Pastor's Briefing: The Presidential Debate
Christians are called to listen differently. We are called to evaluate the policy positions proposed by each candidate through the Biblical criteria of Christ’s eschatological initiative articulated in his statement, “Behold, I am Making All Things New.”
Tonight, and in the next debate, the two candidates will lay out plans for their efforts to facilitate their vision for America’s future. While the names change over time, these two different eschatologically-motivated visions (think: Marvel’s End Game) have two frequently repeated themes: Build Back Better and Make America Great Again.
Christians are called to listen differently. We are called to evaluate the policy positions proposed by each candidate through the Biblical criteria of Christ’s eschatological initiative articulated in his statement, “Behold, I am Making All Things New.“ Scripture makes clear that Christ’s vision of making all things new (a present and ongoing process) has racial, economic, foreign policy, vocational, family, and educational applications.
What is good that requires encouragement? Listen to the candidates' assessments of what is good. What are they identifying as good and how would they seek to encourage it? Is their classification of ‘good’ resonant or dissonant with the Biblical categorization of the good?
What is broken that needs restoration? Defining the broken presupposes an accurate understanding of the intended condition. In order to restore something, one must know what restoration would look like when completed. How this restoration will happen is secondary to the vision of restoration.
What is missing that awaits creation? In the Garden, God tells Adam and Eve that part of their primary work will be to cultivate the incomplete creation. This cultivation necessarily included developing best-practices for farming, creating markets for exchange, and inventing new technologies that would improve flourishing. What do these candidates propose to create in order to bring about flourishing?
What is evil that demands opposition? Just as defining the good is critical, it is imperative to properly, and Biblically, define what is evil. Given the nature of current political discourse, defining the evil seems the preferred manner of classification for all policy issues. As such, listening and evaluating what each candidate defines as evil should always beg the question, “Is that actually evil?”
Normally, the last paragraph of the Pastor’s Briefing includes a list of people in your congregation impacted by a particular policy. Tonight, however, the topics covered will apply to every member of your congregation.
As Christians, we must listen with an ear not just to our own flourishing but the flourishing of others. In doing so, our standard must be, “How does each candidate’s vision align with Christ’s vision of making all things new?”
In Sum
Remind your congregation that Christ invites his followers to participate in his mission of making all things new. As such, we must participate in public square conversations with discerning and anxiety-free minds.
Tonight’s debate starts at 9pm ET.
The vision of Faithful Presence is to equip servants and leaders working in our nation’s capital to flourish as they participate in Christ’s mission of making all things new. Support this ministry and receive additional resources with a supporting subscription.