During the advent season the church looks forward to the celebration of the incarnation, God becomes man in Jesus. We also look forward to the return of Christ, in his own time and way. In the meantime Christians are tasked with being about the work that God has given us to do: tending the garden, feeding the hungry, giving drink to the thirsty, welcoming the stranger, clothing those who need it, visiting the sick and prisoners, and sharing the hope we have in the good news of grace through faith in the finished work of Christ on the cross. We are citizens of another kingdom awaiting the return of our king. We will see him when he returns, when he welcomes us home after death, and in the faces of the least of these.
As a follower of Christ, I need to be reminded frequently that this is my mission.
It’s easy to become wrapped up in the politics of the day. I’ve spoken with men and women of faith who are distraught by the election results and others who are ecstatic. Some are parroting the conspiracy theories of the right while others are airing the accumulated grievances of the left. Let’s put this into perspective.
When the devil tempted Jesus with political power, he responded, “‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.” When the crowds were about to try to make Jesus their political leader, he slipped away from them. When he stood before Pilate he was clear that his kingdom was not of this world. If we are followers of Christ our primary allegiance is to the King of kings and Lord of lords.
Our role is to be light and salt in a dark world that needs flavoring! Our faith ought to speak into our politics, on both the right and the left. Christians may find themselves on opposite sides of the political divide as they apply their Christian values to different issues, and that’s ok. There were major disagreements in the early church about some really big issues, but Jesus warned of the sinfulness of demeaning a brother or sister in Christ. Christians who tend to vote for democrats aren’t demonic, collectivists, or naive and those who find themselves aligning with the Republican Party platform aren’t racists, white trash, or deplorables. We’ve got to stop the name-calling and remember, we are to be known by our love.
I am very concerned that the style of partisanship that I have seen some Christians engaged in over the last few years has been damaging to our witness. Perhaps I can commend these words from Peter, one of Jesus’ disciples, to my brothers and sisters in Christ: “Live decent lives among unbelievers. Then, although they ridicule you as if you were doing wrong while they are watching you do good things; they will praise God on the day he comes to help you. Place yourselves under the authority of human governments to please the Lord. But have reverence for Christ in your hearts, and honor him as Lord. Be ready at all times to answer anyone who asks you to explain the hope you have in you, but do it with gentleness and respect.”
Respecting the governing authorities has nothing to do with which party they belong to or the claims of detractors regarding their legitimacy. Peter was writing when Nero was the emperor – certainly no friend of Christians.
Our nation has made its selection in a free and fair election certified by Democrats and Republicans. Folks around the country like my friend Judy volunteered their time to count ballots and make sure the system worked. It’s over. The next president of the United States will be Joe Biden. He deserves our respect and prayers.
Meanwhile as we celebrate Advent and the incarnation, we are reminded that Christians are to “incarnate” Christ in the world. That means we are to be like Jesus: the way he ate with tax collectors, touched the lepers, loved the outcasts, set aside his rights and privileges to take the abuse of his enemies, and forgave those who nailed him to the cross. Our times call us to a renewed understanding of our job description as Christ followers, a return to the ministry of reconciliation, and a rediscovery of what it means to be peacemakers. Only then will the world hear the message of hope that Christ brings. Let’s get on with it.
Daren Blanck is the Pastor of Zoar Church in Tofte, MN, a Lutheran Congregation in Mission for Christ (LCMC). Pastor Daren has been preaching in Tofte for five years. Previously he and his wife, Michelle, lived and worked in South Korea and then the Republic of North Macedonia. He is a part time pastor, part time educator with the Lake Superior School District, and full time dad.
Daren Blanck is the Pastor of Zoar Church in Tofte, MN, a Lutheran Congregation in Mission for Christ (LCMC). Pastor Daren holds a BS in Environmental Science from Bemidji State, a MS in Education from UW-Superior, and recently completed his MA in Pastoral Theology from Kingswood University in New Brunswick. In addition he studied theatre in the UK and trained for ministry through the LCMC’s Beyond the River Academy. He’s also a part-time teacher in Silver Bay.
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