15: American Idols

On today’s show, Chong and Dan give thanks for a challenging but fulfilling year. We then get into a juicy topic to finish the year: the relationship between religion and politics. Why is it “complicated”? And what are the dangers when Christians idolise politics? Using the Jericho March held in Washington DC on 12 December 2020 as a case study, we explore four kinds of faulty faith:

1. Our personal experience and feeling are paramount (An individualistic faith)
2. God’s purposes are for us (An optimistic faith)
3. We are pure, they are evil (A Manichean faith)
4. We can and must create a better world (A utopian faith)

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Show notes

Giving thanks for this year (02:17)

What is the relationship between religion and politics? (8:48)

• Spectrum between no distinction and hard distinction
• But practically - it’s complicated!

Background to the case study (16:57)

What I Saw at the Jericho March


What happened at the Jericho March (20:45)

• “The Jericho March was a worrying example of how Christianity can be twisted and drafted into the service of a political ideology” (Source: National Review)

Christianity as Ideology: The Cautionary Tale of the Jericho March

Problem 1: An individualistic faith (28:25)

• Jericho Marchers were told to trust their own hearts, that what they want is what God wants
• Lessons for us - Practice discernment; the heart is deceitful above all things (Jeremiah 17:9)

Problem 2: An optimistic faith (39:10)

• “Many of those people declared Trump to be ‘God’s anointed’… they believe that Trump had a special purpose and a special calling” (Source: The Dispatch)
• Lessons for us - God’s purposes are not necessarily man’s purposes; Christians are called to hope in what’s to come, not to be optimistic about the present

The Dangerous Idolatry of Christian Trumpism

Problem 3: A Manichean faith (46:41)

• Jericho Marchers were told that they are “children of light”, standing against the agents of darkness
• Lessons for us - The line between good and evil doesn’t run between Trump and Never-Trump, but through every human heart; the Bible teaches that we are no better than our enemies (Romans 3:22-23) and we are to love our enemies (Matthew 5:43-45)

Problem 4: A utopian faith (55:14)

• “[A speaker] likened the crowd to soldiers preparing for war to restore Eden. ‘We are here to save Earth and its inhabitants,’ he said.” (Source: The American Conservative)
• Lessons for us - Every political movement that has sought to “improve” society by seizing power and dictating thought/behaviour has led to disaster; at his trial, Jesus said that “my kingdom is not of this world” (John 18:36)

Conclusion (1:04:38)

• God takes the long view; as Christians, live (and sacrifice) for His kingdom, not for any kingdom on earth