It has been a crazy week (January 20-26, 2025) not only in the political world but also in the faith world. I want to take this opportunity, to tell you why I don’t make political statements or endorse political leaders either here in the pulpit or on Facebook. I am roundly criticized by both colleagues and church members for not doing so. It’s not because it’s not important or that I don’t have opinions about it. I do. I am passionate about these things. I am not shy about talking about it at home or with my family. My extended family doesn’t all agree and sometimes we get into lively arguments. But we love each other and so at the end of the day, politics will not affect our relationships.
I’m also not afraid to share what I believe or to speak the truth in love. If you want to ask me a specific question about what I believe to be true, I’ll answer. I am well aware it could cost me members, friendships, and even my job because of the current political climate. I don’t understand how this became our reality today. If my convictions cause the loss of friendships or employment, I will be sad, but I will shake the dust off my shoes and move on. I much prefer to speak about theology than politics. That is my area of expertise, my passion, and my calling.
I don’t endorse or denounce political leaders for the following reasons:
- I have and continue to serve as pastor to republicans and democrats, libertarians, green party members, you name it. I love you all, as I have vowed to do. If I denounce your candidate, you may assume I don’t love you and that is not acceptable to me. You may think that I will not care for you or help you or value your gifts. Nothing could be farther from the truth. I love you. It’s not weak or a lack of principles. It’s my calling to love and care for my whole flock.
- Facebook, or any other social media site, is not the place to have these conversations, so removed from other people, so unaccountable to who we hurt, so full of misinformation. These conversations need to be held in person, eyeball to eyeball, in an atmosphere of love and respect.
- As important as the political process is I follow Jesus, not a political leader. I won’t follow an influencer, or pop psychologist, or cultural icon. My allegiance is not to any religious leader. It is to Jesus alone I owe everything. It is to Him only that I have pledged my soul, my life, my all.
- Jesus loves even my political enemies. And his love is the only thing that can or will change them. Not name calling or insults. Not threats or persecution. The love of Christ is the most powerful force in the universe. I will proclaim the love of Christ for all people with my words and actions, to the best of my ability, until my dying breath. Yes, this has profound political implications. We each must work those out.
Therefore, in 2025 I will strive to keep building on our progress toward our 2030 Vision: To celebrate and proclaim the all-encompassing love of Jesus Christ for everyone. We do this as a church not only with words, but with actions, which speak louder than words. Our actions must imitate and follow Jesus, whose agenda we heard in Luke 4:18 today: good news, release, sight, and freedom; Who said blessed are the poor and the peacemakers, the meek and merciful; Who said that whatever we do to the least of these our brothers and sisters, we do to him; Who said, love your neighbor without qualification. Jesus insisted we love even our enemies. This is not weak. It is the hardest thing we are ever called to do.
We will spend Lent this year focusing on The Red Words in our Bible, those words Jesus spoke, and measure ourselves and our church with them. It will be uncomfortable because nobody measures up 100%, but Jesus speaks these words with both conviction and kindness and by the power of the Holy Spirit they will work to change us from the inside out, until we conform to the will of God.
Let’s do this together, Grace family, and we will become the church Christ is calling us to be.
Pastor Tracey