It’s October 31, 2020. Reformation Day.
Four days before the 2020 American presidential election.
This is an open letter to the church of which I have been appointed as a shepherd. 

A Plea to my fellow Jesus people of GBC,

I don’t know about you, but my head is spinning. There have been an unbelievable number of articles, posts, blogs, videos, news reports, sermons, podcasts and various other kinds of media that have been populating our news feeds and dominating our conversations for the past few months, all surrounding the upcoming election. Many trusted Bible teachers and evangelical leaders have voiced their thoughts in an attempt to help people think through the issues at hand. I am grateful for their perspective and willingness to speak in such tumultuous times. 

It’s not like we need another article thrown into the mix. I don’t pretend to bring some new revelation to the discussion. But I have thought and prayed alot about this. I’ve watched over the last few weeks as well-known evangelical leaders have weighed in. I’ve read the articles by Platt, Mohler, Piper, Brown, Grudem, Carter, Storms and others and watched as they’ve been shared back and forth and in some cases used as ammunition to fire at fellow church members. As far as those prominent evangelical leaders, I will not give an account for how those men use their influence. But I, along with the other leaders of Grace Bible Church, will give an account to God for how we lead and shepherd in our local flock. For that reason, I am compelled to write, not an article, but a letter to those of you that comprise Grace Bible Church in Hollidaysburg, Pa. 

While many Americans have already voted, many millions more have yet to cast their vote. This is not a plea for who you should vote for, but rather a plea to consider how our actions reflect who we give our primary allegiance to.

I sit here writing this letter deeply troubled by much of what I have observed over the past few months, both inside and outside of our church. Outside of the church, it seems like fear and anxiety have given way to anarchy and chaos. In general, the sky is falling. The desire for control and lust for power dominates many of our political figures. The LGBTQ revolution is in full swing. Marriage is under attack. Gender is fluid. Racism and prejudice run rampant. Unborn babies are murdered daily. I don’t write those words lightly. They are an indication of the perilous times in which we have been appointed to live and be the church.

But inside our church, I see perhaps an even bigger concern, which mostly occasions the writing of this letter.

I see the potential for incredible division and the fracturing of our gospel witness.

Out of love for our church, and you as part of that church, I feel the need to warn us to guard our hearts. I am broken over the intense hurt that comes when we speak harshly and assume we know motives or someone else’s story without a conversation. There is more at stake here than conservative policies and religious liberty. Those are temporal concerns in our specific American culture. But there are souls hanging in the balance who are watching how we treat each other in the church and vilify our enemies outside the church. I’m not talking about the watching world, although an argument can and should be made for that. I’m primarily referring to the next generation that we have been given specific responsibility to disciple, both as parents individually and collectively as the church. Our kids are watching and learning how we love and honor each other, or hate and dishonor each other, both inside and outside of our church. 

I see the potential for incredible division and the fracturing of our gospel witness.

Now, I’m not suggesting we look the other way when it comes to issues like marriage, sexuality, abortion, or racism. These are also issues that have eternal consequences and for which souls are hanging in the balance. These are issues that we are compelled to stand for based on our faith in Jesus.

We must uphold the biblical definition of marriage as one man and one woman. We must affirm the biblical teaching that there are only two genders—male and female. We must abhor abortion and call it what it is—murderous genocide. We must battle against racism in our own hearts and in the society around us. On these things, and many others, we must not compromise.

But in our zeal to stand for these issues, and we should stand for these issues, I fear we may have honed in on this election in such a way that we have given ourselves a pass on other clear biblical commands. 

While I am grateful for the freedoms that we enjoy in America, preserving this country and those freedoms is not our ultimate goal. Some will say it’s a noble goal to preserve these freedoms, and I tend to agree, but it is not our ultimate goal. We are not commanded to preserve America at all costs, but we are commanded to “walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which [we] have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.” (Ephesians 4:1-3). God does not need America to advance his kingdom. The church will prevail regardless of who is elected or who wields governmental authority.

Our greatest apologetic for this heavenly kingdom is not our pro-life stance, but our life together as the church.

We are citizens of another kingdom (Philippians 3:20) who are sojourners and exiles in this world (1 Peter 2:11-12). Our primary concern is the glory of God through the spread of the gospel to all nations, and our allegiance is not first and foremost to America and its policies, but to King Jesus.  Our allegiance is to a greater king, whose kingdom cannot be thwarted and whose reign will be perfectly just and good. This is the kingdom to which we invite others to join. Our greatest apologetic for this heavenly kingdom is not our pro-life stance, but our life together as the church. That apologetic is compromised when we quickly judge others and assume motives.

As an embassy of the heavenly kingdom, we collectively represent a picture of the gospel when we love each other despite our differences and unify around the gospel, not a particular political party. To be clear, we should not set aside clear biblical differences for the sake of unity. That wouldn’t be biblical unity at all. We should, however, form our unity around the gospel and its implications, and not on matters of conscience in how we apply those implications. For example, opposition to abortion is not the gospel. It’s an implication of belief in the gospel, yes, but particular ways of opposing abortion (i.e. voting) are matters of conscience. We must guard against fracturing our witness for matters of conscience, and also guard against going beyond what Scripture says is required for unity around the gospel and its implications.

As Paul writes to Timothy he urges him to “guard the good deposit” that has been entrusted to him by the Holy Spirit (1 Timothy 1:14). This “good deposit” is the truth of the gospel, the good news about who God is and what he has done for us through Jesus. I would like to draw out three unequivocally clear biblical commands that we must not ignore now, or in the coming weeks, as members of Jesus’ church. No country or election, regardless of what is at stake, allows us to ignore these clear biblical commands.

We must love our enemies, and pray for those who persecute us (Matthew 5:43-48). In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus is raising the level of every discussion, as he explains that God is always after our hearts. Outward obedience, in the absence of a heart wholly devoted to God, is empty. He says that even the horrid tax collectors love those who love them in return. Gospel love is distinct in that it flows from Jesus to even our enemies. Even those who we adamantly disagree with. And we pray for them. When is the last time we have prayed for the salvation of those who don’t know Jesus who are running for office?

Matthew 5:43-48 (ESV)
“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? And if you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.

We must honor everyone and respect those in positions of leadership, regardless of their political views or sinful lives (1 Peter 2:13-17). In admonishing his readers, Peter reminds them to honor everyone. Not just some people. Not just people that we like or agree with. Everyone. And as far as those who are in authority over us, such as Governor Wolf, we are subject to them as much as we can be as we follow Jesus. Peter is writing to Christians who are living in the shadow of the Roman Empire. Certainly those Caesars were not worthy of respect and honor, except Peter (and Jesus) say that they are because of their position. Honor doesn’t mean agreement, but it does mean not vilifying or bad-mouthing those in authority over us.

1 Peter 2:13-17 (ESV)
Be subject for the Lord’s sake to every human institution, whether it be to the emperor as supreme, or to governors as sent by him to punish those who do evil and to praise those who do good. For this is the will of God, that by doing good you should put to silence the ignorance of foolish people. Live as people who are free, not using your freedom as a cover-up for evil, but living as servants of God. Honor everyone. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the emperor.

We must maintain unity in the church by loving those who have covenanted together with us to follow Jesus (Ephesians 4:1-3). As followers of King Jesus, we have the responsibility to love those who are fellow citizens of that heavenly kingdom, specifically those who we have committed to in our local church. And not just to love each other, but to do so in a way that is humble and gentle. Rest assured this will try our patience, and reveal our selfishness, but that is part of how God shapes his church to reflect his image.

Ephesians 4:1-3 (ESV)
I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

Our primary concern should not be whether we are red or blue. Republican or Democrat. Trump or Biden. Our political affiliations are not what binds us together as a church, but they certainly can be what divides us in the coming weeks. As the church, we have a responsibility to each other, both to guard the gospel and to look out for each other. The gospel is what unites us. Our allegiance is to King Jesus and his kingdom. We must concern ourselves with the discipling of the other members of our church. This is not just a job for the leaders. This is an every-member job.

Have we considered that the things we post on social media, and the tenacity with which we support our particular candidate can actually prevent us from fulfilling our covenant obligations to our fellow church members? What about when we post things that could alienate (perhaps unknowingly) the person sitting down the row from us on any given Sunday?

These are things that could very well shut down any conversation that could have happened, thereby preventing any kind of relational discipling from taking place. We don’t have the luxury of posting whatever we want and not having it affect our relationships within the church. Everything we say, whether in person or on social media, has the potential to unite us or divide us. Jesus didn’t design the substance of our interactions to be behind a screen. Our love and care for each other is expressed best through face-to-face humble interaction.

I am praying this for us today…

Ephesians 3:14-21 (ESV)
For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.

May the Spirit unite us around the glorious gospel of the grace of God as revealed in Jesus.

I love you, Grace Bible Church!

Pastor Bryan