Your weekly installment of what we’ve been reading (and watching) around the web.
Video of the Week
The Gospel and Politics, Dr. J.D. Greear, Chris Pappalardo, Kami Mueller, Dr. Terrance Ruth, Dr. Bruce Ashford. This past Tuesday, several leaders from the Summit gathered to discuss how Christians can approach politics through a gospel lens. The goal of this panel discussion was two-fold: first, to help people think through this present time, asking the right questions and making biblically informed decisions; second, to model how Christians can charitably disagree on political issues, even in a time as tense as our own. (Note: the first 30 minutes are Pastor J.D.’s talk, which covers much of the same ground as the blog posts from earlier this week. If you’re already caught up on those, you can jump right to 30:00 for the panel discussion.)
Articles of the Week
Speak Truth to Trump, Andy Crouch. One of the more saddening aspects of this current election season is watching as Christians make declarations about what all Christians must do at the polls in November. As we’ve reflected recently, elections are hardly ever that simple. And Election 2016 is particularly rife with confusion. Most believe are candidates to be dismal. There seem to be few decent paths forward, let alone good ones. As Trevin Wax has written recently, this election cycle demands that Christians give space and show grace.
But regardless of your voting plans, Christians should be able to agree in speaking truth to power. We should manifest the spirit of John the Baptist, who had the courage and integrity to stand for God’s view of truth, goodness, and morality—even when it cost him his life. Crouch’s article here pleads with Christians not to excuse or explain away immorality, because our witness is at stake.
Trump Is Un-fit for Power, Marvin Olasky. In light of Trump’s video last week, a flood of evangelicals have called for Trump to step down—including Wayne Grudem, Russell Moore, John Piper, and even our own pastor, J.D. Greear. Olasky at World News Group offers an apt summary of their arguments. As he says, “We set the stage for even worse behavior when we ignore blatant offenses. Our journalistic task is to call powerful people to account, regardless of their party, regardless of the politics of the moment.”
Should Christians Vote for Trump? Eric Metaxas. While Christians should agree in condemning the wickedness of Trump’s words, some will cast the ballot for him anyway. Metaxas leads that crowd, and attempts to show how a Christian can despise what Trump says while still pulling a lever for him. It is disappointing to hear Metaxas shame those who will act differently than him (as he does here), but if there remains a case for voting Trump, many Christians will make that case like Metaxas does here.
Evangelicals Like Me Can’t Vote for Trump—or Clinton. Here’s What We Can Do Instead, Alan Noble. This is a slightly older article (from June), but is one of the best defenses of voting third party. Noble presents the Christian case for voting third party, answering the many objections that are often brought up in that discussion. (Don’t we have to choose between the lesser of two evils? Aren’t you throwing your vote away by voting third party?) He urges Christians to obey their conscience, not merely to make themselves “feel better,” but for the long-term good of the country. (Note: at the initial time of this article, Noble saw no viable third party option. Since that time, he has endorsed Utah’s Evan McMullin.)
Politics Aren’t Worth Your Friendships, Trillia Newbell. Let’s face it: some of your friends are going to vote very differently than you. At the Summit, we know that many godly men and women will vote for Donald Trump, many will vote for Hillary Clinton, and many will cast a third party ballot. There are good reasons (and bad reasons) for every one of those decisions. And the differences are not trivial. But as the church, it is paramount that we respond to those differences with grace and compassion. We have a unity in Christ that transcends partisan politics; let’s show the world what that means.
On The Lighter Side
Voting Anguish. Thank you, John Lithgow, for faithfully representing how every voter in America should feel right now. We’re laughing…but we’re also crying a little bit, too.
Wisdom For Your Weekend is presented to you by Chris Pappalardo, with occasional guidance from J.D. Greear. This is our attempt to reflect Proverbs 9:9: “Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be still wiser; teach a righteous man, and he will increase in learning.”
