God Doesn’t Need Diplomats. He Needs Mighty Messengers

Monday’s Wall Street Journal is calling them the “exhausted majority” – Americans who, weary of the current political climate, are tuning out the commentary and coverage of this year’s political campaign.

According to the Pew Research gathered in April, even before the drama of this past summer, 62% surveyed said they were sick of the ongoing fury.

Sizing up the current atmosphere, the Journal writes:

They are canceling subscriptions, deleting apps, silencing notifications and unfollowing rabble-rousers. Many want no part of Tuesday night’s presidential debate or its fallout. Political discourse has infiltrated everything from the Sunday church service to afternoon football, and they have had enough.

Even those with firm political views say they feign ignorance rather than join impassioned discussions. It isn’t, they say, that they are uninterested or uncaring about world events, but they are inundated by the sheer volume of news headlines. Deciding it is bad for their mental health, they are retreating or seeking apolitical havens.

Apolitical havens include turning to various hobbies, gaming, athletics and social media groups that prohibit political dialogue.

It might be true that the volume and ferocity of the conversation are straining relationships and leading to increased stress – but does that still justify radio silence regarding some of the most significant issues of our day?

There is no denying that the current political climate is trying our patience, as well as frustrating and maybe even infuriating our senses – and leading many to want to check out.

But we must resist.

As Christians, we have no such luxury. We’re called to be countercultural – salt and light (Matthew 5:13-16), distinct from the ways of the rest of the world.

“Do not be conformed to this world,” urged the apostle Paul, “but be transformed by the renewal of your mind” (Romans 12:2). He also wrote to believers in Ephesus, “You must no longer walk as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their minds” (4:17).

One of the very best ways to engage is to make fewer statements or declarations and ask more questions.

Here are a few starters:

• You seem to be very passionate about (fill in the blank candidate). What’s behind your energy and enthusiasm?
• What do you think are the most pressing issues facing our nation today? Why?
• How do you think your candidate’s positions square with the teachings in the Bible?

It was the famed Dutch theologian Abraham Kuyper who once rightly observed, “There is not a square inch in the whole domain of our human existence over which Christ, who is Sovereign over all, does not cry, ‘Mine!’”

If that’s true, then everything matters. We can’t, for matters of convenience, ignore the opportunities for cultural engagement the Lord might put before us.

It seems one of the primary drivers behind the cultural retreat is the messiness and tension of the engagement itself. Many don’t want the hassle. They don’t like the disagreement. They just want to be left alone.

Interacting with the culture isn’t for the faint of heart – and believers shouldn’t be faint hearted. We don’t encourage confrontation, nor should we shy away from taking biblical positions that might ruffle feathers.

The Lord doesn’t need diplomats. He needs bold and courageous messengers.

It takes energy to swim against the tide. It takes guts to resist the world.

In other words, it takes strong Christians.

Image from Getty.