Fox News Commentator Kirsten Powers has joined the ranks of Evangelical Christianity.  Welcome aboard, my sister!  Check out the article here.  In the article, it reads,

How was I going to tell my family or friends about what had happened? Nobody would understand. I didn’t understand. (It says a lot about the family in which I grew up that one of my most pressing concerns was that Christians would try to turn me into a Republican.)

For the record, let’s just admit that GOP doesn’t stand for God’s Own Party.  Christians—true Christians—are affiliated with different political parties.  Much of this can be traced to highlighting one issue over another in any Christian’s priority list.

Take me for example: I am unequivocally pro-life.  Jesus was and that’s why I am.  Now, pause and think for a moment if you know pro-life Democrats and pro-choice Republicans.  If you get around much, you certainly do.

In fact, I’d argue that many in the GOP leadership are embarrassed about people like me: Christian, theologically conservative, pro-life, stay-at-home moms.  They probably dislike me every bit as much as many liberal Democrats, like this blogger who wrote:

Having done a fair amount of legal work for non-profit organizations, one of the big no-no’s is involvement in political activities in support or opposition of particular candidates and/or legislation. To be tax-exempt, one had to focus on charitable activities, not politics and candidate support. Increasingly, churches – principally conservative ones – have thrown this concept out the window and here in Virginia, many conservative (translated, anti-gay, anti-abortion, and anti-religious freedom for others) churches are now basically an arm of the Republican Party with activities orchestrated through the ever foul Family Foundation.

Do I detect a tiny amount of animosity here?  Is it really “principally conservative ones” or shall we cry foul, or would that be “ever foul?”

Well, Mr. Blogger, how do we reconcile that with this (I received it just yesterday)?  It was sent by a pastor to his congregation:

The Commonwealth of Virginia has authorized no money to help the poor enroll in Affordable Care Act health plans.  All assistance must be done by volunteers.  [Name of organization removed for anonymity] is filling this gap. Anyone can volunteer with them to be part of the solution.  This is a social justice issue… So – thanks, friends, for considering doing God’s work in this way.

God’s work?  Did I miss the day God voted for the Affordable Care Act? 

(Is this even a church we’re talking about?  Yes, sadly yes.  Supposedly…)

Is there anything stopping this pastor from organizing a team of hospitals, doctors, nurses, and dentists to offer pro bono care to the indigent as an expression of loving, Christian ministry?  Of course not.  Is there anything stopping this pastor from encouraging his congregations to supply nutritional food to food banks, build homes through Habitat for Humanity, provide medical care for the poorest of the poor through forming a medical ministry like my friend’s Hands and Hearts International that over the years has provided medical and dental care for tens of thousands in Africa.  Someone could start a ministry for Virginia…the location of both the blogger and the pastor…and you know what?  Maybe if they did that instead of bowing down to the government, the Christian witness would be even more evident.

When your church signs up the poor for some controversial government program,

what is that saying about who provides?

Is it God who has provided?  Or is it the government?

What is your witness, sir? 

Whether Republicans or Democrats, our goal should be to point to Jesus every chance we get.  It doesn’t mean we can’t be vocal about the intersection of faith and life, doctrine and discipleship, or communicate what the Gospel speaks as admonition to a culture far from God. Mr. Pastor, let me say this as clearly as I know how:

Christian witness of the Church hangs in the balance.  It is why we need to have Christianity apart from politics.  Jesus stood above the politics of His time and we should follow His example.

Controversies between Christians damage Christianity, diminish our influence in the world, waste precious time, and they brand Jesus in a very unbecoming way. 

This is almost unforgivable. 

Jesus is the Way, the Truth, and the Life.  If by our actions, we steer people from desiring the only way to their salvation, what have we accomplished?

I’m beginning to think that nearly every controversy in the Church contains the same cast of often well-educated characters vehemently arguing their sides. 

What is it you want:

to be found right,

or to be found righteous?  

God is not impressed with how smart you controversy-lovers are.  Perhaps He would say to you what He says in Revelation 2:

Revelation 2:1 “To the angel of the church in Ephesus write: These are the words of him who holds the seven stars in his right hand and walks among the seven golden lampstands: 2 I know your deeds, your hard work and your perseverance. I know that you cannot tolerate wicked men, that you have tested those who claim to be apostles but are not, and have found them false. 3 You have persevered and have endured hardships for my name, and have not grown weary. 4 Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken your first love. 5 Remember the height from which you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first. If you do not repent, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place. 6 But you have this in your favor: You hate the practices of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate. 7 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes, I will give the right to eat from the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God.

If the goal of the command to teach sound doctrine is love, then we must treat others in a way that accomplishes that end.  Loveless behavior and sniping at fellow believers will never produce a loving consequence.  Nor will divisiveness create an ever-increasing and unified body of believers.

If your goal is to be found right, chances are good you won’t be found righteous because pride undercuts any doctrinal correctness you may think you have.  Worse, this pride sacrifices brothers and sisters.  If the second command to love neighbors is just like the first, “Love the Lord your God,” then righteous person keeps in mind the goal of love.  The right and righteous one will steer clear of needing to be found right in the eyes of those men who enjoy being mired in meaningless controversies.

With so many Christians arguing with one another, it’s enough to make you throw up your hands and ask, “Why do Christians insist on devouring each other?”

There was recently a conference by John MacArthur called Strange Fire in which Pentecostals and charismatics were being challenged as promoting unbiblical pursuits.  For some this was an important area of doctrinal investigation.  For others it was being unnecessarily controversial and divisive to the Christian community.  Strange Fire generated far more heat than light.

How do we know when to hold onto our principles and when to let mere controversies go? 

The Bible encourages us to love God and neighbor by holding to the truth of what is clearly discerned in the pages of Scripture.  To let go of the love for either God or neighbor is an unproductive and fruitless endeavor.  God’s work is by faith, often hidden, and visible only in the spiritual realm.  To argue about what’s not clear in Scripture that we cannot see with anything other than eyes of faith is a waste of valuable energy and time that would be better used to promote the Gospel.

Let us endeavor to do what Paul told Timothy:

 1 Timothy 1: 3 As I urged you when I went into Macedonia, stay there in Ephesus so that you may command certain men not to teach false doctrines any longer 4 nor to devote themselves to myths and endless genealogies. These promote controversies rather than God’s work– which is by faith. 5 The goal of this command is love, which comes from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith.