Thread by @sometimesalight

Is this the point in the story where the 20-something assistant pastor splits the church b/c he senses God calling him to plant a new party... uh... I mean, church?

Look, I know you come here for measured thoughtfulness but you all are going to have to BEAR WITH ME for a bit.

I know a lot of you work in low church evangelicalism & the patterns & machinations in US politics over last few years have been brutal. You know these dynamics. You've seen them up close & personal.

B/c it's not just about politics & it's not just about the US. It's a larger story about how communities operate & what happens when toxic patterns are excused, bullies tolerated, & the pursuit of power becomes self-justifying.

Having spent my entire adult life serving in community-level orgs--from churches to PTA to rec club--I know these patterns like the back of my hand. You probably do to & that's part of the reason why what's happening politically weighs so heavily.

I'm thinking especially of all the pastors this morning who have spent the last few years trying to maintain a level of political neutrality & keep their eyes on spiritual good while their congregations fragment.

I see you & I see the toll it takes. You know as well as I do that it's not about the "politics." Your concerns are about the real-world effects on people & relationships & congregations & communities.

And anyone who's spent time in community building knows the damage that can be done. You know how fragile unity is is & how easily it breaks. You know how impossible it is to stop fragmentation once it begins. You know b/c you've lived through it.

All that to say, some of you feel the weight of what's happening in US politics at a level that probably doesn't make sense to you. You aren't driven by worldly power. You don't care about parties or elections, & yet you find yourself deeply burdened.

And well you should. Emotional detachment is not the goal. Those who care deeply about the social fabric of our communities, churches, & homes *must* find themselves deeply moved in a moment like this. That's part of what it means to have a pastor's heart.

There is a lot to grieve right now, regardless of how you vote. And I'm not sure I'd trust those who aren't burden by what we've collectively experienced in the last few years.

It's a strange grief, though. A grief that goes beyond politics. Likewise, any hope that we might feel must go beyond politics as well.

Because there is hope. We are people who believe in resurrection. We believe that God triumphs over death even as we walk thru its shadow. We believe that in Christ all is & will be well. We believe this for ourselves, our families, our churches, & our communities.

And it is this hope in resurrection that makes us people who can forgo power-grabs & pursue true goodness. It's this deep, abiding confidence in God & his faithfulness that makes us good neighbors, seeking to be made like our Jesus. Nothing else can get you there.

(PS--I know I'm speaking in large categories & that I risk miscommunication. Feel free to ask for clarification. I'm not suggesting political detachment any more than emotional detachment. I'm trying to validate the weight of this moment for those who've been wary of feeling it.)