A recent survey found that Americans agree our democracy is in peril. What is the threat to our democracy? In short: them. And how do we fix democracy? Doing whatever it takes, even if it means bending the rules (or, as the poll creatively posed, “going outside of existing rules”—how many parents would accept that excuse from their kids!).[i]
The one thing both sides of the political aisle apparently agree on is that the ends justify the means. As long as their side wins, how they achieve that perceived good involves the deployment of questionable ethics.
In Dan Campbell’s first press conference as head coach of the Detroit Lions, he said, “We’re gonna kick you in the teeth, and when you punch us back we’re gonna smile at you, and when you knock us down we’re going to get up, and on the way, we’re going to bite a kneecap off.”[ii] Many laughed at the ridiculous overstatement. It strikes me that you could put Campbell’s words in the mouth of many of today’s politicians, who don’t bat an eyelash at biting their opponents’ kneecaps. In the Arizona primaries, Democrats outside of Arizona dumped thousands of dollars of donations into Republican primaries (you read that right—Republican) to get weaker candidates to represent the Republican party.[iii]
Christians cannot be political pragmatists. No matter how much we believe in the issues of conscience that direct our votes, the ends can’t justify the means. We must speak the truth in love. We must be charitable and wise. We cannot be deceptive.
Somehow, I ended up on a local politician’s email list. This Republican has run a campaign touting their Christian bona fides and yet has distorted the truth, spoken without charity, and intentionally provoked fear. In other words, they’ve followed the playbook of virtually every contemporary American politician. Below is an email I received from this politician. I’ve changed the details to protect the guilty but kept the message intact. Listen to the tone.
Hello John,
There are just 48 hours until the last end of quarter deadline of the cycle. We have made progress, but we still need to raise $X to crush my opponent.
My opponent is above all else a fraud. He is a failed and disgraced public employee– back when he was supposed to be running the elections in X County. His actions led to the terrible discrepancies that we saw in the X County Audit.
My opponent is a criminal. In our recent debate, he was shocked speechless when I told him that he is a criminal!
My opponent is unhinged. Back in 2017 people were already complaining about his work. He insulted someone who complained, attacking the voter’s mother and telling him to “go F- yourself.”
Unhinged. Criminal. Fraudster.
That is who I am up against in this election for X. If he wins, it will be an unmitigated disaster.
This is why we have to raise $X to hit our end-of-quarter deadline. If we do not, then THIS is the man who will be running X in 2024.
We are on the verge of a great victory, but right now the Democrats are dumping millions to try and take me down and install their puppet. Please help me stop that from happening!
I need your help within the next 24 hours to help reach our goal!
Thank you for your support!
God Bless,
X
Jesus says, “Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your father who is in heaven” (Lk 5:44-45). Outside the radical work of Christ in us, we say, “they are frauds, criminals, and unhinged.” May we repent of our fear and hateful words. May we repent of being those who misrepresent fellow image bearers of our holy and compassionate God.
Our world will always justify the ends and demonize their enemies. But we don’t have to take the bait of the world. Our first citizenship is in heaven. And we have nothing to fear in this world. The King of Kings is on his throne and he will return soon. [DC7]
I encourage you to vote. Vote wisely. Vote in line with your convictions. But do not vote out of fear, and do not stoop to the methods of this world.
While we pray, “Come, Lord, quickly,” let us act with trust in our great King. Let us season our political engagement with grace and not waiver from [DC8] integrity[DC9] .
[i] https://www.nytimes.com/2022/10/18/us/politics/midterm-election-voters-democracy-poll.html
[ii] https://www.sportingnews.com/us/nfl/news/dan-campbell-quotes-lions-coach-kneecaps-turds/11jpbs9cagjap1krvutmpnz2xo
[iii] https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2022-election/trump-backed-kari-lake-gets-hand-unlikely-source-arizona-democrats-rcna38084
[DC1]First off, I love the title!
[DC2]It just sounded funny with another “that” 3 words earlier.
[DC3]Is this coming from the survey? If so, maybe you could say “According to the survey, one aspect both sides of the political aisle agree upon is that the ends justify the means.”
[DC4]In case your readers think you’re biased (and you may not care if they do), would you also want to site an example of how Republicans fought dirty? I’m a Conservative so it doesn’t bother me lol, but thin skinned Christian dems might take umbrage here that you’re being unfair. I’m trying to be sensitive to both sides.
[DC5]I connect the word politician to selfish ambition. Do you think referencing James 3:14-18 in this paragraph might be helpful so that your readers know to be suspicious of politicians that show signs of selfish ambition as that is “earthly, natural, demonic” (vs 15) while looking for those that display “the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, reasonable, full of mercy and good fruits, unwavering, without hypocrisy.” (vs 17). Or maybe this would go better in its own paragraph after the email. And then go into the paragraph Jesus says love your enemies, etc.
You may also appreciate:
Top 5 Reasons Why Christians Should Vote
Photo by Element5 Digital on Unsplash
[i] https://www.nytimes.com/2022/10/18/us/politics/midterm-election-voters-democracy-poll.html
[ii] https://www.sportingnews.com/us/nfl/news/dan-campbell-quotes-lions-coach-kneecaps-turds/11jpbs9cagjap1krvutmpnz2xo
[iii] https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2022-election/trump-backed-kari-lake-gets-hand-unlikely-source-arizona-democrats-rcna38084