I have purposely tried to stay away from political discussions not only on Facebook but also in discussions in general. The division caused by politics is necessary for politics to work but unnecessary for the church – may I be so bold as to say it is destructive for the Body of Christ?
I care not a whit if you are democrat or republican. I care not if you are conservative or liberal. I care not where you have been but I do care where you are going.
Are you redeemed? is a much more important question than Are you registered to vote? or Do you support Donald Trump? If the posts on Facebook are any indication, the Church seems much more concerned with the latter rather than the former. From magazines like Christianity Today, to pastors, teachers, locals churches, and entire denominations, sides have been chosen and if you disagree well you’re just evil, nasty, stupid, etc.
Why can’t the Church simply rally for Christ, do the work He has prescribed, and leave the politics of division to the world? I suppose this gets down to what it means to be in the world but not of the world. We can debate this ad nauseum and not come to a consensus or conclusion.
A better, more appropriate question for the Church is whether it is a good thing for those who profess Christ – those indwelt by the Holy Spirit, redeemed by the blood of the Lamb, adopted into the family of God, given charge to proclaim the Gospel to all nations – to get to the point of calling those who oppose them politically as “nasty”, “stupid”, “loons”, and other rather ugly things. These descriptions of people extend to the character of those criticized – not just their actions. Attacking an image-bearer is never a good idea. Remember Michael’s interaction with Satan:
But Michael the archangel, when he disputed with the devil and argued about the body of Moses, did not dare pronounce against him a railing judgment, but said, “The Lord rebuke you!” Jude 1:9, NASB
I believe the Church is getting close to – maybe even beyond – our own Joshua 24 moment. Shall we follow Donald Trump or Nancy Pelosi? Republicans or Democrats? Bernie Sanders, Elizabeth Warren, David French, et al. Whom shall we serve? Shall we serve Christ or these lesser (political) gods?
Choose whomever you will, but for me and my house, we will serve Christ.
The Bald Theologian 