Partisanship in the Church

An old friend of called on Christmas Eve and we talked for about half an hour.  The gist of our call involved comparing notes on political news and current events.  I can always count on C—and he can count on me—to see issues in exactly the same way.  Everyone needs at least one friend like this.  We grew up in Florida but went our separate ways not long after high school; C eventually landed in North Carolina while I settled in the Midwest.

In our lengthy tri-annual calls we usually commiserate on the folly of the political and media establishments.  Both of us have been pleased with Trump’s first year in office and disdainful of continual liberal-progressive hypocrisy and deceit.

C mentioned that he was recently upset with his church’s pastor.  He liked the sermons and respected the man—thought he was a straight shooter.  That was, until he read a newsletter article the clergyman wrote that was highly critical of the president.  C was outraged and wanted to transfer to another church.  We commiserated—wonderful word!  I too have been disgusted with the politically motivated efforts of some of our church members, including those on Session. 

Around this time last year, immediately following the November election, members of Session, (the governing council of a Presbyterian Church), almost passed a resolution condemning those who had voted for Trump.  As a result of the election “…the message that Christians are accepting of racism, xenophobia, misogyny, Islamophobia and other forms of hate against others has been pronounced loudly.”   To be fair, emotions were inflamed—about half the country did not get what it wanted with its votes.

Like C, I was outraged by flagrant partisanship in the church. I immediately contacted the pastor and Clerk of Session.  I indicated that I was not sure how voting against a candidate under FBI investigation for fraud, government corruption and endangering national security made me or anyone else a racist, xenophobe, misogynist, or whatever other name liberals wanted to call people who disagree with them.  I wrote the pastor: 

At this troubled time, shouldn’t our church focus on encouraging reconciliation, unity and respectful communication among those who differ in world view or political perspective?  This so-called “Motion against Racism” accomplishes the opposite.  Sad!

I would like to say that I would take a similar stance if the church had instead sided with my political party—but to be honest I cannot imagine I would have done so as enthusiastically.  I have since calmed down quite a bit, as has most—though not all—of the country.  It took about a year.  I suggested to C that he take a broader perspective about his pastor's views.  I offered that being a conservative in a liberal mainstream congregation had the benefit of providing numerous opportunities to practice patience and forgiveness.  C said that he would reconsider.

John Calvin had much to say about church and state relationships.  Though he insisted the two be assigned separate and critical roles in society, he placed both under the sovereignty of God.  In 1558 he made these remarks that seem generally applicable to human organizations, whether secular or sectarian:

Were the judgments of mankind correct, custom would be regulated by the good. But it is often far otherwise in point of fact; for, whatever the many are seen to do, forthwith obtains the force of custom. But human affairs have scarcely ever been so happily constituted as that the better course pleased the greater number. Hence the private vices of the multitude have generally resulted in public error, or rather that common consent in vice which these worthy men would have to be law.

(From Calvin’s The Institutes of the Christian Religion)