One of the greatest dangers to Christianity in the United States

Photo by Dmitry Ratushny on Unsplash

I finally found a word to express why our national politics are such a danger to Christianity and the church of Christ in the United States.

That word is pessimism, which is “the tendency to see the worst aspects of things or believe that the worst will happen; a lack of hope or confidence in the future.”

Both political parties have their fans pigging out on pessimism these days. I see more than a few Christians eating it up and regurgitating it.

Why is this a danger to Christianity and the church of Christ?

First, it pre-*occupies us with something other than what occupied Jesus, who taught us to pray: “*Your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.”

Our Christ did not teach us to pray to “make America great again” or to “save democracy”; our Christ taught us to pray with urgency for the kingdom of God to come.

No candidate, no party, no political platform is an answer to that prayer.

But there is another reason that the pessimism of our politics is a danger to Christianity and the church.

When we become people of of pessimism, we lose our capacity and credibility as witnesses for the Christ. Listen to this:

…do not fear what they fear, and do not be intimidated, but in your hearts sanctify Christ as Lord. Always be ready to make your defense to anyone who demands from you an accounting for the hope that is in you, yet do it with gentleness and respect (1 Peter 3:14b-16a).

If people know us for our pessimism, why would they ever have reason to ask about our hope?

Perhaps the problem is that, these days, many Christians don’t even remember their hope apart from the brands they buy, the celebrities they follow, the political tribes to which they pledge allegiance, and the religious rules they follow (usually badly) and try to force on others.

What is our hope?

“Your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.”

Listen to 1 Peter again:

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! By his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead and into an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, who are being protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. In this you rejoice, even if now for a little while you have had to suffer various trials, so that the genuineness of your faith–being more precious than gold that, though perishable, is tested by fire–may be found to result in praise and glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. Although you have not seen him, you love him, and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and rejoice with a indescribable and glorious joy, for you are receiving the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls (1 Peter 1:3-9).

If we believe and embrace this gospel, it leaves no room for pessimism. It leaves no room for any news but the good news of what is sure to come.

In this moment, when politics is pouring out pessimism (and many Christians are drinking it up and spewing it out), let us heed this word: “Examine yourselves to see whether you are living in the faith.” (2 Corinthians 13:5).

Grace and peace (and hope).