The Line

I feel like a tight rope walker these days, with an audience watching my every step. I’m holding my breath hoping to survive. Many do not notice the chasm below my feet. But I do. I know the danger. There are those who would shake the line in anger, praying for a wind to toss me, ready even to push me off to silence. I have poked the bear at times. In those moments, I have heard the growls, seen the bared teeth, and felt the hot breath of anger. So, I walk the line carefully, I tip-toe along, lest I offend and curry the wrath of some even while winning the applause of others. Most hope that I will write an encouraging letter that celebrates the mission heart of our people, or an informative letter that cautions all of us to be wary of scams. But what should I do when the events of the day demand a clarity and directness that no longer allows my tip-toeing dance?

Some believe that ‘the line’ is drawn in our Constitution- the separation of church and state. But that phrase never appears in our founding documents. Instead, we find those words in a letter that Thomas Jefferson wrote to the Danbury Baptist Association in 1802. That faith community wrote to President Jefferson concerned that their status as a religious minority would leave them vulnerable to religious persecution. Jefferson responded, emphasizing that the First Amendment's Free Exercise and Establishment clauses together built "a wall of separation between church and state." Jefferson explained that the First Amendment was designed to protect the church from interference from the state, allowing the church full expression. Note, this separation… this line that Jefferson describes… was designed to protect the church from the state, not the state from the church.

This line was not intended to silence the voice of the church, but to protect that voice. John Adams, the second President of the United States, argued that religion was essential to a healthy democracy. He wrote, “Human passions unbridled by morality and religion… would break the strongest cords of our democracy as a whale goes through a net.” Yet, even with the freedom afforded to me by the Constitution, I am afraid to cross the line, afraid to offend our sensibilities about the discussion of ‘politics’ in the church. So, here I sit, week after week, obeying rules created to silence the voice of the church to protect the state. In the end, the One I offend is my Savior, who has given me position and voice for such a time as this.

I am humbled by the courage of the Confessing Church in Germany during the first era of Nazi power. Adolph Hitler understood the power of the pulpit, so he used inducements and threats to coopt that voice to spread a Nazi ideology. Dietrich Bonhoeffer left the safety of a teaching post in New York City to help lead his church through that time of persecution. Bonhoeffer, Niemoller, Barth and others gathered to write the Barmen Confession, calling the church to faithfulness. Those who signed the Barmen confession in 1934 faced persecution, imprisonment and even death at the hands of the Nazi regime. Bonhoeffer would give his life to speak truth to power. I wonder who will speak truth to power as Nazi ideology begins to rise again in Germany.

I read stories in God’s Word about the prophets of old, their courage to call out the sin of the people and the corruption of their leaders. They paid the price for that faithfulness. Jeremiah was thrown into a dry well for speaking out against King Zedekiah. Queen Jezebel sought to kill Elijah when he challenged her pagan practices that corrupted the temple and led the people away. Daniel faced a lion’s den, and Shadrach, Meshach and Abendigo were thrown int a fiery furnace for defying the king. John the Baptist was beheaded for condemning King Herod for executing his brother so that he could steal his brother’s wife. Stephan was stoned for challenging the power-that-be. The Bible tells story after story of the price paid for speaking truth to power.

Surely, the ultimate story is that of our Savior. We like to spiritualize His death on the crossthat He died to forgive our sins. But the Romans and the religious leaders of the day had Jesus executed because He challenged their power. He was a threat to the state. He called the Pharisees “a brood of vipers.” He warned the people of “false prophets who come to you in sheep’s clothing.” When Jesus declared that real faith “brings good news to the poor, freedom to the captives, sight to the blind,” the people were filled with rage. They led Him to a cliff to throw Him off. Jesus didn’t just care about the spiritual life of the people, He cared about their struggles. He was loved by some and loathed by others. He became a threat to the gatekeepers of power, so they nailed him to a cross. They thought they had silenced Him, but instead, Jesus’ crucifixion brought a victory that has inspired generations to risk following in His way.

Some of you follow the weekly letter written by Bruce Main, the founder of Urban Promise. We love the stories of the children of Camden, so gifted and precious in the eyes of Jesus, given opportunity to discover their purpose in God’s kingdom. We cheer Bruce and his team as they plough the field for their kids, so that they can be all that they were created to be. We love his sweet stories… recently one about hugs. Who doesn’t love a hug? But last week, Bruce talked about ‘the line’ and the cost if one steps across that line. He told the story of a pastor who could stay silent no longer. Before the last hymn, his email was full, some grateful… some angry… and some- “I don’t want to hear anything political in the church.” Bruce then argued that faith is inherently ‘political.’ Politic comes from the Greek word- politikosmeaning “relating to citizens.” Bruce wrote, ‘Since God loves people, faith and politics are naturally inseparable. Sunday morning worship is a time to awaken complicit hearts, ignite moral courage, and confront things that hurt the heart of God.” Bruce, I hear your challenge for such a time as this.

I can imagine some of you are quaking in your boots, fearful that next Sunday will be a political diatribe. But I commit to you that I will not talk about U.S. politics unless you invite me into that conversation. I will, however, quote Jesus. And you might find that Jesus challenges the politics of the day, because politics impacts the lives of people. Jesus happens to love those people, even the ones we call enemies.

With you, choosing His way instead of their ‘line’,
Anita