Corcoran Austbarr
Dr. Jeremy Wilkins, Professor of Theology at Boston College, came to the Mount to discuss the Christian’s role in American politics, specifically how Christians can help “foster a functional and flourishing culture in this country” while following Jesus in how He contradicted the customs and laws of His time.
Luke 2:34, Wilkins pointed out, says explicitly that Jesus is “destined for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign which will be spoken against.” A sign of contradiction.
Jesus’ death itself offered a sign of contradiction simply in the natures of the murderers and murdered; the malice of the killers juxtaposing the goodness of Christ. Jesus’ crucifixion exemplifies for us how we are meant to contradict the notion that it is better to be the one not suffering—to stand by or inflict said suffering. Jesus’ death tells us that it is better to suffer the cross than put someone on it. He changes the way we think about harm and benefit.
Wilkins soon draws the audience’s attention to Matthew 16:23, an instance where Jesus calls Peter “satan” when Peter asserts that he and the apostles would use force against whoever would dare try to harm Jesus. Wilkins makes clear that Jesus calls Peter by this name because Peter is willing to do harm to others, especially for the sake of preventing harm which is destined for Jesus.
Jesus is the embodiment of radical love, and through His crucifixion and avoidance of force, we see more clearly one of Wilkins’ main points: those who hurt others are too hurting themselves. Harm to oneself is believing that causing suffering is better than enduring it.
This is all relevant to Wilkins’ view of Christianity in American politics. So called “Christian politics” often share a positive correlation with political violence, and many adherents wrongly believe that cultural issues can be resolved through policy and political power. Many fail to make the genuine effort to help their fellow citizens understand why they shouldn’t desire the “bad thing,” instead merely telling them that they can’t have it.
With the surplus of “predatory politics,” lying politicians, and political polarization, the fruits of the spirit—love, joy, peace, kindness, etc.—should be what a Christian’s politics are founded on. Instead, many Christians today fall into “political despair“ and the false belief that all who disagree with them are evil or ignorant.
“In hoc signo vinces.” In this sign you will conquer. This was inscribed on a cross in a vision to Constantine, a Roman emperor in 300 AD, that drove him to convert to Christianity. In regard to politics, Wilkins believes the same. He believes that the sign of the cross not only represents how we should respond to evil, but also what we should recognize about evil; namely, our role in it: He said, “The most dangerous evil, to me, is not the evil that these other people will impose upon me, but the harm I can do to myself if I forget what it means to belong to Jesus.” Discipleship, he continued to say, is not allegiance like one may have to a flag, but attunement to what Jesus is doing—overcoming evil with love.
Wilkins ended his lecture with this: “Do what you can but know it’s not up to you.” He said to believe wisely, humanize those who disagree with you and be open to receiving as much as possible from others. To know that the line between good and evil is” the line that separates the light in [you] from the dark in [you],” confess your sins and hope.
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