Christianity, at its core, is about love of neighbor. But really, what does that mean? In our increasingly divisive country, that can feel challenging if not downright impossible. And if you find yourself confused about what Christianity and the teachings of Jesus say (and don’t say) about some of the pressing issues facing our country today, you are not alone!
Part of today’s confusion is due to some very sophisticated and deliberate attempts to reframe and redefine Christianity in ways that isn’t liberal or conservative ideology, it’s extreme. It’s also slick and convincing. No wonder so many of us are having a hard time figuring out “what Jesus would do.”
But slick and convincing doesn’t mean it’s true or true to Christianity. So we decided to try to cut through the bluster and get to what Christianity actually says about key issues in this most consequential election, at a time when we all could use some insight and good gospel guidance. Tapping into a wide range of sources and expertise, we boiled it all down to help each of us find our own clarity in our messy world. (Each issue summary is a 3-4 minute read.)
Why did we do this? Because no matter our politics, Christians do want to make informed choices in ways that align with our values and preserve the security of our families, freedoms, faith, and our futures. For those who think the church “shouldn’t get political,” Jesus was political, so is the church, and so is your vote. So let’s not let anyone dictate our thoughts before we think them for ourselves.
We start with some sage advice. Walter Brueggemann is one of the world’s most influential Bible scholars and author of more than 100 books. He notes the Bible contains many lessons, and we are meant to take away the best of its wisdom. But it also contains all sorts of voices contrary to the Gospel’s message of love, mercy, and justice, and a purely literal interpretation, warns Brueggemann, “is a dangerous threat to the faith of the church.”
We invite you to learn more about climate change, immigration, reproductive health, Christian nationalism, economy, race, guns, LGBT, and a “final thought” on Christian leadership.
