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Overcoming Tribalism and Politics at Elim: The Challenge of Our Day

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(Adapted by Larry Short from T. J. Addington’s Leading from the Sandbox)

Last week Pastor Ryan spoke compellingly of the fact that our identity is to be Jesus followers first and primarily, and all other labels (political or whatever) are to be far secondary. This touched me deeply, as I, too, have been struggling with the way we have been dividing ourselves into ”camps” or factions for reasons not related to Jesus.

In a recent blog, former EFCA leader T. J. Addington also shines a bright light on this issue.

This is what he had to say:

Politics today has become tribal, and frankly ugly. People use social media to demonize those who don’t think like them with nasty, unkind comments. Christians are not immune. I have been called nasty names when I have posted comments regarding racial injustice, for instance, that had no political intent at all. Our tribalism is invading the church, dividing congregations, killing friendships and creating divisions that sadden the heart of God.

This is not a new problem. Even the early church dealt with differing perspectives, world views and opinions. Paul addresses this in Ephesians 4:1-6 where he writes: “As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.”

Read the rest here.

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Why I Do What I Do

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By Dan Amos

Saturday, I drove a 20-foot moving van to north of Bellingham. One of my sons and his wife moved there to start the next chapter in their life together. For her it will be graduate school, and for him it will be starting a new job. The truck was large and fully packed. It was wide enough to fill the lane of any road, and when you add the mirrors on either side, it stretched from line to line. Halfway there, I picked up one of my other sons. I was looking forward to the time together, and we were talking about jobs and technology and life. It was great, but about 30 or 40 minutes into that leg, the brake lights on the cars directly in front of me suddenly flashed. Smoke billowed from their tires from hard braking. Almost simultaneously, plastic parts filled the air and I think one of the cars was lifted into the air from its now-missing bumper.

On Sunday, Pastor Steve preached from Philippians 3, where Paul contrasts a life by works and a life by grace. Paul recounted his previous attempt to gain favor with God by what he (Paul) did. He was born one of God’s chosen people, followed the law, and persecuted those who chose Jesus. After his encounter with the resurrected Christ, he realized none of that mattered. Nothing he could do would be good enough, and Jesus had provided the only way to salvation. He did not deserve it, but it was given to him by God’s grace.

I’ll admit, I am a mass of insecurity and contradiction, but my bedrock faith is in Christ. The Bible shapes my worldview. In the good times, I understand the nature of sin and its effects. Bad things happen, sometimes without my having done anything wrong. I say “in the good times” to say that in the bad times, I already know that it is the result of a fallen world. God is sovereign, He is in control, and He is active in our lives. He knows the beginning and the end. He is grieved by sin and its consequences, but through Jesus we can be rescued, reconciled, and renewed. Still the consequences on this earth, at this time, remain. I’m treading into deep theological waters, and that’s not the point of where I’m heading.

Many of you know that nine years ago I was unemployed for 54 weeks. Gene Davies consistently prayed for me and would greet me each Sunday with “Do you have a job yet?” He was convinced God was going to give me a job. I will forever remember him and be thankful for him, but I did not share that same conviction. Instead, I was convinced that God would see me and my family through to whatever would achieve his purposes. God’s promise in Christ is true. The belief in promises of material blessing is made up and dangerous. I can find no other explanation for the real suffering of Christians whose faith is so much greater than mine.

Along with my view of God, sovereignty, and sin, the Bible gives wisdom. We can choose to do things that put us at risk, but we are taught to recognize danger and act accordingly. I honestly can’t say how the accident unfolded in front of me. I jumped on the brake and Fran, who was following behind me, says the truck tires smoked as they brought us to a stop. We stopped in a straight line a truck’s length or two from the four or five vehicles that collided. It happened so quickly, I don’t know if I reacted from the instant it started or further along. I think a half second or so divided us from being a part of that mess. If we had collided, the mass of that truck could have caused serious injury to those people.

The point is before setting out on the trip, I consciously thought about driving an unfamiliar, large vehicle and determined to stay in the right lane and keep an extra distance between me and the cars ahead. Sometimes that meant dropping below the speed limit, which is frustrating to me on a long trip. It was a prudent choice based on the conditions. I could have driven normally, and I would have been much closer and had less time to react. But again, it happened so fast, I can’t say if our safety was due to cautious actions or divine intervention or both. I do know that I expressed my gratitude to God for the outcome. No one appeared to be injured, though several vehicles were a total loss.

Right now, 2020 feels like an unfamiliar truck hurtling down an interstate on a variety of levels. I want to get to the other end of this journey as quickly as possible, but I have chosen a path of caution. I know some will agree this is prudent and others will disagree that it is unnecessary and needlessly disrupts our fellowship together. These are extra-grace-required situations. But I hope you will understand why I do what I do.

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Tolerance in the Age of COVID-19

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By Bill Naron

One definition for tolerance is “acceptance of others as unique expressions of specific character qualities in varying degrees of maturity.” This definition gets to the heart of the matter in two ways. The first draws on the biblical truth that God knit us together and formed us (Psalm 139:13). We bear His image, and we bear that image in unique ways. Second, this definition acknowledges that we are all at different places and stages on our journey. This is important for us to remember as we engage with one another in our church community.

The pandemic we are in has presented the church with a unique situation. Think about the dystopian, almost apocalyptic timeframe that defines this pandemic. Cities are shut down, and many people are staying home or out of work. Riots are happening, and people are being encouraged to refrain from close contact. It almost seems like a sci-fi movie!

One of the dangers often spoken of regarding social media is that people often speak harsher than they would in person. I believe that this is truer in the COVID age than ever before. The debates are increasingly more divisive, and tensions are increased. How we talk to one another and how we handle conflict is very important.

In steps the character quality of tolerance. Many people are going to find themselves having tough conversations as churches begin to come back together. One of the often-unrecognized by-products of this political climate and this pandemic is wounded relationships. Friendships have been fractured, feelings have been hurt, and judgments have been passed. Many people have experienced hurt and we have to be willing to make amends. Tolerance helps us graciously deal with one another. One aspect of tolerance is the ability to respond graciously to others. Ephesians 4:29 states, “Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.” We must learn to speak graciously to one another. No matter your opinion on the topics of the day, always remember that people matter more. Be gracious and kind to your brothers and sisters at this time. This is what the Lord has been dealing with my heart on and it is not easy, but it is absolutely necessary.

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My Story Isn’t Over Yet

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By Dan Amos

A couple of weeks ago, I realized my children knew very little of my history before them. And when Fran and I told our stories of salvation at community group, she said we need to tell them to our sons. So, on Father’s Day, after one son gave thanks for the food, we dished up and headed outside to eat. I got to go first and got started eating before everyone else came out. I had a plan. I now had a captive audience and I declared executive privilege on Father’s Day. While they continued eating, I told my story.

It wasn’t the quick three minutes Pastor Steve suggested, because even the slower eaters were done before me. I started by telling about my parents. My mom was involved in an evangelical church when she was a teenager and accepted Jesus then. She then introduced her mother to Jesus, but I don’t know about how my grandfather became a Christian. I should have asked my grandma when she was telling me her story shortly before she died. 

My dad was raised in a Catholic family, but I didn’t get the impression it was meaningful. He lived with his dad, who I think owned a bar, and his aunt who raised him after his mother died when he was around 10. But I only knew him as a Christian growing up. By the time I was born, my parents were attending a Nazarene church in Southern California, where my dad was stationed. The only birth announcement I have is a clipping from the church bulletin that gives a couple of options for my name, neither of which ended up on the birth certificate.

I grew up knowing about Jesus and the need to submit my life to him. I can’t say when this happened, but I was probably seven or eight. I heard a lot about Hell and the reality of going there. I learned of God and creation, sin and redemption. This shaped the worldview through which I see things today. It also meant that I was and am aware of my sin and my constant failing, but when I confess my sin, God is forgiving, graceful, and merciful.

I have seen God work in my life through provision, assignments, and circumstances, but one of the most enduring and powerful ways was in providing me a partner for life in Fran. She is my constant support and gentle challenger to examine my choices and life.

I am thankful that I did not see prejudice from my parents. Until I was nine, we lived in Navy communities that were integrated, and my friends had a variety of skin colors. But even though we played together, I did not know their stories. I did not know their struggles or the racism that they had to deal with.

I am learning more about racism and my heart is broken over it. I want my world to change and it starts with listening to the real problem. We have had many discussions at work, and I hope they never stop. We are in a difficult time because passions are high, reactions vary, and criticism abounds. I pray that we conquer this sin and extend grace to each other through it all.

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Weird Art and the Glory of God

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By Jason Comerford

This year at the men’s retreat, we all watched a film called Lars and the Real Girl. It’s an indie film from 2007 starring Ryan Gosling; IMDb summarizes it like this: “A delusional young man strikes up an unconventional relationship with a doll he finds on the Internet.”

Suffice it to say, it’s one of the most awkward films I’ve ever watched, and it wasn’t initially high on my list of must-see movies. Despite that, it’s quickly rocketed to the top of my favorites. While sometimes painful to watch, the story told an uncomfortable tale of one man’s loneliness and how the grace and lovingkindness of one small town saved him from his delusions. Really, what makes this movie so wonderful is the tale of grace and redemption at the heart of it.

But more than that, I’m thrilled that instead of the typical relaxing movie we might have chosen to watch, nearly every single man at the retreat chose to stay and watch this weird, very awkward art house flick.

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God’s people have a long history of uncomfortable art being used to honor God and speak to His people.

Take for example the prophet Isaiah in Isaiah 20. The Lord commands him to walk around naked and barefoot as a warning to Israel not to trust in the military might of their neighbors.

For another example, look at Ezekiel and his various one-man plays that he acted out in public. In Ezekiel 4, he built a tiny model of the city of Jerusalem and acted out various aspects of a tiny war against it.

We could also look to the ministry of Jeremiah, who was told time and again to speak to the people of Israel regarding their rebellion, sometimes using prophetic actions such as smashing pots.

All over the Bible, our invisible God seems really interested in attention-grabbing displays. Activities and images that just can’t be ignored—that defy easy categorization or flippant response. Things that demand answer and attention from us.

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I think it’s important to recognize that God sometimes uses strange and uncomfortable means to make sure His message is heard. In our culture, I think we’ve given ourselves over to a belief that movies and stories are here mainly to entertain us. Paintings, photographs, essays, and songs, all these get pushed aside when they offer anything other than a beautiful vista, an optimistic thought, or an entertaining laugh.

Instead, I think we should embrace something different. Art is here not mainly to entertain or inform, but to pierce our hearts. To take up the glories and horrors we’ve forgotten and with them stab us broad awake once more.

As a Christian, that’s the kind of artwork I need. What about you?

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God Is Sovereign in Our Suffering

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By Bill Naron

God’s sovereignty is very weighty, and at times it can be difficult to rationalize with our emotions and hard to reason within our thoughts. We find that in the good times we can rejoice in the truth of His sovereignty. However, in seasons of suffering, the reality of this truth can be so hard to grasp.

All throughout the Scriptures, we can find references to God’s supremacy. For example, the first verse of the Bible, Genesis 1:1, says, “In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.” This speaks to God’s supremacy by showing us He is above and before all things.

Growing up in church, I have heard this concept preached so many times. However, over the last couple of weeks, this has been impressed more heavily upon my soul as something that I have just not grasped fully. It has begun to stir up a passion within me that is difficult to contain. Then, in my morning devotions today, I read the following verse:

And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 2 Corinthians 12:9.

During the sermon on Sunday, a couple of statements really caught my attention. One of them communicated that Rich and Marla knew no matter what the outcome was, God was still God, and He still had a plan and a purpose. The second statement was when Rich described rejoicing when they found out what had caused Marla to collapse originally.

I thought of these statements as I read through this verse from my devotions this morning. I thought about what an inspiration and a blessing it is to be part of a community that has so many stories of people such as Rich and Marla, who came on hard times and yet saw the sovereignty of God in their situations. This is such a great encouragement to the rest of us who have difficulty seeing this.

I have been wrestling with the idea of God’s supremacy in all of life—not just in good times, but in suffering as well. I have had to reflect on difficulties and sufferings that have happened in my own life.

I think about my son who was diagnosed with mild Dandy-Walker variant. This is a very rare condition that affects his cerebellum. While he looks and acts much like any other three-year-old, there are a lot of unknowns for him as he ages. He has overcome so many things already, from struggling with stiff muscles as a baby to balance issues as a toddler. Every milestone he has hit and exceeded what seemed to be the expectation.

As I reflect on this, I see truly the hand of God in my son Jasher’s situation, and I can see how God is glorified. At first the answers came so slowly, and there are still a lot of unknowns, but God is still God. I can see how this experience was used to bring my wife and me closer to our Father. In the storms, when we are at our weakest, when our fear of the unknown has gripped us, when we can’t see how God is present, we do not in the moment always see that there is a plan and a purpose.

The truth of Scripture, though, is that God always has a purpose for the things that happen in our lives. He cares for us, and nothing happens in this world without God knowing about it. God is never caught off guard!

In our suffering, are we going to live in the truth and perspective that God is sovereign? Knowing that God could make it so that we never suffered, are we going to trust that God is God and has a purpose for allowing this suffering to enter our lives?

God’s grace is what is sufficient, and it is not by my own strength that I live this life, but it is because of Him that we live. The purpose for our suffering is that we would grow more satisfied in the person of Jesus. That in our suffering we would choose to surrender to God and choose to say, “God, You are still God, no matter the outcome of my situation.” This is how we glorify our Father in the midst of our suffering: by relying solely on Him.

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