Back in the summer, a survey released by Lifeway Research, which is affiliated with the Southern Baptist Convention, indicated that the majority (57%) of Protestant churchgoers under age 50 prefer to attend church with those that agree with them politically. Given that wise pastors may have preferred to avoid any mention of partisan politics in the months leading up to the midterm elections, that survey may have been filed in a drawer somewhere. Now that this year's elections are in the rear view mirror, and normal people are not yet thinking about 2020, it may be a good time for pastors to pull that story out and reflect on the fact that it means that a large percentage of active church members are effectively denying an important element of the fruit of the gospel.
Of course, it is not news that most people attend church with others that tend to hold similar opinions, as most churches draw from communities that tend to be at least somewhat homogenous in terms of socio-economic status and mindset. However, to say that something tends to be the case is different from saying that it is the way that we prefer things to be.
In the New Testament, questions of political affiliation are not really addressed because it was not a matter of concern to the churches. However, unity in the midst of other social and ethnic questions was important, and the Apostle Paul in particular emphasized that whatever differences there may have been among church members were minimized by their common belief in and experience of Christ.
Thus, we find in his letter to the Ephesians an emphasis on the fact that God had created a single church composed of both Jews and Gentiles, meaning that long standing causes of separation between these groups had been obliterated by the cross of Christ. Instead of differences, they were united into one body, one temple, sharing one Lord, one faith, and one baptism. To separate over lesser matters was not to be considered given the momentous things that they now shared in common.
So, it is -- or should be -- with Christians who differ politically but who are together in Christ, united to him and to one another in faith. The Lutheran pastor Rod Rosenbladt has told a magnificent story about parishioners (one a veteran, the other an anti-war activist) during the Vietnam era who nearly came to blows in the parking lot of the church but who threw their arms around one another in Christian love having entered worship and come together to the Lord's table. This is as it should be. The Bible does not have enough clear information to bind our consciences on all matters of political philosophy and tactics, but it does tell us enough to unite us in Christian faith. Our differences should not have to be abandoned or papered over in order to recognize our common faith in Christ.
Paul warned the early Galatian Christians against heeding the teaching of those that would require them to be circumcised before being acknowledged as Christians. In our day, circumcision is not at issue, but one may wonder at some churches that seem to indicate that Republican (or Democratic, depending on the church) fidelity is an essential element to a sure testimony of Christian faith. Indeed, years ago when it became publicly known that a famous, politically liberal actress had been attending an evangelical congregation, I heard Christians wondering whether this would mean that she had experienced a political conversion, as well.
Of course, such thinking is all wrong. I have my own political opinions, and like everyone else I think that my own are more correct than those who disagree with me. My goal is that my political beliefs would be consistent with my Christian faith, but I recognize my own limitations in sorting that out and see that a fellow Christian may come to different views. Most importantly, conversion to faith in Christ doesn't require the seeker to accept Burke (or Rousseau) as his political philosopher. It is faith in Christ alone that saves.
It cannot be ignored that Christians have frequently failed abysmally at this. In the United States, the racial divide has been more unfortunate than the political one, and not a small number of churches that send money to Africa and other parts of the world for the conversion of people there have embarrassing racial restrictions as part of their own sordid congregational histories. Fortunately, a number of churches and denominations have publicly changed their views and repented in recent years, though it would be a mistake that this problem is now in our rear view mirrors.
Who should we prefer to attend church with? Christ is building his church out of every tongue and tribe and nation, and all who come our way to unite around God's word and sacrament should be welcome among his people.
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