Bishop Budde

Was she in the right? Was it “speaking truth to power?” Or was it grossly inappropriate and out right heresy? Your answers, feelings, and response regarding Bishop Mariann Edgar Budde and her recent exchange with President Donald Trump matters, if you are a Christian who desires to be a critical thinker who reacts to this world and its’ chaos with wisdom, grace and truth. Because the world is watching. It is waiting and expectantly curious to see how the evangelical world responds. Or…the world wonders if we will tear ourselves apart by a war within regarding Christian western views and opinions regarding Trump, Immigrants, and the Marginalized. I am disappointed and frankly concerned by the amount of my friends on all sides of this issue who have taken to social media to both condemn and affirm Bishop Budde or Donald Trump. I have seen Biblical truth traded for acceptance and inclusion while simultaneously seeing Biblical values traded for “National Security.”  To sum it up, I have seen your feelings and opinions take the lead instead of critical thinking and active love. If you think what Bishop Mariann Edgar Budde did was blameless and pure, you are deeply confused and mistaken. And yet, if you heard the words she proclaimed and saw those words as imputably false and gross…you too, are deeply confused and mistaken.  Here is the reality and the statement that for some reason will trigger 99% of you reading this: Bishop Budde spoke the truth, and she did so entirely inappropriately. Are you following me yet?

Let’s dive deeper. The Bishop spoke to the value system of Christianity that Jesus laid a foundation for both in His scriptures and His living testimony when He walked on earth. She challenged President Trump to grant and extend mercy to the immigrant. The individuals living in our country who do not have the authorized documentation to prove their legal status or legal right to reside within our boarders. Let’s be clear… Jesus has mandated His Church to care for, uplift, and empower the marginalized. The weak. The poor. The weary.  This means that yes, Christians have a moral obligation by God to advocate for those who are in need. Which indicates that Christians have a moral directive to look towards the immigrant within our society with eyes of mercy and care. However, this is a directive for Christians, AKA the Church. This is not a directive pointed towards or discussed about regarding a government or modern-day theocracy. The purpose of the Church is to bring salt and light to the world. Do be administers of life, grace, healing and courage in our society and communities.

So, if you think you get a pass as a Christian to not look out for and advocate on behalf of the marginalized and suffering,  you are gravely out of line. In that sense, the plea that Bishop Budde made was an appropriate one that reflects a massive mandate by Christ to His church. But “Church” is a critical distinction. Donald Trump does not represent the Christian Church. He is the representative of a national governmental order. The primary purpose of a national government is to write, uphold, enforce and protect national law. One of the primary purposes of that government is to protect its’ sovereign boarders. This is the tension we have not been willing to truly dive into.

While Bishop Budde has a Biblical mandate to care for and look out for the marginalized and to encourage her Church of today to follow in those steps, that is not even close to the purpose or calling of President Donald Trump. He was elected to be an enforcer of laws.

This is why the feeling and plea by Bishop Budde was the right one for the heart of a Christian to have, given in an inappropriate setting and place. But for many of you, you have not critically approached that possibility. Instead, we have made that interaction between Budde and Trump as a black and white issue. Either she is entirely in the wrong, or Trump is. And it is here that we find ourselves with the human urge to criticize a situation or person, approach it emotionally, and then close the case. Without any thought of who we genuinely hurt, mislead, or unfriended in the process. That approach By Jesus’ people needs to stop. We are becoming a Church that is offended and then offends others rather than a Church that is swift to action and capable of answering the moments, as hard and complicated as they may be these days, with Christlike courage, resolve and wisdom.

In summary. Was Bishop Budde right to encourage people to advocate for the marginalized. Yes. Was it appropriate for this Bishop to make this plea before an American president a day after his inauguration at a planned event? Maybe not. Is the Church truly following the mandates of Jesus to care for the widow, orphan, and needy? You tell me. What is happening in your life, beyond the power of your laptop keys or social media statements where you are pursuing active opportunities to advance this mandate for the Church?

Why should our government and ruling authorities have to be tasked with solving these issues? Could the Church be missing the mark by talking about what Jesus would do more than living a radical testimony of grace and impact for our fallen and hurt world?

Did my words offend you? Do you disagree? Will you channel your energy of disagreement to change the world and the lives around you, or turn that energy towards me…