These Times Demand Honest Teaching

Like many Christians I have been concerned over the most faithful ways to live as a citizen in a country that seems to be off the rails in several ways. I have long since considered myself a beloved child of God first and foremost, and while my American citizenship certainly informs my identity I do not believe it can ever be my primary identity. For it to be my primary identity would, to me, mean that my baptism into the death and resurrection of Christ makes no sense. Because, after all, I was not baptized into an American identity or that of any nation - but rather a holy kingdom, not made with hands. 

So how do I live faithfully in these times as a disciple of Christ in America, perhaps particularly as a pastor and university professor of Old Testament? For me the answer lies in responding to the reaction of Franklin Graham regarding the recent “travel ban.” While I do admit that quoting Graham as saying “immigration is not a Bible issue” is taking him somewhat out of context (full quote here) the underlying message of what he says displays a lack of engagement with the Bible, particularly on a theological level. As has been pointed out numerous times, one of the main commands throughout the Old Testament/Hebrew Bible is hospitality for and care of the orphan, widow, and sojourner/alien in your midst. Moreover, Graham seems to have an identity crisis by confusing his identity as a child of God (which I believe he most certainly is) with his identity as an American. At the end of the quote he says, “We need to be very careful.” Who is the “we” in this quote? Christians are not called by Jesus to be “very careful” in any passage I can find. They are called to be wise and discerning - but mostly against false prophets and those who would lead them astray from doing the things God calls them to do like showing hospitality for and care of the orphan, widow, and sojourner/alien in your midst. In fact, one of the stories Jesus tells about people who are “very careful” involves a priest and a Levite (two religious professionals) steering clear of a man beaten for dead and lying in a ditch. Their care is not praised, it is condemned as unfaithful. 

Graham’s position confirms a deep fear of mine: even those who have been most exposed to the Bible (as he most certainly has been) seem not to understand much of what it is teaching. And at the same time I am hopeful, because I see more and more of my colleagues and friends - particularly on social media - pointing out that the Bible and theology teaches followers of Christ to love unconditionally. I do believe that the tide is turning from merely hearing the Bible to engaging with it on a critical level, and these are certainly times when honest teaching of the Bible and theology are necessary.

I have a mentor who is a retired pastor. He served faithfully and tirelessly in ministry. After the massacre at Sandy Hook we had coffee together. He lamented the state of the Christian Church and confessed his feelings that he and his peers had not done enough to speak out against racism, sexism, hatred, and fear. He specifically mentioned being a pastor during the Civil Rights Movement and not challenging his congregations more honestly with the teachings of Jesus. He said he felt as though he failed by not teaching more courageously. I disagreed with him and pointed to several examples of his ministry that led others to be more inclusive and loving. Still, it was difficult to see the look in his eyes at that moment. I can’t promise that I won’t feel as though I have failed when my time in ministry comes to an end. But I can promise that I will try as much as possible to share the teachings that challenge us - especially me - to greater and more widespread love and less fear.