Weekly Devotional for the week of December 6, 2015

Scripture text: 2 Peter 1:2-15

I make no secret that I am often quite political in my writing and proclamation. From where I sit, living as a Christian in a democratic society demands our active participation in the civic life of our society, turning it as best we can to best reflect the Christ we serve and his wishes for his people. We are here to feed the hungry, clothe the naked, care for the sick, speak for the voiceless, and welcome the stranger. We are called to love our neighbor and there are many ways in which we can steer the ship of state to do that by our votes and our voices. (This is, of course, in addition to our proclamation of the Gospel, a task for which the state is particularly unsuited. Luther would agree and I would point to his teachings on the Two Kingdoms as to why.)

That said, however, I am very cautious to make my comments to be about policies, not about people or parties. No single individual or political party best reflects the just world God brings with his kingdom, nor are they meant to. We will never see that perfect world by our own doing; all we can do is come a little closer and create a more just society to benefit as many as possible.

Bearing all this in mind, I am deeply concerned about where our society is moving in recent days. I can no longer be silent, nor can I ignore the fact that these trends are being driven by people with an agenda. A leading Presidential candidate is howling out more and more outrageous and hateful rhetoric about every minority under the sun. The President of a leading Christian university calls upon his student body to arm themselves in order to offer violent retribution against people of the Muslim faith (and yes, I know he clarified his remarks later to point out he was not referring to all Muslims, but the lynch mob spirit surrounding his original remarks make such “clarifications” moot. )

More disturbing by far than these individuals are those who are listening to them. Trump and Falwell tell the people of our country to hate; millions eat it up and many are acting on it. A Philadelphia mosque was vandalized with a decapitated pig. A Muslim taxi driver is shot by his passenger because of his religion. My Facebook wall has become a disheartening place to visit, as people I love and respect are likewise spewing out ugly and bigoted rhetoric against people of all stripes: black, Muslim, immigrant, LGBT, you name it.

It’s no secret that many, if not most, of these people are Christian.

Have we fallen so far into fear that we have forgotten who we are and whose we are? I see nothing that is Christ-like in this hateful language and in those who are listening to it and acting upon it. We are so quick to forget what really matters, to turn our back on Christ and on our faith in the face of an appealing evil. What Trump, Falwell, and others have said may sound good and it may have a certain sick logic to it, but make no mistake, they are speaking EVIL. They are not acting or living in accord with the Christ we serve, regardless of whatever claims they may make otherwise. “By their fruits, you will know them.” (Matt 7:20) The false prophets that Jesus warns us about just a few short verses before that? They are in our midst and on our TV screens and our Internet feeds. Some of them have famous names. Some of them are our friends. But they are leading people astray nonetheless.

It is times like these where the words of St. Peter truly have their impact. As Christians, we are to move closer to Christ, “making every effort to confirm our calling and election.” We do this by goodness, not evil. We do this by knowledge, not ignorance. We do this by self-control, not panic. We do this by perseverance, not surrender to our anger. We do this by trusting God, not our own strength or weaponry. We do this by mutual affection and love, not hatred. This is who we are to be and not this false Christianity of paranoia and hatred.

Peter sees his role as one of “always reminding you of these things.” We need that reminder constantly. It is so easy to fall into the traps of smooth-talking charlatans who tell us lies that sound really good in times of turmoil and uncertainty. Jesus knew such people would be out there and that far too many would fall prey to them. Peter, remembering well his Lord’s warnings, repeats them anew for us. Do not forget who you are. Do not forget what God has done for you in Christ; that he has died and risen again for your salvation. Do not forget the calling of your baptism; that you are to proclaim Christ, his love, his promises in all that you say and do. This is what it means to be Christian. Not what the hate-mongers of our current political climate are selling.

Remember!