Oh no, I’ve said too much…
As a teenager and young adult, I was an avid fan of the post-punk/alternative rock genre, and I discovered REM in the mid eighties. I used to blast them in my car on my morning drive to High School, and then again on my drive home. Radio Free Europe. The One I Love. It’s the End of the World as We Know It (And I Feel Fine). All great songs.
Tell me you aren’t singing along right now!
Then in 1991 the band released the album Automatic For The People, which included the song Losing My Religion. As a committed believer (and by that time, a youth pastor) I wasn’t quite sure what to think about that one.
The lyrics included: “That’s me in the corner. That’s me in the spotlight, losing my religion. Trying to keep up with you, and I don’t know if I can do it. Oh no I’ve said too much; I haven’t said enough”
I may not be losing my religion, but I resonate with that last line. This week when I read Russell Moore’s book Losing Our Religion: An Altar Call for Evangelical America, I kept thinking that sometimes I say too much about how US Evangelicals should respond to political and cultural issues…and that other times I haven’t said nearly enough.
In his book Moore says much. He considers and challenges the state of Evangelical Christianity in America. As an American, an Evangelical, and a leader of Evangelicals, this book was talking to me. Repeatedly Moore challenged his evangelical readers to re-examine what living an authentic faith in the midst of our culture looks like, and to put that faith above any potential for personal or political power.
I want to say up front that I agreed with much of his thesis. It’s the tension I’ve been living in for the last few years: In my estimation, too many American Evangelical Christians have become far too enmeshed with politics and culture wars. They (we) have become so aligned with political and cultural power, it’s watered down our commitment to, and witness of, the values, mission and aim of the gospel.
And besides, according to Moore (and I agree), the culture wars are over. And “we” didn’t come out on top. But I think we might find that’s a good thing. Because maybe it will make space for believers to live and act out a countercultural narrative of surrendered-to-Jesus and changed lives, as we largely give up the fight to codify laws that unredeemed hearts are unlikely to follow.
The book struck what I felt was a healthy moderate middle ground that is Kingdom focused and not filtered so much through right or left. In that respect if seemed like a good companion to Michael Bird and N.T. Wright’s book, Jesus and the Powers that we read recently. And, I thought it provided a nice contrast to both Matthew Petrusek’s Evangelization and Ideology on the right and Jim Wallis’ God’s Politics on the left (though to be clear, I’m happy we read all of those books that I believe are written from godly and sincere, though different, perspectives.)
In the end, I do believe that having an opinion about good political policy is good—even when voicing strong opinions about what you think is best and what invites the most justice for both the US government and our culture. However we need to remember that the church has thrived in good and bad times, with and without power, and in great freedom and under significant persecution.
So maybe, if we are primarily concerned with the Gospel and God’s Kingdom, we would do well to not make political opinion, even our most strongly held opinions, the most important thing about our lives.
I think this is what Moore was getting at. People don’t get saved because Evangelicals gain political or cultural power, or because they “own the liberals” in the polls; they are changed by the transformative power of Jesus.
Our testimony isn’t found in our electoral victories over the opposite side, it is found in the victory over sin and death on the cross.
Moore understands that if we’re going to provide a genuine witness to the world that we must put the gospel first, before any political or cultural associations we might hold.
I preach this message to my church. Tying to provide Christian formation in ways that help people grasp their primary citizenship is heavenly, and that their US passport is only temporary.
Some folks in my church think I say too much. I fear that often, I haven’t said enough.
About the Author
Tim Clark
I'm on a lifelong journey of discovering the person God has created me to be and aligning that with the purpose God has created me for. I've been pressing hard after Jesus for 40 years, and I currently serve Him as the lead pastor of vision and voice at The Church On The Way in Los Angeles. I live with my wife and 3 kids in Burbank California.20 responses to “Oh no, I’ve said too much…”
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I am singing it right now. Ha, ha!!! It was (is) one of my favorite REM songs.
A loud AMEN from MI. . . Did you hear it? We are aliens here (not an excuse to withdraw but live from the hope that we have. . . kingdom living). In what ways do you think we have forgotten the transformative power of Jesus Christ?
I heard the AMEN all the way in Los Angeles, Cathy!
I think we forget the transformative power of Jesus when like Peter we decide to “pick up the sword” in defense of Jesus, who tells Peter to put it back, that He can take care of Himself and in fact can call on 185 thousand angels (12 legions) to handle what is needed. 🙂
Yes, thank you for this post! And thank you for using your voice to remind your congregation that our ultimate allegiance is to Jesus and the gospel message! I’m curious if you have found additional platforms, aside from the church’s pulpit, to share this impactful message?
Kim, thanks. we’ve played with a podcast, too, and I write a monthly email to the church, and use social media. In this season I’ve used all of the above to point people this direction.
If you’re at all interested in seeing any of it…
Sermon: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zZepBsEMXR8
Podcast: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EMZpNiZeitk
Thank you, Tim. I watched both videos and I’m so glad I did. I’m encouraged to hear your message and your heart comes through so clearly. Blessings to you!
Hi Tim,
A punker huh?, I should have seen the signs.
Too much, too little? I too have this tension in my life. Just came back from LA for my mom’s 90th Birthday. Surrounded by unbelievers I was given the tip of the hat, when they asked me to say grace.
That is all I got. Sigh…the coming months waiting for her to pass is filled with dread for those in my family who have no faith. Double sigh….
While visiting in Texas, I was surrounded by those who believe in the “orange Jesus = Donald Trump.” There were t-shirts saying “I am voting for the felon.”
Wow. Little critical thinking going on here!
But then, my hearkened back to the political tensions I have with my GoodSports Hungary staff. Most have bought in on Prime Minister Viktor Orban’s stand on Christian morals/values PLUS his pro Putin and Anti Ukrainian stance. I gather republicans LOVE Orban and his autocratic approach to government.
Sigh…in both countries the Christian platform has been hijacked by charismatic politicians. Propaganda abounds and so many that I love (both in Hungary, Slovakia and Texas) have fallen for it hook, line and sinker.
Satan must be giggling somewhere. Christianity equals crazy talk.
Sigh.
Time for a change YUP, and it must come from INSIDE the church.
Shalom…
I’m sorry about your mom. God bless you in this season.
Yes, change must come from inside the Church. I’m reminded that revival ALWAYS starts with the church repenting before a harvest can happen in the culture.
And yes, I was a punk rocker…You should see the pictures 🙂
Great post — and I also loved much of REM’s music, though I was a later adopter. Living in Atlanta, I wish the city that REM came out of — Athens, GA — along with producing other bands of their era like the B-52’s, would produce the kind of creative endeavors that seemed more prominent in the 1980s. Or, perhaps Athens is doing so and I’m just old and not paying attention. But I digress.
You said that you are “trying to provide Christian formation in ways that help people grasp their primary citizenship is heavenly, and that their US passport is only temporary.” That sort of equipping is SO crucial, especially now (and it probably has been but the American Church has mixed reviews on how well it’s leaders have “equipped the saints for the work of the ministry”). Your statement made me think of something I read years ago in a church planting manual by Tim Keller and Alan Thompson: “Saint Augustine believed that citizenship in the City of God made us the very best citizens of the human city.”
Great post, Tim.
Thanks my friend. I love that quote (“Saint Augustine believed that citizenship in the City of God made us the very best citizens of the human city.”)
And I think I still have that manual or one like it by Keller (I’m a 2-time church planter!)
We have a disproportionate number of immigrants in our church so whenever I talk about politics I have to say “for those who are US Citizens” and then I get to talk about where your passport is from and remind people that the citizenship that supercedes whatever our passport says is the Kingdom of God.
But yes, whether we are citizens or simply residents (in my church, some documented, many undocumented) it should make us be redemptive influences wherever we live.
Tim,
Your post made me think of a comment I hear often, “Everything is political.” And then, it’s usually followed up with something like, “Jesus was political. His message was political. What he did on the cross was political. Even his resurrection was political.” And I think I understand and even appreciate what they are saying. It certainly makes me think.
You write, “So maybe, if we are primarily concerned with the Gospel and God’s Kingdom, we would do well to not make political opinion, even our most strongly held opinions, the most important thing about our lives.” And I agree. I think. (Honestly, I am trying to process all of this so I’m not exactly sure what I think yet.) But your statement begs the question, aren’t the Gospel and God’s Kingdom political? I don’t mean they are Democratic or Republican. But if the Kingdom of God is a just kingdom (even the very word, “Kingdom” is a political word), then politics have to be just.
In a blog post that I found the author writes, “Politics is all around us. It’s a tool we use to understand and address problems, it’s how we measure right and wrong, what we deem to be moral and immoral, how we think about issues and challenges facing us individually and collectively. You cannot argue that politics is separate to humanity and human experience, when it is a system made by humanity, for humanity.
And here’s the greatest irony – the people who don’t realise how political everything is, those are the most political amongst us. Because to be blessed with the privilege to move through the world without having to think about politics means that it’s working perfectly for you.” I think the author is correct – though again, I don’t think it is a bipartisan sort of thing as both political parties are flawed.
I don’t know and certainly don’t have any answers but your blog post was definitely thought provoking! Thank you!
Link to blog post quoted in my comment: https://www.theblackproject.net/opinion-resources/like-it-or-not-everything-is-political
Jumping into this thread:
1) You DEFINITELY should get credit for all four comments!
2) To further dig into your question, I would love a definition of what it means to be “political” in a church context. Is it just to care and be aware of what is going on in government? How can we as Christians not care about what impacts our world? Or, is there a different definition?
3) For consideration, but maybe off topic: I was recently introduced to Shirley Mullen who wrote Claiming the Courageous Middle: Daring to Live and Work Together for a More Hopeful Future. Her work makes a compelling case for finding a way to build bridges amongst the polarization- not a shocker that I would be taken in by that thought. Also seems to fit in with the work you have done in your congregation and community, Kally.
4) Dang- I could have made this into four comments… teach me your ways, Kally!
So yeah, I think as Christians we must care about our world and since politics impacts most things, we should care about politics. That’s where I have some overlap with the Catholic Moral Theology of Petrusek; though I don’t agree with all his political implications I appreciate that we should care about these things because they impact people.
But, at the end of the day, we shouldn’t make politics into an ideology that turns into idolatry. For instance, I’m not a gun guy. I’d be happy if we repealed the second amendment and I think there is a lot of damage guns do, especially to kids. I think we’d be a better nation without the kind of unfettered access that exists. And I’m willing to vote on that and voice that in the desire to see change. However, I serve and minister to people who fully disagreee, own guns, and have thier own rationale for why that’s important. Though I may disagree with them, I can’t elevate the politics of that to a place where I can’t present the gospel and welcome them into God’s family while owning a gun.
That’s just an example of what I’m talking about. Politics are important, but if they were everything, Paul probably wouldn’t have been able to see conversions among Roman Soldiers and political households.
Thanks, Kally, that response was thought-provoking.
What I should have written is that we should try to not make “partisan politics” the main thing. Because while everything may not be political, political reality touches everything.
I’m not suggesting that we shouldn’t be involved in or care about politics because politics matter, because policy matters because people matter, and people are helped or hurt by good or bad policy.
What I’m suggesting (and I think Moore is) is that elevating our idea of what is the right solution above caring about and loving the peole those solutions should effect, is getting it all backwards.
Because while human/partisan politics matter, they are only penultimate, at best. Our world will only fully and finally be transformed by the presence of the King and the fullness of his Kingdom.
Also, when thinking this all through I typed into google, “Is everything political” and this blog post was the first thing that popped up.
And one more question: Do my two replies to my own comment count as two of my eight weekly replies? If so, I am done for the week!
I’m not in charge, but I’m gonna say “yes”
Something in my heart of hearts told me to NOT write this blog around the REM song, and that I was to leave it to YOU, David Timothy Clark.
You are the true post-punk/alternative kid. I was the Petra/Carman wanna-be that snuck it in when my parents weren’t around.
Great post!
Thanks!
And at least you can still be praying for Revival In the Land as you Get On Your Knees and Fight Like a Man while you are Standing in the Gap for America again so that Satan Bites the Dust and we can come out Champions.
I love REM and this song. I think as a young evangelical there is something in me drawn to the lyrics of this song, and Madonna’s Papa Don’t Preach, etc. What a difficult calling it is to be in the Gospel spotlight! I’m sure you often do say too much and often don’t say enough. I think this is true for us all. It takes courage to push others into those spaces none of us want to go. I feel so many go to church because they want to feel hope and feel good and being called to “change” is a difficult one. I also think so many don’t go to church because they want to feel hope and feel good. What a paradox! Great Post Tim! Other than the Bible, what other “sources” do you synthesis when deciding what to say? Favorite commentaries? Authors? Podcasts? Who speaks to your heart Tim even if it’s not something you can say “yet” in the spotlight?