January 20

Day 312: Civility

The Babylon Bee, this generation's cynical fake news voice for Christian rightness, had as a headline yesterday: "American Christians Excited to Live Through the Book of Judges Firsthand." (For anyone in our church, this is funny stuff.)

The same article ended with, "Experts Predict that this Season of Judgment will Continue for Another 4-8 Years, or Until a New Administration Can Take Over and Immediately Fix Everything."

Today marks yet another "peaceful transition of power." On the U.S. Capitol steps George Bush (the older) called "Democracy's Front Porch." Or something like that.

We all want to present ourselves as "civil." And this day, we all want the rest of the world to see the U.S. as a paragon of civility. I think the rest of the world knows better. They have internet.

But isn't it odd that while millions will tune in to the Inauguration events today, the remaining millions will not. From the victors will come calls for national unity. But not unlike four years ago, the vanquished will say, "Not my President!"

When we read, with American Christian eyes, through the Book of Judges, where "Everyone did what was right in their own eyes," we think God's judgment is reserved only for the deserving. And the deserving is anyone who does not agree with us. The deserving are anyone but us.

Sadly, some who claim to be Christians will now begin to spend an inordinate amount of time praying against the new administration. They'll even pray against Christians who are on the other side of the political fence. And feel pretty self-righteous in doing so.

And while we may assume and even hope for God's judgment on others, we will be steadfast in our view that we, alone, are the civil ones.

Some of the same who have been generationally predisposed to believe that God loves America best are now questioning if God loves this country at all. Because somehow we've merged the Bible and the American experiment into something indistinguishable.

So today at least, many people will be civil. Pretend to be civil. Until the ideological battles resume tomorrow, or even this afternoon.

When some will return to telling others to "check your privilege." And the others will call down fire and brimstone on their new task masters.

If we look for the American Government to be our god, we will then view that same god as either benevolent or malevolent. Not both.

If we consider everyone who does not share our ideology to be deserving of God's judgment, while we deserve a free pass, we do not regard our own sin as sin. And we do not regard God as holy. False civility, even authentic civility are no substitute for submission to the King of kings and Lord of lords.

And this same King and Lord said, clearly, through the words of the Apostle Paul, "First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way."

We are, all of us, called not to be falsely civil. We are called to pray for our leaders. Whether we like, agree with, or approve of them or how they got there, or not.

My pastor friend Greg said it like this, "We pray God’s blessing on our new President all the while recognizing the future of our nation ultimately does not depend on who lives in the White House. What matters most are the choices and embraced values of those who live in your house (and mine)."

This, then, is the present test for the American Church. Will we be obedient to pray for the new Administration? Or will we be disobedient and content ourselves with a false civility?

-Mike Rydman, Lead Pastor, Radiant Church Juneau