The media had a field day with a jacket she sported before and after her visit to McAllen which read "I really don't care. Do you?" While such a thing makes great headlines, I choose to focus on her actions instead. I think it was commendable for her to personally come and see what is taking place. For me her action spoke louder than her jacket. (And if you know me well, you know that is not a political statement on my part but my objective observation).
Regardless of your opinion about Melania and her visit, the question of whether we should care remains relevant.
Several questions maybe raised in this regard for those of us at CBC, McAllen. Should we as church leaders and/or as a congregation engage in a debate that seems to be so politicized? How does our Christian faith and our Baptist tradition inform the issue of immigration as it relates to children and families? Do we have an official position on this as we might on other matters of faith and public policy?
As church leaders and as a congregation it is not desirable to take political sides officially supporting or condemning a political party or candidate. Nevertheless we should speak to moral and ethical issues from a biblical perspective. How else can we be the salt of the earth or the light of the world unless we address issues such as abortion, same-sex marriage, immigration, racism, etc., etc. As a church we do not want to take sides in political parties or candidates but we do take sides on issues.
The Scripture has much to say regarding children, immigration, the vulnerable and civil authorities. I address this in my blog post titled "Separating Children at the Border". However, I want to clarify a couple of things regarding the role of the pastor and the congregation in discussing these issues. (These clarifications apply generally to other ethical issues beyond immigration and children at the border).
As a pastor I have both a prophetic role and a priestly role. In my prophetic role I have the responsibility to speak truth to God's people and to the public square. In my priestly role I have the responsibility to represent people in intercession and to advocate for those who need it.
As Baptists we strongly adhere to the priesthood of all believers. That means that every believer has direct access to God through Jesus, has the illuminating presence of the Holy Spirit to interpret Scripture, and is responsible and accountable directly to God. That means every believer must develop his or her own beliefs and convictions under the Lordship of Jesus Christ, the authority of the Scriptures, the guidance of the Holy Spirit, and the learning in community with other believers including the teaching of pastor-teachers.
That means that as pastor I do not speak for every member of my congregation. My prophetic, priestly and pastor-teacher role does not usurp the priesthood of the believer. Our prophetic, priestly and pastor-teacher roles inform, teach, encourage, challenge, inspire, and instruct believers. But every believer should act according to his or her conscience in direct accountability to Jesus Christ.
Beyond the local church as Baptists we have agencies that address ethical and public policy issues from a faith perspective. For example our affiliation with Texas Baptists gives us a connection to the Christian Life Commission in Austin. The CLC speaks to (not for) Baptists regarding ethical and public policy issues. It also advocates in Austin and in Washington D.C. from a biblical faith perspective. My friend, Dr. Gus Reyes, is director.
In addition to the Texas Baptists' Christian Life Commission, Calvary, McAllen also cooperates in some aspects with the Southern Baptist Convention at the national level. The SBC's agency that deals with ethical and public policy issues is the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission. Its director is Dr. Russell Moore. Like the CLC, the ERLC also speaks to (not for) Baptists regarding ethical and public policy issues. It mostly addresses these at the national level and advocates from a biblical faith perspective in Washington D.C.
Just like at the local church level the priesthood of all believers clarifies the pastor's role in instructing the congregation but not speaking for all its members, at the denominational level, our conventions and agencies inform local churches. Neither the SBC nor the Texas Baptists convention represents all of their affiliated churches neither are their positions binding on the churches. Baptists churches are autonomous under the lordship of Jesus Christ and are not subject to the doctrinal or ethical authority of any ecclesiastical body or convention.
From time to time this clarifications are necessary. When individual church members or the media ask for an official position, it is important to note the uniqueness of the Baptist tradition. We can have official positions on issues but we must understand those in light of the priesthood of all believers and the autonomy of the local church.
As a member of Calvary Baptist Church you are free to agree or disagree with the pastor's official position on an issue. As Calvary Baptist Church we agree with the SBC and Texas Baptists on many things but we disagree with others. That's what makes us uniquely Baptists!
So to answer my question above, "yes, we should care." As caring followers of Jesus we have a responsibility to inform ourselves on the issues and to study the Scriptures under the guidance of the Holy Spirit and the Lordship of Jesus Christ.
Now let's talk about children and family separation at the border!
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