce ‘the Christian political program" ~Mark A. Noll, The Search for Christian America [Colorado Springs, CO: Helmers & Howard, 1989] p.139).