The Best Non-Sermon I've Heard in Church This Year.

“Are you a believer who happens to be interested in the political process, or are you a Republican or Democrat who happens to be in church? Are you a believer who happens to want to be civically engaged, or are you a Republican or a Democrat who happens to attend church?” -Trey Gowdy

When we returned to the States this summer, I had the normal adjustment period as always when I get back into the American church. It is an adjustment to often see more about politics than spirituality. Especially when you hit the church doors around the 4th of July. So, you can imagine my thoughts when I heard that the church we were attending for the first few weeks was going to have a politician “preach” one Sunday.

Fortunately, (or unfortunately) we were scheduled to leave two days before he spoke. Having now seen the video of the talk, I am going to recommend it to people. Trey Gowdy diagnoses our situation in America accurately. Our tribalism is going to kill us. We need to learn to once again have an exchange of ideas. More importantly, as believers we need to find our identity in Christ, not a political ideology. We need to follow our King where He leads and how He lives and not just strike out in the way a particular group thinks best.

In fact, as a believer who actively seeks out what my Lord teaches on any given subject, I find I fit in less and less with any group. My Republican friends and family think I am too liberal and my Democrat friends and family think I am too conservative. I’m pretty sure that is the way it should be.

When it comes to voting, if I allow myself to be totally principled in my citizenship I find I cannot vote for any candidate based purely on the issues. (An approach that has kept me out of the ballot box more years than not.) And if I allow character to dictate my choices, (something often more important, as character and integrity dictate leaders’ choices more than platform) I can’t insist on flawless candidates. They don’t exist. But, in that case, I refuse to empower indecency to advance an issue. Both my trust in God to sovereignly rule, and my accountability to Him for the choices, I make don’t allow it.

But as to interaction with others, I want to be civically civil. I want to listen as well as talk—to understand and engage—to learn as well as sway opinion. Most of all, I want to speak about grace and the Gospel and allow that to change the culture in a way no vote, no ideology ever will.