Letter from the Pastor – November 2024

Dear Church,

Last month I offered some reflections on the book Letters to the Church: Encouragement and Engagement for the 2020 Election by William Kincaid. Written four years ago, the book encouraged readers to look at the state of the world in the lead up to the 2020 election through the lens of our Christian faith. I have continued to find this book helpful as we approach the 2024 Election. The book concludes by taking a look at what we are called to do.

It seemed in 2020, and continues to seem this way today, as if there are many problems in the world, and as Christians we are called to respond to these problems, and Kincaid offers many good, potential responses. For instance, he suggests that, in this age of “fake news” and easily distributed, widespread misinformation, Christians are called to think critically about the issues of the day. Or, as Paul puts it in his letter to the Romans, to be “transformed by the renewing of our minds.” And I agree with this sentiment. I don’t think “What Would Jesus Do?” is meant to be an easily answered question. We are meant to think about it, prayerfully, even (especially?) if the answer makes us uncomfortable. Kincaid also writes letters urging us to “Prepare for Conflict” and to “Find Allies,” people who we can rally around a cause with, even if we disagree on other issues.

However, among all that good material, I think I will focus my own closing reflections on his last letter, the one that says Christians are called “To Engage Constructively.” That is, in the end, what voting is – engagement. The choice to vote (or not vote) is a tool to be used to address whatever issues we think need dealing with. I choose this letter because, personal feelings or political leanings aside, we as Christians are called to engage and be a part of the world. This is the example we have in Jesus, someone who moved among the people and engaged in the struggles of the world. Kincaid uses a quote from Theodore Roosevelt, who said, “The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly…who spends himself in a worthy cause…”

These days it seems like we are constantly in an arena, participating in or watching fights between one side or another. It is exhausting. However, this quote helps me to think of the arena, not as a place of battle or competition, not of a place where there are winners or losers, but instead, of a place where we can strive together to make better the things that are important to us. This may lead to some disagreements, but these disagreements can be viewed as a way of getting to know one another, rather than a reason to fight. Jesus engaged his critics, and the struggles of the world, not by fighting them, but by telling them what he knew about God’s kindom, and his vision of that realm here on Earth. As we approach election day and what may follow, let us remember to engage the world in this way, because we are not in the arena to win, we are there to engage one another in love and good faith, and in that way live out the realm of God here in 2020.

Peace and health,

Zach