There was a time in my young adult life I was very involved in politics. VERY involved. I was a pro-life lobbyist in Kentucky. I worked long and hard for Jim Bunning way back when he was a congressman (even marched with him and his precious wife Mary in the March for Life in DC). Almost took a job in Senator Mitch McConnell’s office. Had numerous friends that worked in Washington congressional offices. Was partly responsible for starting a multi-county “Young Republican” club in Eastern Kentucky. While President of that YR club, I (along with my team) organized and hosted the Young Republican State Convention in Kentucky one year. I was ecstatic when Gingrich’s Contract for America swept the November elections of 94. I was active in our city government and was being groomed, so to speak, to run for local office and then maybe eventually something higher. I even met my wife Michelle because, as the Student Activities Coordinator at our local community college, she was the one with whom I had to meet to organize a “College Republican” club on that campus.
All that to say, I was once the guy so eaten up with politics that I could not see past the rightness of “the Right.” I was the guy that argued that the Republican Party was not just the Party of Lincoln, it was the Party of Jesus. I’m so terribly embarrassed by that myopic viewpoint now that it is hard to admit these things publicly.
When I submitted to the pastorate things changed for me. It was not a speedy adjustment but a significant and substantive adjustment. My desires changed and my heart took a beating down like the wet clay on a potter’s wheel. I began to see things differently. By the year 2000 (at age 27 and 3 years into my first pastorate), I became convicted that my allegiance to a political philosophy overshadowed (at best) or dictated (at worst) my interpretation of scripture’s truths.
My shift away from partisan politics was so significant and the swing was so hard that I am on record for arguing (early in my ministry) that we should move away from the notion of the SBC having a “lobbying” arm. In the early 2000’s I told whomever would listen (no blogs back then and I didn’t have MySpace) that we should jettison the idea of the ERLC (formerly called the Christian Life Commission) so that we could make a clean break from feeling beholden to, or inadvertently being identified with any political party (by that I meant the Republican Party in particular). It was clear to me that the southern, evangelical, white church had become inextricably enmeshed, to the point of identity confusion, with the Republican Party, while at the same time, my African-American brothers and sisters seemed similarly trapped on the other side through having been courted and wooed by the Democratic Party. I just wanted us to be out of the sticky, miry quicksand of partisan politics. It appears to me that this dysfunction has now been embarrassingly exposed for all to see… or all who would see, anyway.
Today I find myself thankful to God that we haven’t set aside the ERLC. I am now convinced of the importance of the prophetic voice it has to challenge us from within our own tribe. Whether deliberate or not, the ERLC is serving as a voice to call our convention of churches to reflect on, give critical examination to and maybe call us to retool our thinking about partisan politics on BOTH sides of the aisle. I’m not sure everyone is listening to this call but I sure wish they would. This is good stuff. Let me also just say, this does not mean I am in agreement with every point of everything that is written or espoused at the ERLC but I receive with anticipation and appreciation any encouragement or challenge I get from those in the employ of the ERLC who’ve been entrusted with this charge.
In place of our churches seeing things through elephant or donkey shaded lenses, should we not be submitting our opinions to the biblical framework which, whether you like it or not, will not always snap into any one particular political grid? This was a long, difficult journey for me but boy was it “liberating” (see what I did there?) Seriously, it was freeing to see something to which I was previously completely blind. I just didn’t know. My motives were altruistic and sincere but I was blinded by politics. I had good intentions, but we all know where that leads.
I call upon my white brothers and sisters to set aside your possibly unrealized penchant for the religious right of the Republican Party and upon my black brothers and sisters, who’ve for too long looked to the Democratic Party for empowerment, to set aside those loyalties and come together to work with a better hermeneutic. One that is scripture-focused and not tinted red or blue but one in which we agree that Jesus is the only “right” we need and he’s all the “empowerment” we will ever want. Let’s remember that in Christ, there is unity, not division.
By the way, I have a small bust of Newt Gingrich and a few books signed by he and Rush Limbaugh that I’m still trying to offload if anyone is looking for a few novelty items. P.S. I’m keeping the small bust of Reagan (cause it’s Reagan) and my baseball signed by Jim Bunning… the guy threw a no-hitter in both leagues!
Interesting. Perfect game Jim Bunning.
It seems clear to me that the future of the SBC depends in large part on ethnic and minority churches. The sure way to stifle this is to go the angry American talk show tripe route.
Had a guy in my church in SC who raised crawfish…poor substitute for natural caught shrimp. More work too.
Eh, shrimp is ok. Although, a good shrimp po boy is hard to beat… like Bunning in the 4th congressional district in KY. We had the conservatives of northern KY in the district along with those of us from portions of Appalachian Kentucky.
He was the first guy to throw a no-no in both leagues. I think he’s one of 5 to ever do it. Nice man.
I can’t “Like” this enough. Almighty God does NOT ride on the backs of Donkeys OR Elephants!
Well, He did ride a donkey once. 🙂
Ha! Touche!
I must say, I was a senior in high school , when my government teacher told us we needed to pick a political party and work within it. I was immediately checked by the Holy Soirit, that I could never vote for a party over a man. I have always been a staunch independent and as a government teacher I told my students that I could never put a party over right and wrong. I have no idea how old you are but when the pendulum began to swing in the Democratic Party that was the rise of no other way to vote. My parents voted for right over wrong. I am 78 years old and I have seen a lot. If we are not careful loyalty to party will separate our country as it is doing now. And yes a one man spokesman for the ERLC is wrong. He has very Democratic leanings and speaks his personal convictions as SBC polity. If you follow his postings it is very clear. And yes I am convicted that it is very wrong. He speaks for himself not me. He’s been called “on the carpet” but survived and continues the same rhetoric .
And as to racial reconciation where have you been for the past 60 years? My church has blacks and all the other church’s in my community, the schools have been intergrated for 60 years. We educators loved our students and taught students not black or white students. I am sickened that we make this an issue like we are just waking up. It is personally embassering to me. Racial reconciliation can be attributed to the educators of this nation. SBC needs to quit acting like neophytes. Go in the schools and mentor the fatherless children. Don’t stand in your pulpits like your congregations have done nothing. I find it personally insulting and also from the microphone of the SBC. Fatherless children, both black and white, because of personal lust, is the blithe on our communities. Now there’s you a sermon. I’ve counseled their children. And throw some mother’s in there. Our children are hurting. Talk is cheap.
It’s great if your church is integrated. I can tell you mine has some minorities but given our community makeup it is not reflective of what you would expect if we were truly integrated. The leadership in the church wants integration. That actually happening is going to take a bit more time and changed hearts in the congregation and the community. There is a lot of ongoing insensitivity to racial issues even among the youth which they don’t seem to realize yet. Most of it I think is not intentionally insensitive but part of never having been exposed to being a minority and what that is like. One young lady a year ago ended up being a racial minority in a group at school for the first time in her life. The way she talked about it in front of two brown students and the looks on their faces I can still see in my mind. Then there are others who were raised in previous generations who would likely never say anything racist in mixed racial company but certainly if they think you have the same thoughts they will use code that I know too well from being raised in that environment. I love these people dearly but there is still racially related sin even in sweet people who say they just see people as people and claim to be “color blind”. It still needs to be addressed.
I really like what Benjamin Watson (thebenjaminwatson.com) said a few months ago: “We must not be loyal to the Donkeys, nor the Elephants, but to the Lamb.” Watson is a pro football player (New Orleans, Baltimore) who played in the SEC with UGA bulldogs. Don’t tell Dave I mentioned something positive about the SEC until he is fully recovered.
Jerry, We LOVE Benjamin here in NOLA. He’s even been involved in a few things at the seminary here.
Back in the 80’s Dr. Frank Pollard exhorted us seminary students not to spend one minute of our time nor one cent on politics. He was referring to SBC politics especially. I was inspired to take that advice and apply it to the political whirlwind in D.C. Prayers for unity and protection are my offerings.
This is such a great personal testimony.
D or R is just one of many dichotomies that entrap us, when the real world and the Kingdom are both so much more diverse. In the church, we are told NOT to think in large-group dichotomies: slave or free, Jew or Greek, etc. I’m not sure what sin is at the root of our resort to large-group dichotomies. Maybe fear, partiality, laziness, or even unbelief…those are some of the ones I see in my own heart when I consider what might be keeping me from loving others well and fully trusting the sovereign Lord above all.
Wow Jay. Excellent article and not one single slam against David Hankins or the LBC :-). #progress
Well, Eric…..maybe Jay is hoping that after the shellacking that “group” got at every turn in Dallas that they’ve come to thier senses and will repent.
#OneCanHope
In the new Kratocracy of the moment in the SBC, you may be right!
Also, It’s interesting you use the term Kratocracy. I assume you’ve learned about that living in Louisiana? Cause that’s what we’ve had here since about 2006. 😉
You think THAT is progress? Just yesterday I asked permission to post to Voices a really good article originally posted on the LBC website. Not heard back yet but I’m hopeful.