The Evangelical Problem with Triggering the Libs

A week ago, a group of more than 50 conservative evangelical leaders, most notably John McArthur, published “The Statement on Social Justice & the Gospel” a list of affirmations and denials of belief based upon their concerns about “questionable sociological, psychological, and political theories presently permeating our culture and making inroads into Christ's church.” The affirmations were largely rote and, for the most part, might as well have been copied and pasted from The 2000 Baptist Faith and Message. The denials, however, made some noise.

On Scripture: “We deny that the postmodern ideologies derived from intersectionality, radical feminism, and critical race theory are consistent with biblical teaching.” On the church: “We deny that political or social activism should be viewed as integral components of the gospel or primary to the mission of the church.” On the gospel: “Implications and applications of the gospel, such as the obligation to live justly in the world, though legitimate and important in their own right, are not definitional components of the gospel.” There are fourteen categories total, including sexuality and marriage, race/ethnicity, and culture, but you get the idea.

Pastors, scholars, and denominational leaders have largely denounced the statement and its arguments against social justice as theologically feeble, historically blind, and needlessly divisive. While I take issue with much of what the statement says (and doesn’t say—for example, the kingdom of God isn’t mentioned once), I’ll leave it to those wiser and more eloquent than I to pick it apart line by line. What I want to take a moment to discuss instead is the implicit purpose behind the statement: triggering the libs.

With rhetoric that is persuasive neither in intention nor execution, there should be little doubt that that was the statement's purpose. This document is not trying to win any converts or sway any skeptics; it is feeding red meat to the base. It is the theological equivalent of an episode of Hannity, designed to hammer home a narrative for those sympathetic to its ideology and to rile up those who oppose it. It doesn't want a debate, it wants the last word.

More and more, I fear, that is becoming the bread and butter of conservative evangelicals' discourse—rather than engaging with critics, we insult them. Instead of countering arguments, we shut them down with acerbic memes. Instead of talking, we shout.

I can't count the number of times that I've logged onto Facebook and seen a brother or sister in Christ post a status or share a meme which has no purpose other than to mock a liberal politician, cause, or argument. No debate is being advanced, no point is being made...it just feels good to take a cheap shot. But let me offer a word of caution: "triggering the libs" hurts your Christian witness.

You can disagree with the protests of Colin Kaepernick and NFL players, and you can argue why they're disrespectful. But when you descend to insulting Kaepernick personally, you're not advancing an argument, you're just being spiteful.

You can think the Democratic Party's flirtations with socialism are foolish and/or dangerous. But when you jump to Nazi comparisons, you're giving a lesson in histrionics, not history.

And yes, you can be grateful Hillary Clinton isn't the President, and even grateful that Donald Trump is. But when you ask out loud what kind of any idiot would vote for "Killary," you may feel like a winner, but you sound nothing like Jesus.

The world is a fallen place, where ungodly ideas routinely take hold and wreak havoc on cultural norms that Christians hold dear. But the answer to sin is not more sin; fighting fire with fire only burns the house down faster. Jesus told us how counter darkness: by being lights to the world, witnesses to his grace, glory, and love.

Fox News pundits will continue to delight in triggering the libs, and pastors like Robert Jeffress and John McArthur will join in and find biblical prooftexts to justify doing so. But rank-and-file conservative evangelicals need not follow their example—we can lead instead. We can listen to, engage with, and love our neighbors, especially the ones we don't agree with. We can practice mercy and forgiveness instead of dominance and self-righteousness. We can make a change by choosing, preaching, and showing the light of Christ to a dark world.

You feel good when you trigger the libs. You do good when you love them.