Stephen, Faithfulness, and Political Turmoil
How Stephen's testimony in Acts 7 can speak to Christians in our current political moment
In the weeks ahead I’m going to share some short pieces from my original website on this platform, mainly so they’re all in one place.
Today, my thoughts on Stephen’s faithfulness in Acts 7 and its implications for Christians’ political and cultural engagement (from February 15, 2020).
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This week I had the privilege of addressing my university's chapel for the first time. We are going through the Book of Acts this semester, and I was honored to speak on Acts 7, which gives an account of Stephen's speech before the Sanhedrin.
In preparing for my talk I found myself marveling at Stephen's boldness before the council of Jewish leaders. These men were deciding whether or not he had in fact committed blasphemy, as his detractors had accused. Stephen did not mince words in blaming the leaders of his day for rejecting Jesus, just as their ancestors had rejected past prophets and messengers from God throughout their history. This boldness ultimately resulted in his death, and Stephen has become known as one of the church's first martyrs.
I also found myself thinking of our current political climate, and what Stephen's story can tell us about Christian political engagement during this anxious age. Like his boldness, Stephen's faithfulness is on full display in Acts 7, even as he is surely aware of the consequences of his words. Of course, most of us will never be in a position to be martyred for our faith, unlike some of our brothers and sisters in other regions of the world. But Stephen's example can still inform much of how we approach an increasingly skeptical (and, in some ways, hostile) culture in our political engagement.
The next presidential election is less than nine months away, and it is tempting to view the outcome of this election as make or break for us as Christians. Christianity Today recently started a new series on faith and public life, and in introducing this series Daniel Harrell recalled the story of Jesus asleep on a boat in the middle of a violent storm. The disciples, many of whom were seasoned fishermen, were terrified of their predicament, and incredulous that Jesus was seemingly so indifferent to what appeared to be the end.
Nevertheless, as Harrell writes,
Jesus slept not because he was indifferent or resigned to their fate. Quite the opposite. Jesus was unafraid because he knew he possessed a power greater than the storm. Jesus spoke and the waves were calmed. “What kind of man is this?” his disciples asked. “Even the winds and the waves obey him!” .... Politicians produce immense bluster. Personal and policy passions generate tremendous waves. Anxiety swamps our boat. Perhaps we too can hear the words of Jesus in the midst of the howling wind (Matt. 8:26). “You of little faith,” he remarked with wonder, “why are you so afraid?”
This does not mean we should view political engagement with skepticism, or see it as indicating a lack of trust in our Creator and Redeemer. There are plenty of reasons for Christians to be engaged in political and public life, such as to seek justice for the oppressed and to show love to our neighbors. Indeed, I do think it is imperative that Christians be active in the political, however that may look for individual believers.
But our identity must always be rooted first and foremost in Christ. This means having faith enough to see everyone, including our perceived political opponents, as made in the image of God. It means loving and serving those in our midst, especially those feeling especially vulnerable as a result of political decisions. And it means remembering that whatever happens this November, or in any presidential election, or with any Supreme Court appointment, or with any legislation coming from Congress, our hope in Christ is eternally secure.
It isn't comfortable to consider what Stephen's example might mean for us as Christians in the 21st century United States. But we have not been called to be comfortable, but rather to be witnesses and ambassadors for the risen King. And yes, that includes in our political engagement.