09-19-25

ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGS
September 19, 2025
In last Sunday’s sermon, I referenced Christian Nationalism, a very non-Christian and undemocratic movement. John Fugelsang, in his new book,“Separation of Church and Hate,” writes, “There is a growing plague of politicians, preachers, and influencers who wrap themselves in religious language while attacking anti-discrimination policies, women, immigrants, the poor, the struggling, LGBTQ people, and anyone else on society’s margins… it’s cruelty in piety drag.” Christianity, despite what some may say, has never been homogeneous—plenty of disagreement. However, there are many who assert the one true orthodox view on Christianity. You may notice that in my preaching, I tend to use a lot of “I” statements to convey my beliefs while also leaving room for different perspectives. What’s dangerous is when someone sees their brand of religion as the only way. We often point to Islam for examples of extreme fundamentalism, yet Christianity here in the United States has become more fundamentalist in many expressions. Fundamentalism, at its core, claims to know the mind of God in all things, while also planning to see its vision realized at any cost. What troubles me is the disagreements among fundamentalists. There’s a fierce competition to be the most extreme form of fundamentalism, which frequently results in the “more extreme” form manifesting in violence. It’s okay for us to have different views, but my question to Christians is a simple one: Can you find any story or teaching in the Gospels that supports what you are attempting to communicate or create? We are followers of Jesus, and for that reason, I believe we begin with Jesus as found in the Gospels. And if you have to dig around in the Book of Second Kings to find a defense of your way of expressing Christianity, then you might want to pause and question yourself. If love is not both your goal and your means to that goal, then you might want to pause and question your approach. And when I say love, I am not talking about some condescending and conditional nonsense that attempts to portray itself as love. I am talking about the unconditional and unrelenting love of God made real in an itinerant teacher who wandered the roads near a body of water called the Sea of Galilee. And he lived that love with such beauty and passion that the power structures felt threatened. The response was to execute him, yet even when faced with violence and death, he chose the path of nonviolent love. I don’t care if you are a politician, preacher, influencer, or just the average person who floats a few ideas on social media. If you embrace the name of Jesus, then you need to embrace the way of Jesus. We can have some disagreements on what that “way” looks like in this moment of time, but if it is the way of Jesus, then it won’t include even a hint of hate, violence, or scapegoating. 

Lord, have mercy; Christ, have mercy. This is our prayerful request as we strive toward the ideal set forth in Jesus. Amen.