Originally posted on Facebook on Monday, February 10, 2025.
I have received notes about how I disappointed people with my post about Elon Musk last week. Rather than addressing each one individually—since they share a common theme, and because I believe open, honest discourse is valuable—I have decided to respond here in a single public post.
Most of those who wrote to me, as far as I can tell, did so with sincerity and genuine concern for me and the church. So firstly, thank you. I am deeply appreciative that you cared enough to engage and challenge me. I love you for that. I've prayerfully considered your admonishments and want to respond in earnest.
I've chosen an excerpt from one of these notes that I believe best represents the central theme of the rebuke,
"[Your post] does nothing but stir up division on a matter that is not a cut and dry scenario. […] Does taking such a strong public stance on how you as an individual interpret [Musk's] intentions do anything to edify the body of Christ as a whole?"
It is not my heart to be political. It is not my heart to put my finger on the scale and tilt it in one direction or another. It is my aim to be only concerned with Christ's kingdom. I believe if you remove the lens of political fealty, see me as someone who loves you rather than as an enemy who is opposing your desire, and then examine not only what I've said but how I've lived among you, you'll see that—concerning myself with the business of Christ's kingdom—is what I've done.
Christ's kingdom springs from the heart of men, so I think it fitting to concern ourselves with what hardens hearts to His kingship. And were it not for the church idolatrously deifying politics and political personalities, there would be no occasion to protest. But in that we've been caught bearing these idols in the church—bringing the outside inside—so that they, rather than GOD: The Father, The Word and The Holy Spirit, are made an authority that informs how we relate to each other and the world (when it should be the other way around), it is necessary to make war against this would-be invader.
You say I, "stir up division," and in a way you're right—because in some cases, division is necessary.
"For first of all, when you come together as a church, I hear that there are divisions among you, and in part I believe it. For there must also be factions among you, that those who are approved may be recognized among you."
– 1 Corinthians 11:18-19
Jesus Himself said,
"Do not think that I came to bring peace on earth. I did not come to bring peace but a sword."
– Matthew 10:34
So what's the line [along which division is necessary]?
Christ.
In Christ + something else, the "+ something else" should be vigorously attacked—like T cells against foreign agents in the body—because that "+ something else" obstructs Christ (and consequently His life in us).
"For it is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ."
– 2 Corinthians 4:6
Light.
I get the sense from many Christians that any contention, any deviation (not from Christ but) from earthly and cultural power structures that attempt to entrench themselves (often as Christ), is "divisive" and destructive. These conflate conformity for unity. Christ is our unifier—the heavenly Bread without any leaven of earthly consideration that is broken over the table of Holy Communion. Communion with God through Christ is what unity looks like, not conformity to cultural or political ideals.
Not all contention is bad. Not all division is destructive. We are soldiers. We are fighting toward communion. And the fight is good (2 Timothy 4:7).
When Jesus said, "Let your light so shine before men" in Matthew 5:16, what do you think He meant by "light"? To say benign, pleasant "spiritual" things that make people feel good but isn't confrontational?
No. Light generally occurs by some form of violence: collision, combustion, chemistry—one thing giving way to another—or, reflection. Even in reflection there is violence. We reflect God. His reflection in our lives results in contrast to the darkness around us. There is a reaction on contact causing a release of power and something submits— darkness yields, thus light.
We are called to violence, the violence of us warring against what hinders communion, the violence of combustion as we burn the things in our lives that don't belong so we can come together, the violence of chemistry as our lives react to the word of God causing agreement and coming together, the violence of reflection that makes us distinct from the world, beckoning others who are drawn by its light so they too can participate in this violence and increase its glow—His glory.
"And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and the violent take it by force."
– Matthew 11:12
But, "we do not wrestle against flesh and blood" (Ephesians 6:12). And, I think you will find upon truthful examination that I never took aim at a person, or at a political party. I took aim at a stronghold, an argument, something that exalted itself against (and obstructed) the knowledge of Christ (2 Corinthians 10:4-6).
I was rightfully warring against an idea that was suggested by a gesture done by a person that Christians are praising. Such an endorsement by Christians implies that God approves, and in many cases I've seen people assert that God ordained it. Were it not for that idolatrous obstruction to the knowledge of Christ and that demonic misrepresentation of God's heart, I would not have been compelled to denounce it.
You say, the matter is not "cut and dry". Does it need to be? If my wife saw some woman whispering in my ear, and was offended at the interaction because she felt it was romantic, is the appropriate response defensiveness and to argue from a position of her wrongness and my rightness? No. That would be disastrous. But what would be even worse, is to say nothing at all. The only appropriate response is to immediately and wholeheartedly declare, "That is not my heart!" And proceed to establish the truth of my love for her, then and only then, explaining the facts of the interaction. This is the spirit of "speaking the truth in love" as we're commanded in Ephesians 4:15.
So, insofar as the gesture suggested hatred, division and oppression, I denounce it and wholeheartedly declare, "That is not God's heart!" And, I now proclaim the love, oneness, and liberty that is in Jesus Christ.
The other front on which I fight is purging the leaven from our love feasts. And this is the division I gladly promote: not dividing the family of God, but dividing my beloved brothers and sisters from the idols that hinder our love. I am not fighting against them, but against the idols they bear in their hands. And I am going to continue to war against them until they're abandoned or destroyed. Communion with God through Christ is our sole pursuit.
"[…] contend earnestly for the faith […] keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life. And on some have compassion, making a distinction; but others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire, hating even the garment defiled by the flesh."
– Jude 1:3,21-23
To your question, "does taking such a strong public stance on how you as an individual interpret one's intentions do anything to edify the body of Christ as a whole?", what it does ultimately remains to be seen but I can tell you that it is my heart to edify the body. I'm fighting toward communion with you in Christ. While it may seem divisive initially, it's actually a call to the body of Christ and an effort to remove the barriers that obstruct our unity in Him. I believe our loving, honest, and respectful dialogue—flowing from a heart given to us by Christ—is deeply edifying to us and glorifying to God.
The fiasco in question is but one scintilla of the countless things the church has allowed to impede our unity. And the answer is not ignoring the issues but making war against every single one—sparks flying with such a fury as we fight toward each other, that the whole world is aglow with our beautiful warfare. We need more of these difficult "divisive" conversations, not less—so we can demonstrate the wonderous power of the Holy Spirit to simultaneously wage war against hell and give us peace with one another (Ephesians 4).
Even if I am wrong, my desire is to please Him and give Him a fervor that can never be accused of being lukewarm.
