The Theology of Fishes: Legalism
I borrowed some of this from a comment I wrote this morning, then realized I really wanted to expound on it. So here goes.
I’m convinced that the pursuit of political power as a means of enforcing the Christian nationalist agenda is a form of legalism. Christians think they’re doing a good thing by injecting “Christian values” into our government, but that’s not how it works. Paul is very clear that we are to submit to the governing authorities out of reverence for Christ, and while he does say that civil disobedience is called for when the laws conflict with God’s laws (more on that later), nowhere in Jesus’s teachings nor in the apostolic enhancements is there a call for Christians to enforce their will by means of government action. We’re to persuade people to join the Christian life by being exemplars of the goodness of our faith, not brutal tyrants who coerce people into living by the letter of our law whilst ignoring its spirit.
In Evangelical Christianity, many people take the concept of a “life verse,” a specific verse or passage in the Bible that speaks to them and is central to their current world view. (Aside: Many people select Jeremiah 1:5 as their life verse, and if you look that up, you will understand why the so-called “pro-life” crowd are as persistent as they are.) My life verse at the moment comes from Micah 6:8; I will quote verses 6 and 7 as well.
With what shall I come before the Lord and bow down before the exalted God? Shall I come before him with burnt offerings, with calves a year old? Will the Lord be pleased with thousands of rams, with ten thousand rivers of olive oil? Shall I offer my firstborn for my transgression, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul? He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.
In the context, God is challenging the rebellious Israelites who are complaining that God’s legalistic code is too burdensome for them. Micah adds on this passage, which is essentially saying, “It’s more important to be a morally and spiritually good person than to obey all the ritual rites and even go above and beyond.” If the Old Testament God - who was famous for his strict enforcement of Jewish religious code and specific instructions down to the letter - had lightened up this much by the time of the later prophets, you know it’s noteworthy.
Now about civil disobedience and spiritual law: I’m sure the Christian nationalists will point to this and go, “Butbutbut this means that we can ignore any federal legislation that violates our stringent beliefs against homosexuality, against ‘unnaturalism’, against any of these things we sincerely believe are wrong.” Umm… no. Because here’s the thing: The core of Christianity isn’t being anti-gay. The core of Christianity isn’t the laundry list of things you believe are sinful. The core of Christianity is this: Jesus is God’s son, He was sent to earth to die for our sins, on the third day God raised Him to life, He ascended into heaven and lives eternally to judge the quick and the dead, and we will go to join Him someday. When THAT is illegal to be practiced, THEN we can be civilly disobedient. Until then, you just get to suck it up and accept that your petty little interpretations of what “Christianity” means are irrelevant next to the majesty of the actual Good News.
One further thing: The militant Christian nationalists believe that it is OK to be violent in the name of their god. Matthew 10:34-36 reads:
Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword. For I have come to turn ‘a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law; a man’s enemies will be members of his own household.’
The problem with that is, the passage continues:
Anyone who loves their father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; anyone who loves their son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. Whoever does not take up their cross and follow me is not worthy of me. Whoever finds their life will lose it, and whoever loses their life for my sake will find it.
What Jesus is saying here is that not everyone is going to believe the message. Belief in Jesus will divide families. Hell, look at any of us apostates, or the unbelievers; how many of us grew up in Christian families, and now stand disowned or on the verge thereof because of our changed beliefs? Religious beliefs are divisive, regardless of the specific message, because they encapsulate a core part of us. Jesus acknowledges this, but encourages his followers that those who “lose their life for my sake” - i.e. sacrifice relationships with family, friends, others - to stay true to the Gospel will find life in Christ.