The Capitol & Christians
Do you remember what the word of the year was in 2016? It was “dumpster fire” according to the American Dialect Society. As in “2016 was a dumpster fire of a year.” And then there was 2017, 2018, 2019, and dare I even mention it—2020. We no sooner gave our collective sigh when finally that year ended than to watch our own national Capitol building get raided. I spent the better part of the afternoon in disbelief. Did I really think 2021 would be any better when so much paved the way for it not to be? While doomscrolling I saw a photo of a shirtless man with a red, white, and blue painted face and what appears to be a Davey Crocket like hat with horns staring down capitol police. To my own shame I dehumanized that soul.
I find the Old Testament prophets rather poignant for this moment. When the Northern Kingdom of Israel and the Southern Kingdom of Judah faced national catastrophes the prophets’ initial response was not to coddle the people, rather they called the people to repentance, to forsake their sin, and turn to the Lord. Of course, the prophets provided promise too. I must be careful to not insinuate that somehow America is the new Israel, that is, the new chosen nation of God. However, for those of us who are professing Christians maybe, if we haven’t learned yet from COVID and quarantine, then maybe now it is time that we stop what we are doing and search the depths of our hearts.
One problem with new media is that we become inundated by what the other is doing. We recognize this in experiencing FOMO (Fear Of Missing Out). But I wonder if we recognize it in our preoccupation with what others are doing to the exclusion of ourselves. In other words, what other people do will always seem to be a bigger deal than what we do. We practice a sort of amnesia when it comes to our own behaviors, but when it comes to the behaviors of others, and particularly those I disagree with, their iniquities are like red stains on a white cloth.
Maybe where this self blindness most evident is how we like to shift responsibility. When we don’t think someone is being fair to us or to those of our own ilk, we like to say, “Yeah, but what about…” These days it’s called whataboutism, but it is the exact same tactic Adam used in the garden to try get off the hook with God, “Yeah, but what about the woman you gave me.” I even used the same tactic far before Social Media when I would get in trouble as a child, “But what about Meghan, you’re not yelling at her!” The point is that this is a reaction that has been common to humankind since the days of Adam. Right now we need to be especially careful to not be distracted from own actions, because when we become more fixated on others we lose sight of our own sinfulness and fail to repent.
It is my sinful heart and my sinful decision making that is the source of my problems, not the Democrats or Republicans, not “Sleepy Joe” or “that orange man.” What caused those actions this week in the Capitol, is the exact same thing which causes each one of us to fall into “hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy.” It’s the sin problem we carry around with us. We must be aware of it and we must repent.
We must be aware of ourselves and what we actually have control of—and that’s loving our God and loving our neighbor. Those two actions must occur in that order. If I allow my news source of choice to have more power over my worldview than God and his revealed Word, then I am not loving God with my whole heart, soul, and mind. If I think either Antifa rioters or the rioters in the Capitol were somehow in the right, then I need to think deeply about how God defines the fourth, fifth, and seventh commandments. If I think it is ok to trash my leaders and undermine their authority among those closest to me because the constitution affords me the right of free speech, then I better think carefully about what it means to “Give to Caesar what is Caesar’s,” to “be subject to the governing authorities,” and to “fear God, honor the emperor.” And when I begin to think I don’t owe honor to a leader for whom I didn’t vote, then I best remember, “whoever rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted.”
I know the times have been trying. I’m swallowing hard as I type that because it has become such a cliché. But what else is there to say about the past five years? But we cannot begin to feel sorry for ourselves. That is not the appropriate reaction to this moment. That reaction turns us further inward instead of looking upward toward our creator.
If you are filled with fear at what is happening to our country, if you are filled with fear at the prospect of losing this country, or even if you find some strange sense of glee that the rioting tables have turned then it is time to search the depths of your heart, confess your sin, and return to God. Fear and trust have a hard time co-existing. Care and concern are good, but fear is something else. Fear causes doubt. Fear blinds. Fear turns us away from God. So turn to God an you need not fear as John says, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” John was also speaking about the love of God taking hold of us when he said, “There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear.”
As Christians we are in a perfect position to not just observe what is going on around us, but to meet the problem with the real solution. We know what the chief problem is. We know that God offers the solution in his Son. We know that he reigns as king for the benefit of his church. We know that in the end Jesus wins, justice will be had, and all things will be redeemed. This is not about facing life with a stiff upper lip, but this is listening with ears that actually hear the promises of God sealed by the life of his Son. This is about living in the peace of Christ won for us and as Jesus himself said, “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.”