Saturday, December 5, 2020

We did not envision that among us there could be myths that would be honored more than the gospel of Jesus Christ

 


When I started writing for Voices of Orthodox Women, it seems years ago, I found myself in a denomination focused on everything but the word of God, the Lordship of Christ and faithfulness in our walk. Those years are gone as is my and many other’s membership in that denomination. (I realize there are still many faithful Christians in the PCUSA.)  But walking away from an often faithless denomination carries no assurance of somehow advancing the kingdom of God nor even of staying within the safe borders of orthodoxy. 

One can hold on to the dogma with the intellect but throw the whole being into a strange political ideology that strangles the faith. Religion mixed with extreme right or extreme left politics kills our first love which must be Jesus.

Twitter often carries the signs of the times. Several days ago I read and listened to an ongoing confrontation between Eric Metaxas, the author of Bonhoeffer: Pastor, Martyr, Prophet, Spy, and Rod Dreher, the author of The Benedict Option and Live Not by Lies, who are supposedly friends. 

Dreher was appalled that Metaxas had on his show John Zmirak who had just published an article condemning Christians who were not backing Trump, calling them and Dreher servile Christians.  In the article, Zmirak wrote: “Servility is what I want to talk about today. Over the past few years, especially among the type of Christians who joined the NeverTrump camp, I’ve seen that deadly neurosis repackaged as a virtue. It pops up in repugnant essays like “Christianity Is for Cucks,” and in redundant books like The Benedict Option [One of the books authored by Dreher]."

Metaxas praised Zmirak’s article calling it brilliant. And on the video of Metaxas’ show there is total disregard for the genuine reasons and real concerns of those Christians who believe Trump’s worldview is not truly prolife, nor possessing moral principles. Instead both Metaxas and Zmirak see such Christians as cowards refusing to fight the “enemy.”  They see such Christians as those who seek virtue and martyrdom (from the Democrats) rather than joining in a fight to recover the election of Trump. They see America and Trump as the only force standing between Syria and its Christians, North Korea and its Christians, China and its Christians, etc.

While I have some very negative thoughts about Trump’s views and policies in regards to such authoritarian governments as North Korea and Syria that isn’t my focus in this essay but rather the great division that is now happening among Evangelical Christians in the United States. 

I have over the last 6 months read several books that are shaping my views; The Benedict Option for the second time as well as Dreher’s Live Not by Lies, also David French’s new book, Divided We Fall: America’s Secession Threat and How to Restore Our Nation in which French first looks at our divisions, then writes of two dystopia like secessions and their outcome on the global scene, and then he focuses on federalism and courage as helpful in overcoming our divisions. Rounding out these books is a new commentary on 1 & 2 Thessalonians by a Catholic scholar Douglas Farrow.

While Dreher’s two books are aimed at Christians and how they can live as Christians while experiencing massive dislocation in a society that is increasingly anti-Christian, French’s book is aimed at divisions between secular and religious society and how we as Americans can live together in community without splitting apart. Farrow’s commentary, setting aside some of his more Catholic views, (he wouldn’t of course like that) speaks to the growing anti-Christian views of the West and how that relates to the Church and the coming of ultimate evil. It is a commentary on 1&2 Thessalonians after all!

Those of us who were or are a part of a progressive denomination thought of conflict in terms of progressive against traditionalist, of the deniers of Christian orthodoxy against those who were orthodox in faith. And truly that was the basic conflict and still is, but we did not envision standing between a rock and a hard place. 

We did not envision there could be opposition from those brothers and sisters who became so deeply entrenched in extreme rightwing politics that their loyalty to a man would cause them to mark us out as those who offend the faith.  We did not envision that among us there could be myths that would be honored more than the gospel of Jesus Christ—the idea that a man—and a nation could almost exist on the same level as our Savior, Jesus, the one, really the only one, who actually stands between the world and His Church. The One who gathers the saints of North Korea, of Syria, of China and all other hard places into His comforting arms.

Farrow in his book writes, of course, of the anti-Christ, “the man of lawlessness.” (2 Thessalonians 2: 3) And also of the great apostasy. He ties the anti-Christ very closely to the Church, because since he is anti-Christ he must in his opposition attempt to rule the Church, to control the Church. And here is where my deep concern is. We are all too often tainted by the world from one side or the other. Whether it is a disregard for the biblical view of the person of Christ, the Incarnation, which too many progressives deny or the biblical view of Christ as the only Lord of the Church which many on the right are undoubtedly, unintentionally turning their backs on; the Church, like a hungry needy cat, is too easily rubbing up against the world.

I am afraid that those demeaning those who care little for Trump fail to see that it is not only the secular culture that persecutes, but also the political/religious zealots who trouble the sheep.  

11 comments:

Mary Holder Naegeli said...

Well said, Viola. Your essay reminds me of the time—twenty years ago!—when a parishioner protested our removal of the American flag from the chancel, screaming, “Don’t you know it is the flag that saves us?” That’s when I realized politics had become religion, idolatry had become “Christian,” and ear scratching [from TV preachers] had replaced sound preaching (2 Tim 4:3). Our present situation has been decades in the making, morphing the church slowly enough so as not to raise alarms before idolatrous fires overtake it.

Viola Larson said...

Thank you Mary- your words certainly add to what I have written. "Our present situation has been decades in the making, morphing the church slowly enough so as not to raise alarms before idolatrous fires overtake it." Everywhere I read so many equating America with Christianity. And I am amazed at Eric Metaxas who wrote about Bonhoeffer that he can't see the idolatry.

The Right Side of the Trinity said...

It seems to me that this radicalized secular domination of the church may be the last ditch effort of the Constantinian anti-Christ to maintain control of the Church. We are afraid of what happens when power deserts us, and we only have Jesus as our covering. Those who are terrified of this are searching for any strong man who can promise that HE will not let it happen. Cheap grace breeds shallow faith. But deep grace will inevitably lead us to the cross.
The Church must die before it can be reborn, and we are not dying in a way that demonstrates deep faith. But it will be well with the Lord's remnant, in whatever denomination they live, even in the PC(USA).

Viola Larson said...

Yes, Right side of the Trinity, I agree.

Jodie said...

"the Church, like a hungry needy cat, is too easily rubbing up against the world."

That's funny; but every time I see a photo of a bunch of so called Evangelical Leaders gathering around a President laying hands on him and "praying" for him, that's what I see!

A little like the Publican praying in the public square instead of in the solitude of their rooms.

In all seriousness, Viola, you've got your fingers on something here. Hard to add to or argue with. The way I like to think of the Gospel and Leadership of Jesus Christ is that it is above plain of Human conflict. Polar opposites on that plain are not for or against the Kingdom of God, they are just not part of it. And anybody who tries to call upon the name of Jesus to draw Him down onto the that plain in support of their "side", is fundamentally using His name in vain.

Jodie Gallo
Los Angeles, CA

Jodie said...

That being said, if there is one word in my mind that I associate with "Trump" is "liar".

That makes it really difficult for me to understand how, with the Christian understanding of what it means to be defined as a liar, that any Christians on the left vs right, conservative vs liberal playing field would ever endorse him in any way. Let alone try to peddle the idea that if we don't endorse him we've somehow failed as Christians. I just honestly don't get it.

There is no commonality between the Gospel of Jesus Christ and lie telling. Therefore there is no commonalty between discipleship of Jesus and following/endorsing/supporting Trump. None at all, that I can discern.

When the Devil took Jesus to a mountain top and showed him the whole World and offered to give it all to Jesus if Jesus would only bow down before him and worship him, Jesus declined.

So should we.

Jodie Gallo
Los Angeles, CA

Viola Larson said...

Jodie I believe you are right on most of what you have stated. I do think there are some Christians that are for Trump simply for the cause of abortion and I do understand. But I think they are just being seduced. I like your reference to satan's temptation of Jesus.

Jodie said...

Thank you Viola,

See in today's edition of the Washington Post an opinion on Metaxes:

https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/prominent-evangelicals-are-directing-trumps-sinking-ship-that-feeds-doubts-about-religion/2020/12/07/5ad8eb0c-38c3-11eb-9276-ae0ca72729be_story.html

Jodie Gallo
Los Angeles, CA

Craig said...

I see too many on both sides of the political aisle who are placing a faith in politicians and the political process that should be properly placed in Jesus. I see many on the left, who's faith is indistinguishable from their secular politics, and I see many on the right who are so desirous of having society accept them that they are willing to compromise. Historically, when the Church gets too cozy with the state, the Church always comes off poorly.

I think that many on the right for whom abortion is a defining issue aren't so much convinced that Trump is passionately pro-life, although he does say many of the right things, as they are that virtually any DFL POTUS candidate will be actively hostile to any position that even hints at pro-life. Unfortunately, the fact that the DFL is actively hostile (at this point) to any compromise on this issue puts a lot of us in the position of being politically homeless. Many have likely chosen to vote Trump because they have no realistic alternative.

Jodie said...

Craig,


Why do people continue to say that what the President believes or says matters on the topic of abortion?

The legal status of abortion is up to the Supreme Court. And, as the election lawsuits clearly demonstrate, the Courts don't care in the least what the President says or thinks. Even if he or she is the President who originally nominated the judges to the Courts.

So why does the narrative persist? I am honestly puzzled.

Jodie Gallo
Los Angeles, CA

Craig said...

Jodie,

In our system of government, what POTUS believes about any controversial issue isn't particularly important. You could make this argument about any number of issues. Of course, that only goes so far as the legality of abortion. As we're seeing an increasing number of people are advocating removing additional limits on abortion. We're seeing increasing pressure for the use of federal funds for abortion. Of course the obvious concern is SCOTUS nominees. I'd guess it persists for the same reason so many idiots think that POTUS has significant control over the economy.

Since P-BO decided to, and Trump continued, the use of executive orders as a substitute for negotiating with congress it's safe to suspect that we'll see a pro abortion POTUS issuing executive orders at some point.