Follow the Lamb
If you are a Christian in America, this is for you. If you live in the States (or elsewhere) and are not a follower of Jesus, this is still for you, but please know the main aim of this writing is directed towards those who claim faith in Christ Jesus.
What Does That Have to Do with Christianity?
I’ve experienced some weird things in the American Church. I remember the first time I sat in a worship gathering and heard somebody preach a message that felt more political than Scriptural. I remember turning to my neighbor and asking, “So, does God need America in order to save the world?” I was confused by what was being preached and concerned by the almost uniform response in the room to agree with every word that was coming from the mouth of this “prophet”.
It was only years later that I saw a local church host an opening ceremony for their new building as they rolled out a massive American flag on the side of their new facility and gathered their community to sing “I’m Proud to be an American”. I have no idea what that has to do with Christianity or church buildings, but they sang it and flew those Stars and Stripes proudly.
As weird as these encounters were, I never thought I’d experience the current type of political polarization. I also never believed that as many in the evangelical church would be part of creating these divides with rhetoric like, “You can’t be a Christian unless you vote…” or “This is the only political topic that we vote on…” or “I support this party because they are the only party that supports Biblical responses to our issues…”.
To be honest, our nation is polarized and the divides are only getting worse. Whether it be about guns, vaccines, wars, religion, rights, or politics, we continually see faithful followers of ideologies and political parties. Especially, as we come closer to the presidential election of 2024, many on the right and left believe that if their candidate wins, all of these issues will be resolved. Faith, hope, and trust are being placed in people, institutions, and national ties.
Christian Nationalism
And many of these people are those who describe themselves as Christ followers. Many Christians have indulged in Christian Nationalism or the viewpoints that: 1) America was established as and should remain a “Christian nation” in order for society to maintain its freedom and structure, 2) The political engagement of the Church only sides with certain political parties that adhere to their understanding of Biblical principles (while often villainizing the other political parties), 3) America is the nation that will bring about salvation to the world as the “greatest nation”, 4) American documents such as the Constitution are just as important and authoritative as the Bible, and 5) America must preserve its “Anglo-Protestant” heritage in order to ensure the survival and future of democracy. All of these viewpoints would include the belief that as American Christians, these believers are called to champion this mission of Christian Nationalism within their American context.
During my time in pastoral ministry in Washington state, I was approached by a man at the church where I was a pastor and he confronted me about why the American flag was not hung in the sanctuary. When I tried to calmly respond about how we had one in front of the building and how we used to have every nation’s flag represented in the sanctuary, he then interrupted by asking, “Where do you get your freedom?” I said, “Jesus.” He immediately said, “Not fully. You’ll just never understand…”.
This is a main tenant of Christian Nationalism and it shows why it is so dangerous: Jesus is not enough and the only way forward is by aggressively grasping for what one thinks will be best for them and those around them.
N.T. Wright and Michael Bird wrote it this way, “Christian nationalism is impoverished as it seeks a kingdom without a cross. It pursues a victory without mercy. It acclaims God's love of power rather than the power of God's love. We must remember that Jesus refused those who wanted to 'make him king' by force just as much as he refused to become king by calling upon 'twelve legions of angels'. Jesus needs no army, arms or armored cavalry to bring about the kingdom of God. As such, we should resist Christian nationalism as giving a Christian facade to nakedly political, ethnocentric, and impious ventures.” Jesus and the Powers
So What Do We Do?
In stark contrast to many of the beliefs of Christian Nationalism, Christians are invited to believe that they are positioned to proclaim and point to the only solution to our global, national, and local problems: Jesus. In other words, followers of Jesus do not follow the donkey or the elephant, we follow the Lamb. We do not look to the white house for our answers, we look to the Word of God and the Spirit’s indwelling in the church as God’s house. We do not assert the coercive and violent ways of empire and systemic power, we commit to the way of Jesus through love, grace, humility, and truth. We do not make enemies out of the democrats or republicans, we overcome the enemies of the flesh, the devil, and the world through the victory and way of Jesus. We are anchored amid the polarization as citizens of the Kingdom of God who actively engage in our culture by following the Lamb.
I am not claiming to know everything about Christian Nationalism and I’m certainly not claiming to know everything about the Scriptures. I am claiming that there are many things in our current context that are incredibly perplexing, polarizing, and antithetical to the Christian call. I am humbly proclaiming that it’s not too late for many to turn from the idolatry of Christian Nationalism, the violence of villainizing political parties (and political figures), and the worldly viewpoints of promoting wealth, possessions, and power over the Scriptural calls to love God, love others, and prioritize making disciples of Jesus.
I do believe that the Lord loves the people of this nation, as He does the people of every nation (for God so loved the WORLD, Jn. 3:16-17). I do believe that there is a way forward and it’s not through what happened in the past, it’s not through what is happening now, and it’s not going to be through the political promises and nationalistic tendencies of our nation. There must be a shift in our hearts, minds, and actions. We must continually follow Jesus more than anything else and we must commit ourselves to lives that look more like the Kingdom of God than the ways of this world.
Keep First Things First
For many people, they think we should not be left or right, but somewhere in the middle. However, I am not asserting a middle way, but the Kingdom way and that begins with Jesus. In fact, the only way forward for Christians in the American context (and every context) is to return to their first love and keep first things first.
Simply put, Christians in the American context have their priorities out of order. In fact, if somebody calls themself an “American Christian” we can see their loyalty is to their nation first and Christ second. This thought is carried across to any number of identifying factors in which “Christian” is placed second (ie. Conservative, liberal, etc.).
The call for Christ followers is to return to their first love and do the things they did at first (Rev. 2:4-5). The call is to recognize that our citizenship is first in heaven (Phil. 3:20) and that we are exiles and foreigners in this world (1 Pet. 2:11-12). Our call is to promote God’s Kingdom more than any political party and to not worship the donkey or elephant, but to worship the Lamb alone.
As Christians in the American context, there is only one way forward as true disciples and followers of Jesus. We must keep first things first by prioritizing and promoting the Kingdom of God and praising the Lamb above anything else.
Keep the Spirit of Unity
Unfortunately, we live in a time in which people have forgotten how to disagree without becoming divisive. The standard protocol is that if somebody views any topic differently than us, we maintain our being right by canceling, villainizing, and polarizing.
It’s no surprise that the divisions during the time of the early Church were not much different from ours today. Ethnic, political, and religious divides permeated the early Christian communities, but the prayers of Jesus and writings of the early Church leaders then remain the way forward today.
Jesus prayed for the disciples to be one as He and the Father were One (Jn. 17). He called His disciples to love one another (Jn. 13:35, Jn. 15) and to be known by this love for one another. The New Testament writers continued this trend by including calls for unity in many of their letters. Most markedly, Paul spends a large portion of Ephesians addressing the divisions between Jewish and Gentile Christians, but then reminding them of their unity in Christ and their invitation to be one family through Jesus’ blood. Paul then highlights this by urging the early Christians to “make every effort to keep the Spirit of unity through the bond of peace (Eph. 4:1-2).”
This wasn’t a passing comment or a lighthearted request, but one of the most impactful ways that Christians then and now can live out the calling to love our neighbors as ourselves. In fact, the specifics in most NT letters include ways in which we can promote maintaining postures of love, honor, and grace (Rom. 12).
Most importantly, as Christians who are in the American context, our calling to love others can be most witnessed through choosing to pursue right relationships with one another. Our calling is to preserve right relationship, not prioritize being right. We are not called to win arguments about politics or any number of other topics, but rather to love first.
There are far too many who love to speak the truth rather than speak the truth in love. Without love, we are just a clanging cymbal. Without right relationships, we are just dividing. But with love and righteousness, we keep the Spirit of unity and we experience heaven on earth: peace. A return to becoming better lovers and listeners will go a long way in extending the same things we need, and living from the compassion, empathy, and goodness of God.
Keep Labels Where They Belong
Honestly, one of the saddest things about our current context is how many labels are being thrown around. Quite frankly, we have seemed to have forgotten that other human beings were made in the image of God and should be seen, valued, and treated with the dignity and respect that is connected to being an image bearer of the Most High King.
All of this to say, we need to keep labels where they belong for two reasons. The first is simple: we have labeled the wrong enemies. Democrats, republicans, liberals, conservatives, and any number of other titles are not the enemies. People are not the problems “we need to deal with” and generalizations about people and groups are not the truth.
Scripturally, there are three main enemies mentioned and none of them are donkeys or elephants. Instead, these enemies are the devil, the flesh, and the world. And here’s the truth: Jesus has overcome each one of these. And our calling is to live in this victory and recognize when each of these enemies is launching an attack at us. More often than not we are facing the lies of the serpent, our fleshly desires, and the broken systems of this world, but for some reason, we are stuck in the cycle of mislabeling people as the enemies.
Keep those labels where they belong and stop using terms like “enemy” to describe people whom God formed, loves, and is inviting into the same grace given to you. In fact, if this makes you feel uncomfortable and you’re saying to yourself, “No, that political party really is my enemy,” then stop reading and go pray for your “enemy” until you recognize they are equally loved by the same One who calls you child.
The second reason is simple too: we have over-spiritualized and labeled the wrong things and people. Now, please hear me out on this. Spiritual warfare is real. However, the truth of spiritual warfare is that we serve a Big God who has conquered a small devil and we live in perpetual victory now and forevermore. This is especially important because liberals or conservatives are not demonic simply because you disagree with them. There may be systems impacted by the reality of sin and the ongoing effects of spiritual warfare, but that doesn't mean it should cause fear, division, or labeling of people. Rather, this should call us to prayer, action, and love for those who are experiencing the systemic evil in our world.
Beloved, keep the labels where they belong and recognize that the enemies of the flesh, the world, and the devil are overcome through the death and resurrection of the Lamb. We are not called to misname others based on lies, generalizations, and incorrect labels. However, we are called to love others extravagantly as we live in the victory of Jesus and extend this victory to all people through a radical demonstration of honor and dignity.
Keep on Praying
I still can’t believe Christians would fly flags that curse political candidates and parties. Name-calling, division, and villainizing are not the calls of Christ followers and ultimately, it is proclaiming death and not life. In other words, do you praise your Father with that mouth? As James wrote, “This should not be (Jms. 3).”
I will never forget sitting with a group of pastors in Washington state during the shutdowns. I was told the meeting was to gather pastors to preserve unity and make corporate decisions about reopening churches, honoring others, and helping our community. However, it was just simply a political rally in which city commissioners who were invited by certain pastors told us they were suing the governor and inviting us to join their case.
I remember looking at the group and saying, “I will not sign that paper. First, I don’t know where they stand politically and what things are hidden in this. Most importantly, our calling is not to sue the governor but to pray for him.”
My stance hasn’t changed and the calling for Christians is to join in this posture of prayer. In fact, the early Church was invited to submit to the authorities (Rms. 13; 1 Peter 2), to render to Caesar what was due to him (Mk. 12:17), and to pray for those in leadership (1 Tim. 2). Interestingly, in all these circumstances, the leaders, authority, and Caesar were murdering, oppressing, and persecuting Christians. Yet, still, the call was for Christians to yield themselves in honor, love, service, and prayer.
Our world and many Christians are spending far too much time cursing figures, leaders, and one another. Our call is to pray, bless, and speak life over those around us. We are not invited to simply pray the prayers of fixing others, but to pray for others’ welfare and peace. We are also not invited to simply just pray in our rooms but to become the answer to those prayers no matter what that looks like.
So, beloved, put some prayer on your lips and take away the cursing. Pray for leaders in our nation and globally. Bless them and ask for God’s favor, wisdom, and grace over their lives. Pray for God’s will to be done and the Kingdom to come. And lastly, let the Holy Spirit empower you to become the answer to your prayers. Don’t just pray, but vote your prayers, and trust God to speak to others about what this means. *In 1984, a Christian magazine submitted 10 guidelines for Christian voters that still stand as helpful guideposts for us today.
It’s so easy to judge others and say they don’t hear from the Lord. It’s just as easy to villainize political candidates and groups. But our call is to pray, to bless, and to actively choose a lifestyle of love, honor, and service to all people. Keep on praying, friend. God hears and God is good.
Keep on Witnessing
Recently some extended family asked us if all Christians were Christian Nationalists. We had an incredibly deep conversation and it led to great clarity, connection, and understanding. However, my heart was grieved that the question had to be asked at all.
Before Jesus ascended into heaven, He breathed His Spirit upon His disciples and called them to be witnesses (Lk. 24; Acts 1). As witnesses, He also called His disciples to make disciples (Mt. 28) and preach the Good News to all of creation (Mk. 16). Somewhere along the way, Christians have forgotten about the importance of their witness. In fact, it’s very clear that in the polarizing climate of American culture that identity and witness are more rooted in political party affiliation or stances on hot topics than our standing in Christ.
There must be a return to the calling of the Church to be witnesses to all of the world through the love of God. There are far too many who know the Church by what they oppose rather than who know of God’s people by what they are for. This must change and it must start with God’s people.
We must once again preach the Good News that is rooted in Jesus and His invitation for ALL people to receive, experience, and live in His love. Our goal should not be to proclaim that if a certain person is elected then change will happen, but rather to proclaim our full hope in Christ and accompanying actions from His teachings and lifestyle. We must give witness to others that our strength is not based on who is in the White House, but rather on the Lamb at the center of it all.
We must once again give witness through doing good things and not grow weary in doing those good things (Gal. 6). The temptation of our day is to decide about issues through whatever will help us and our people to grasp and maintain power. This is the way of empire, or as the Scriptures call it, Babylon. The Christian call is to resist Babylon and the way we do this is through doing good, living peaceably, giving generously, practicing hospitality, and extending the goodness of God’s love to all (Rom. 12).
We must once again recognize that our witness to others is more important than our political and topical opinions. If it’s connected to the Gospel and Scriptural narrative, we must give witness through proclaiming Good News, doing good things, and living good lives in the midst of a world desperate for good.
Keep Your Eyes on the God’s Mission
Growing up I heard one thing about our nation more than anything else: America was the greatest nation in the world. Let me be clear, I’m so thankful to live where I live and to experience the things I do. I also recognize that this world is temporary, that wealth and possessions are empty, and that God’s family and Kingdom is not made up of just Americans. Preston Sprinkle writes it this way: “A Christian’s allegiance to Christ’s global, multi-ethnic kingdom triumphs over one’s national identity.”
In short, God loves the world (Jn. 3:16-17). God’s mission is not simply to save America and have America save the world. America is not Savior. In fact, there are many pieces of Babylon (empire) that can be found in American culture, and that we need God’s saving grace to transform. However, for many Christians in America, their eyes are set on God’s mission only being for this nation, this people, and their political and topical preferences.
Yet, when we look to the Scriptures we see God’s value of all people through the saving work of Jesus and the gathering of people from every tribe, tongue, and nation (Rev. 7) to worship the Lamb. The goal for Christ followers in America is not to simply focus on what’s only happening in our nation but to keep our eyes on God’s missional work all over the world. This doesn’t mean we shouldn’t have our eyes set on reaching America with the Gospel, but it also doesn’t mean that we should stop here alone.
This is actually what Jesus invited His disciples to do. In Acts 1, He commissions His disciples to be witnesses but gives them areas connected to the call: Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and the ends of the earth. These locations described their immediate context, surrounding contexts, hated contexts, and the rest of the world. This is the same call for us today and the Church in America must return to focusing on God’s missional call for His Church to reach beyond our immediate context with the Lord’s Presence and Gospel.
To put it simply, Christians must fix their eyes on Jesus who desires to see ALL saved. This includes America AND all of the world. To refer to America as the greatest nation is not only prejudice towards others but it misses the global mission of Jesus’ saving grace. We must keep our eyes on the prize of being on mission with God and one another to invite the whole world to be part of God’s Kingdom and family. In the long run, what happens in our immediate context is both a blip in eternity and a small piece of the whole mosaic of God’s work. Keeping our eyes on Jesus helps us to recognize that we are part of something larger and calls us to value all people and the world as so.
Keep on Trusting
The greatest danger of our time is that our politicized and polarized context is producing more and more people who trust in idols and false hopes. The promises of people, politicians, and parties are all but faint whispers and fading words. And the more we place our trust in these people and programs, the less we trust in the only One who will never put us to shame.
Beloved, the call of the Christian in the American context is to return to complete trust in Jesus. In fact, a key component of our relationship with God is our placing of faith in Him. The New Testament idea of faith is not only belief and accompanying action but also allegiance. This is a pledging of full trust in God. This means that there must be an acknowledgment and surrender of any idols as we commit to God with faithfulness.
And here’s the reality: those who trust in the Lord will not be shaken (Ps. 125), will not be disappointed or put to shame (Rom. 10:11), and will have their strength renewed (Is. 40:31). We can place our trust in Jesus because He who promised is faithful (Heb. 10:25). We can trust our Lord wholeheartedly because as we look all throughout history, God has continually protected, provided for, and led His people through every situation. Through times of prosperity and poverty, through times of promise and exile, through times of sin and righteousness, God has been faithful. Even when the people of God were unfaithful and rejected His ways, God was faithful.
We can and must trust in Him. Why? Because God is still faithful and God is still able. Because Jesus’ blood still speaks a better word and His resurrection power is making impossible things possible. Because the Spirit of God is still hovering over our chaos bringing order and redemption. Because God is still at work in making all things good, new, and right. Because God is good and we can trust that we will see His goodness in our world (Ps. 27:13).
In this polarizing time, it’s so important for the people of God to admit where we have idolized people, platforms, and programs, and submit these to the Lord. We must repent and ask the Lord to lead us in the way everlasting (Ps. 139). We must return to our first love and prioritize being with Jesus, loving God, and loving our neighbor. We must recognize that our call is beyond just the American context and that no matter who is in the White House, God is on the throne and His mission moves forward for people from every nation to be part of His Kingdom and family.
Follow the Lamb
So, what does all of this mean? As Christians in America, we must follow the Lamb. Brian Zahnd said it this way:
“It's not the task of the church to "Make America Great Again." The contemporary task of the church is to make Christianity countercultural again. And once we untether Jesus from the interests of empire, we begin to see just how countercultural and radical Jesus' ideas actually are. Enemies? Love them. Violence? Renounce it. Money? Share it. Foreigners? Welcome them. Sinners? Forgive them. These are the kind of radical ideas that will always be opposed by the principalities and powers, but which the followers of Jesus are called to embrace, announce, and enact. And the degree to which the church is faithful to Jesus and his radical ideas is the degree to which the church embodies a faith that is truly countercultural.” Brian Zahnd, Postcards from Babylon
We are not those who are conformed to the patterns of this world, but we are transformed by the renewing of our minds (Rom. 12:1-2). We are not those who are caught up in polarizing, divisive, and violent arguments about power and prestige. Rather, we are those who prioritize Jesus as our first love and the reason for our existence. We are those who lay down our lives in love for ALL people to be included in God’s Kingdom and family. We are those who pray without ceasing for leaders in our nation and all over the world. We are those who live good lives, do good things, and preach Good News. We are those who trust completely in the One who is completely trustworthy. We are those who do not follow the donkey or the elephant, but rather we follow the Lamb.
In this season and beyond, follow the Lamb. He’s the only One able to make eternal changes, the only One faithful to fulfill what He promised, the only One capable of making all things new and good, the only One powerful enough to unify our divisions, the only One kind enough to welcome all, and the only One worthy of our adoration and worship. It is to the Lamb and those who wholeheartedly follow Him that I write and pray for God’s Kingdom to come and God’s will to be done, here on earth as it is in heaven. Amen.
