Presence Weekly 10/09/2023

The Devo

Last week, for the first time in American history, the House of Representatives voted to remove the current Speaker of the House, Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R - CA). The move was led by Rep Matt Gaetz (R - FL), as promised, in response to Speaker McCarthy cooperating with House Democrats to pass a last-minute temporary spending bill to avoid a government shutdown.

Rep. Gaetz, along with only seven members of the House Republican delegation (widely seen as the most right-leaning segment), convinced the entire Democratic contingent of the House to vote with them for Rep. McCarthy's ouster from the Speakership. One might wonder why the whole of the Democratic House would support a candidate offered by a group of Republicans who are so angry with the former Speaker for cooperating with them.

As most political commentators have made very clear, there is no clear path forward, let alone a shoo-in candidate. In the past week, two of former President Trump's most ardent supporters, Rep. Jim Jordan (R - OH) and Rep. Steve Scalise (R - LA) , have become likely nominees for the initial ballot. It remains to be seen how the 218 Republican House members who sided with former Speaker McCarthy will vote on any candidates proposed by the eight members of their party who led the effort to replace the Speaker. Of course, everyone will recall that Rep. McCarthy was only elected to the Speakership after a historic 15 rounds of voting and many promises and concessions to members of the Republican caucus.

On Monday, House members, primarily led by the 218 Republicans who voted against Rep. McCarthy's replacement, will undertake an effort to revise the rules of the House that allowed such a small minority of the controlling party to force a vote on the Speaker. In other words, the House is a mess right now!

The events of last week are taking place against the larger backdrop of a very active Republican Presidential primary that includes former President Trump, who has also weighed in on his choice for Speaker (even offering himself as an option), and a shrinking but vocal number of other high profile candidates. On the Democratic side, while President Biden is the clear favorite for the nomination, his low approval ratings and concern over his age result in continued talk of others stepping into the race in order to ensure a Democratic win in 2024.

All of this makes one thing clear: in American politics, any and all leadership is tenuous at best. Even the most popular leaders are subject to removal by election, party revolt, scandal, or health matters.

For Christians serving and leading in Washington, and participating in the larger public square, it is imperative to remember that the leader (and servant) of the coming kingdom is unchallenged, and his hold on power is irrevocable. Jesus Christ is seated firmly at the right hand of God the Father and is already ruling over all creation. There is no other.

This truth is made clear in the first chapter of the sermon recorded for us as the Letter to the Hebrews. The unwavering leadership of Jesus was the necessary starting place for this sermon that sought to encourage new believers in the early church. Those believers, like us, faced numerous issues, including a lack of political agency.

1 Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, 2 but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world. 3 He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, 4 having become as much superior to angels as the name he has inherited is more excellent than theirs.

5 For to which of the angels did God ever say,
“You are my Son,
today I have begotten you”?

Or again,
“I will be to him a father,
and he shall be to me a son”?

6 And again, when he brings the firstborn into the world, he says,
“Let all God’s angels worship him.”
7 Of the angels he says,
“He makes his angels winds,
and his ministers a flame of fire.”
8 But of the Son he says,
“Your throne, O God, is forever and ever,
the scepter of uprightness is the scepter of your kingdom.

9 You have loved righteousness and hated wickedness;
therefore God, your God, has anointed you
with the oil of gladness beyond your companions.”

10 And,
“You, Lord, laid the foundation of the earth in the beginning,
and the heavens are the work of your hands;
11 they will perish, but you remain;
they will all wear out like a garment,
12 like a robe you will roll them up,
like a garment they will be changed.
But you are the same,
and your years will have no end.”

13 And to which of the angels has he ever said,
“Sit at my right hand, until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet”? Hebrews 1:1-13

The answer to all of the questions posed by the pastor in the opening of his dialogical sermon is the same - no one! Jesus stands alone. He makes no concessions to hold on to his power, yet he offered himself as the penalty for sin for us all. Jesus declared that he came "not be served by to serve" and that he was the Son of God. Over and over again, Jesus demonstrated his power by feeding the hungry, healing the sick, calming creation, and welcoming the outcast and marginalized. He is the ultimate servant and leader.

Yet, the words and actions of Jesus led to both the Romans and the Jews plotting to bring a swift end to the growing support for whatever office he was seeking. After his arrest, the circus that was his trial would have been live-streamed on every news outlet worldwide. Penultimately, his political and religious enemies brought his counter-cultural, and some may even say "woke" movement to an end with a humiliating execution. To many, it appeared that the coalition of a small number of religious conservatives was able to partner with their political enemies in the Roman government to remove Jesus from power.

They could not have been more wrong!

The Apostle Peter gives a rousing speech in the opening of the Book of Acts, as he addresses a large crowd in what must have felt like a nominating convention gathering,

22 “Men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a man attested to you by God with mighty works and wonders and signs that God did through him in your midst, as you yourselves know— 23 this Jesus, delivered up according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God, you crucified and killed by the hands of lawless men. 24 God raised him up, loosing the pangs of death, because it was not possible for him to be held by it. 25 For David says concerning him,

“ ‘I saw the Lord always before me,
for he is at my right hand that I may not be shaken;
26 therefore my heart was glad, and my tongue rejoiced;
my flesh also will dwell in hope.
27 For you will not abandon my soul to Hades,
or let your Holy One see corruption.
28 You have made known to me the paths of life;
you will make me full of gladness with your presence.’

29 “Brothers, I may say to you with confidence about the patriarch David that he both died and was buried, and his tomb is with us to this day. 30 Being therefore a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him that he would set one of his descendants on his throne, 31 he foresaw and spoke about the resurrection of the Christ, that he was not abandoned to Hades, nor did his flesh see corruption. 32 This Jesus God raised up, and of that we all are witnesses. 33 Being therefore exalted at the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, he has poured out this that you yourselves are seeing and hearing. 34 For David did not ascend into the heavens, but he himself says,

“ ‘The Lord said to my Lord,
“Sit at my right hand,
35 until I make your enemies your footstool.” ’
36 Let all the house of Israel therefore know for certain that God has made him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom you crucified.” Acts 2:20-36

Peter and the author of Hebrews are saying one thing - Jesus's reign continues now and forever. Regardless of how chaotic the political landscape appears, or is, Jesus is both Lord and Christ!

The difficulty for us, and the reason so many Christians are drawn into the frenzy of political leadership battles, is that Jesus's rule is "already" happening but "not-yet" fully enacted. The theological term for this is "partially-inaugurated eschatology." This means that as long as we live on this side of his return, and amidst the political uncertainty of the world, the fullness of his declaration that he "is making all things new" has not yet reached the final consummation in the New Heavens and New Earth. Nonetheless, Jesus is ruling now and forever.

Since that is the case, perhaps we should match our emotional stability, public square rhetoric, and evangelical witness with the peace that flows from that reality.

Applications for the week

1. How has the former Speaker's removal impacted your thoughts, emotions, and conversation this past week?
2. How does the reality of Jesus' rule help resettle you in a posture of faithful presence in the public square?
3. How can you apply that reality to future responses to the frailty and instability of political leadership?

Last Things...

We are gathering "Pink Spoon Stories!" If you have an anecdote of how living in a posture of faithful presence led to an interaction in which you offered a foretaste of the coming kingdom, which resulted in a memorable outcome, we want to hear it. Please share them with us by sending us an email. Big or small, the Lord God loves them all.

May the Lord bless and keep you!