January-February 1999
This is No Time for a Party
by Steve Brown
Rarely do I mention political stuff, but it is hard to ignore. It's sort of like trying to ignore an elephant sitting on one's couch in front of the television.
As I write, the nation is engrossed with impeachment hearings. With you, I've been offended with our president's unconscionable actions. I believe President Clinton ought to resign or be impeached. Not only that, I'm concerned with the polls which, as I write, show strong approval of the president's job performance. It seems that the economy is fine and that means everything else is fine. If I have a decent car and a good job, nothing else matters.
That really makes me angry.
But, you see, I'm a citizen of another country where the King was not elected, will rule forever and cannot be impeached. While I love America, I love the other kingdom more, and my concern there is as great or greater than my concern for America. I suspect I couldn't say anything about President Clinton which hasn't been said over and over and over again. So, I'm going to leave that to the politicians and the commentators.
Self Examination
If it is okay with you, I would like to tell you about some of my concerns for the Body of Christ in general and for me in particular. This isn't a sermon from a man who speaks from Sinai. The truth is that I'm more concerned with me and my reactions to the whole Clinton thing than I am with yours. I've examined myself and have wondered about some things. Maybe you have, too.
There was a story in the New York Times about how Tony Campolo and Gordon MacDonald are going to meet regularly with the president. Tony is quoted as saying, "There are those who will say that Gordon and I are being used and manipulated. Should this be true, it would not be the first time that Christians have been taken in. But we would rather be men of faith who believe that God is working in the life of the president, than to join that army of cynics, many of whom are religious leaders, who cannot accept a plea for forgiveness at face value."
| The very essence of the Gospel is that we are sinners and that sinners need a Redeemer. |
While I have some problems with whether or not the president is repentant, I don't know his heart. (I saw a sign the other day which read, "Okay, we forgive you. Now resign!") I would suggest an appropriate sign of genuine repentance would be the president's resignation. I don't want to suggest that I don't recognize the issues involved or that I'm naive about sin and its implicationsbut can we talk?
Values, Morality and Grace
I've noticed how righteous I feel when I think about our president, and, dear friends, as I understand the Bible, that is dangerous for any Christian to feel. Paul said, "If you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don't fall" (I Corinthians 10:12). Paul said, "Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners -- of whom I am the worst" (I Timothy 1:15).
There is a great opportunity for Christians in the trials and tribulations of President Clinton. It gives us a chance to talk about values, morality and, above all, God's grace. The very essence of the Gospel is that we are sinners and that sinners need a Redeemer. When Christians become Pharisees, we violate something very important about our relationship with Christ. By our actions, we lie to the world about the truth of the Gospel.
But do you know what I've thought? I've said to myself, Well, I may be a sinner, but I'm certainly not that bad. When I've felt that, I've noticed the strange silence of God. Then, in his graciousness, he has reminded me that there is no sin of which I'm not capable. He's reminded me about his grace not only in his forgiveness but in his restraining hand keeping me from being as bad as I could be. Mother Teresa used to say, "Bless those who curse you. Think what they would say if they knew the truth."
In other words, it is quite dangerous for a Christian to be right. In fact, we are better off spiritually when we are wrong. Saying, "I told you so," is not a very attractive trait for pagans. For Christians, it can be spiritually devastating.
A Sense of Pathos
I've often asked myself, What would I feel if I found out that President Clinton was very close to the heart of God, that he was truly repentant and that he was really going to walk in God's ways, bearing witness to Christ's power in his life? When I am depressed by that prospect, I know there is something very wrong and sinful going on in my heart.
And then there is one other dangerous thing -- rejoicing in the failure and the fall of another. There is something quite disturbing about those of us who are glad for our president's failure.
After Jim Bakker's fall, Tony Campolo preached a sermon to Christian leaders titled, I am Jim Bakker! In that sermon, he said that when Jim Bakker had his television program, was making a lot of money and was powerful, Christian leaders fell all over themselves to be on his program. That was the time, Tony suggested, when we should have confronted him about his heresy and his sin. But now that he is down, we get in line to kick him. Tony suggested that we had it backwards.
Whatever else we feel about what is going on with the president, we certainly ought to feel a great sense of pathos. Paul wrote, "Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn" (Romans 12:15). When we rejoice at the tears, pain or failure of another, something is terribly wrong.
Justice for All
There is one other thing which bothers me. When President Nixon was being forced into a resignation and a great number of people were rejoicing, the late Eric Hoffer, the "longshoreman philosopher," was being interviewed on a television program about what was going on in Washington. He said he felt sorry for the Democrats and for the enemies of the president.
The reporter interviewing him was quite surprised at the statement. After all, it was the Republicans and President Nixon who were in trouble. Their enemies were victorious. "Why," the reporter asked, "would you say you are sorry for the Democrats?"
Hoffer's answer will haunt you. This is what he said, "Those who crucify always get crucified last."
Yes, justice should be done. God is concerned about justice. The process in Washington must continue. It is important, and righteousness does exalt a nation.
But, dear friend, don't forget about the other kingdom and the King. This is a time for justice but it is not time for a party.
He asked me to remind you.
Steve Brown is a seminary professor in Orlando, Florida. He can be heard in North America on his radio program, Key Life.