Resisting the Pull

Many in the Church feel there is really only one of two options. We either give in to the political and philosophical ideas of the right-wing in order to pursue God’s call for the Church. Others feel to give into the political and philosophical ideas of the left-wing as the way to pursue God’s call for the Church. What’s crazy about all of this is that for those on both sides (myself included) we often don’t even realize that we are doing it!

For the right it’s the presupposition that most evangelicals who presume the American dream is an extension of the Gospel if our nation follows God, waiting to be raptured from trouble. For the left, it’s the idea that the liberation the Gospel speaks of needs to be exerted politically for the oppressed using any means necessary to bring in the New Heavens and the New Earth. Is there some truth contained in both sides. Sure. But both sides are often taken too far into error that loses the saltiness that Christ’s followers are supposed to have, trading it in for dichotomy of politically exclusive choices.

Liberation is certainly a theme in the Scriptures. God leads His chosen people from Egypt. Once slaves, they were taught how to be free people, being distinct from the nations around them. Likewise, the Gospel provides us with liberation from the powers of sin and hell, giving us the freedom to live truly as God intended us to. But what we unfortunately see from many of the ideas espoused by those in the Liberation theology camp is a dangerous blend of Christianity’s call to pursue justice and help for the needy into a Marxist infused political machine that doesn’t distinguish itself from the excesses of the political left. Justice without truth isn’t really justice at all.

Likewise, the far right gives into its own excesses by shrugging its shoulders much of the time at pain and suffering, expecting to be whisked away from tribulation at any moment. So often the vision is really focused inwards, not paying attention to the ways the Church has historically served as a demonstration of the love of Christ. There has been no greater witness of the Gospel throughout history than the physical ways Christians have put themselves out of comfort to work for others good, in the same way Christ did for us. Often, the issues our society is facing are dealt with suspicion and fear, rather than understanding and love that leads to truth. Justice without love isn’t really justice at all.

All of this means living life in tension. To not give into the ever-encompassing ideas of one side exclusively makes you a target for both sides. But to do so is to deny dividing points the world gives us, and instead shows the third way that Christ offers. When we start with the cross, we know that all of us are guilty. We are all oppressors who will sin against another image bearer of God. There are no exceptions. And at the same time we are all under the thumb of sin, desperately in need of liberation and freedom that is only found in Christ.

The only truly innocent victim was Christ; the only unredeemable oppressor is the devil; and the only perfect liberator is God. - Biblical Critical Theory, Christopher Watkin