The more I’ve reflected on current debates, the more I’ve come to see that there is an even bigger, more vital question: “Who will we be?”
In terms of focus, the question of identity—“who we are”—must precede the question of function—“how we live.” Unless we develop Spirit-filled character and virtue, as those who claim the name of Jesus Christ and seek his way, we’re bound to stumble in our engagement. Who we are, in some measure, determines the path of engagement, the way we live as salt and light in a fallen world.
I’m less worried about the right way to engage, and I’m more concerned about the right heart of the engager.
Lately, when someone asks me about how best to engage in debate on Facebook or how best to be a truthful witness on Twitter, I respond less with the “dos and don’ts” of social media etiquette or the good, bad, and best practices. Instead, I turn to questions of personal devotion, to prayer, to church membership, and what one’s Bible reading is like.
“Who are you?” is the bigger question, and there’s a second just like it: “Who do you want to become?”
Apart from a vision for who we are and what we’re becoming, we will be blind to the adverse effects that engaging politically could have on our souls. We’ll deceive ourselves, thinking we’re fighting the good fight, engaging in online battles, patting ourselves on the back for our righteous stances, our sick burns that “own” the opposition, while inside we shrink into brittle, shallow, hollowed-out ghosts, following every wave of political controversy, as our methods of engagement change us in ways we don’t anticipate.
To be calm in a time of turbulence, to be single-minded in a season of instability, to retain perspective in a moment of hysteria, to be a steady ship in choppy seas, to be at peace in a world of anxiety—this kind of leadership will not come from arriving at the “right” answer to the question of how best to engage politically. It will only come about as part of an ongoing process of developing our souls and disciplining our desires and discerning faithfulness in a world gone crazy. It will require a deep and abiding presence in the Word of God and in prayer for our world. Meditation, not scrolling. Deep reading, not scanning. Careful attention, not distraction. It will require the Lord’s work in the Lord’s way, as Francis Schaeffer famously preached.
I fear that far too many of us have a profound awareness of what’s happening on Twitter or Facebook but a superficial understanding of God’s eternal Word.
The incentives of our times push against the inward soul-work necessary to be a thoughtful (literally “full of thought”) and wise presence in a world of clanging cymbals around every controversy.
The microwave impresses us because it’s fast. You can warm
up a Hot Pocket for dinner, but you can’t enjoy a microwavable roast. Which is
why now, just as in the past, we who follow Jesus must prioritize the crockpot
and the oven. In a world of Hot-Pocket hot takes that emphasize instant wins
and immediate
results, the savory feast stands out—food impossible to enjoy
apart from time and attention, as the fruits of holiness seep into our souls,
forming us into the image of the Christ we’re called to represent.
When we do engage in the public arena, when we do speak up and speak out on various issues—as indeed we must, if we’re to be faithful to the gospel in this moment—we must do so in ways that stand out from our neighbors, and perhaps even from fellow church members. We must display wisdom that comes through in our carefulness, our love, our discernment, and, yes, our restraint. We must exhibit a calm that shows up in our demeanor, a joyfulness amid conflict, a boldness matched by graciousness.
We don’t need more soldiers running haphazardly through minefields, whacking aimlessly at every potential obstacle; we need the gift of steady warriors who know this battle is not against flesh and blood, who can discern the lasting from the ephemeral, who see dangers coming from multiple directions, and who maintain a core of conviction and kindness and of substance in a world of shallowness.
How should we engage? First ask the question, “Who will we be?”
by Trevin Wax - vice president of resources and marketing at the North American Mission Board and a visiting professor at Cedarville University. A former missionary to Romania, Trevin is a regular columnist at The Gospel Coalition and has contributed to The Washington Post, World, and Christianity Today. He has taught courses on mission and ministry at Wheaton College and has lectured several times on Christianity and culture at Wycliffe Hall of Oxford University. He is a founding editor of The Gospel Project, has served as publisher for the Christian Standard Bible, and is currently a fellow for The Keller Center for Cultural Apologetics. He is the author of multiple books
