Fall Newsletter:
Not Playing Politics

There is much to lament about the current state of American culture (though please don't forget that there is much to celebrate as well!). One of the most lamentable developments: how quickly and sharply topics become politicized.  

It stands to reason that in a two-party system, there will be different political views on a number of concerns. The proper role and structure of government, tax policies, economic philosophies: there will be different political views on these issues because these are political issues. They center on how we understand and view life as a polis, the Greek word for city or society. Politics is the field of understanding how to best organize a gathering of individuals into one society. 

So, some things are political by their very nature. But we live in a time when it feels like everything becomes politicized. For example: climate science isn’t just presented and debated, but it becomes a litmus test for one’s politics. It has become a deeply partisan topic. Each party believes that there is a right view and a wrong view, and that the right view is what my party says and the wrong view is whatever the opposing party proposes. (Click here for an interesting study on that topic – no matter what solution was proposed, Republicans supported it if they thought it was supported by other Republicans and opposed it if they thought it was supported by Democrats... and the same went for the Democrats, just in the opposite direction. The overwhelming majority of participants didn’t care what the proposal was, they cared about who supported it.) 

In this cultural mood of partisanship, aided by the immediacy of social media, many are prepared to engage in partisan battle at all times and in all places . For an even higher number of people the only polite choice seems to be to avoid topics that have become politicized.  

That may indeed be polite and loving in certain settings, but it has one inescapable flaw: some topics are not political. Let me give you a brief list of examples: 

• When human life begins is not a political topic. It may have political implications, but it is not a political topic. A genetic topic? Sure. A biological topic? Certainly. An ethical topic? Absolutely. But not a political one. Life doesn’t start in one way at one time for Democrats and in a different way at a different time for Republicans. Because when life begins is not a political topic. Similarly... 
• A proper understanding of human sexuality is not the realm of politics. Anatomy and physiology? Absolutely. Anthropology? I can see that. Genetics and biology again? You bet. But not politics. Just like... 
• Gender identity and body dysphoria are not political topics. Once again, anatomy and physiology? Genetics and biology? Psychology and sociology? All yes; no question. But not politics. 

Why mention this? Because not only are these areas where other sciences should have priority over politics, but these are areas where there is very clear Biblical instruction. These are areas where religious commitment and understanding not only can shape someone’s views, but religious commitment and understanding must shape everyone’s views. It is both appropriate and inevitable. You cannot separate your theology or worldview from your views on these issues. 

The Bible does not directly advocate a particular political philosophy or economic approach; but the Bible does speak clearly on topics like when human life begins and the value that it is afforded (see Genesis 1 and 9, Psalms 8 and 139, Luke 1, and James 3), God’s design for human sexuality (Genesis 2, Matthew 19, I Corinthians 6, Ephesians 5), and how to understand and address gender issues (Genesis 1 [again] and 2, Psalms 8 and 139 [again], Ephesians 4, Colossians 3, I Peter 3). These are not political topics, they are spiritual, ethical, and religious topics. 

When we enter these discussions with the mindset that we are in the political arena, girding for a partisan battle, we are already on the wrong footing. More common, however (and perhaps worse) is when, out of politeness, we refuse to speak on such issues at all. Then we are refusing to speak as God has commanded us (which is warned against in Ezekiel 3); we are refusing to speak the Word that God has given us to teach, rebuke, correct, and train in righteousness (2 Tim 3:16); we are failing to deliver the only Word that can give abundant and eternal life (John 6:68 and 10:10).

We are instructed in Ephesians 4:15 that growing into the mature body of Christ requires that we speak the truth in love. That first requires loving. And then that requires speaking. When we speak Biblically on these topics, it's not an example of the Church playing politics... it is an example of politics encroaching on the Church’s proper role. That role is to rightly handle the Word of truth (2 Timothy 2:15), to preach God’s Word to His children and to a world in desperate need of His love and His truth (2 Timothy 4:2).  

Rejoicing in Christ's love and truth, 
Pastor Rob Morris 
 

Pastor Rob Morris

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​Pastor Rob Morris is celebrating his eighth year of serving at Christ the King Lutheran Church. He was ordained into the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod after a colloquy process that involved one semester of classwork at Concordia Theological Seminary in Fort  Wayne, Indiana and a supervised vicarage here at Christ the King.  His previous training included both a Master of Divinity and a Master of Arts in Biblical Languages from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary in S. Hamilton, MA, where he also served as a Teacher’s Assistant leading classwork for both the Greek and Hebrew departments.

Before his call to Christ the King, Pastor Morris served as a full-time staff member at Our Savior Lutheran Church in Topsfield, MA, focusing on both the youth and worship ministries. Going even further back, Pastor Rob’s background was in software sales and his undergraduate work was in business and organizational behavior.

Pastor Morris is joyfully married to his high school sweetheart, Christy, and July 2019 marks their 17th wedding anniversary. They have been entrusted with two wonderful boys: Elijah, 13, and Isaiah, 10.  As a family, they love to hike, bike, kayak, explore, read, and play music together. 

In his free time, Pastor Morris loves reading, playing music on a growing number of instruments, biking, camping, woodworking, and working on old trucks – currently an old Ford and an even older Studebaker. 

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