On behalf of the whole Church, I ask you:
Do you renounce the spiritual forces of wickedness,
reject the evil powers of this world,
and repent of your sin?
–United Methodist baptismal covenant

Do I annoy you? That’s fair.

In the last couple of years I’ve become quite vocal about the state of things. My social media posts are blunt. Ask me and I’ll tell you:

I have some SERIOUS issues with the current leadership of our government.

The focus of my fury is a prevailing ideology that feels downright “wicked”. Even evil. I am very outspoken about the dangers of policies of power over empathy, fear over mercy, and money over care. Things like defunding food banks or withholding disaster relief, or vilifying people legally seeking citizenship. And so much more.

I can’t list all my reasons for using the “e-word”, but I don’t use it lightly. I find myself at a time in our world where I can’t NOT holler in defiance.

I have to. It’s my job.

I’m not talking about my job as a pastor, I’m talking about the work of being a Christian.

When someone is baptized into the church, they answer the most demanding questions a member is ever asked. The first, renouncing the “evil powers of the world”, is above.

The second question takes it a step further:

Do you accept the freedom and power God gives you
to resist evil, injustice, and oppression
in whatever forms they present themselves?
–United Methodist baptismal covenant

That’s pretty hardcore! If you were baptized or confirmed in a United Methodist, Free Methodist, Presbyterian, Episcopal, ELCA or many other churches, you or your parents answered very similar questions. Too often, we rush through these vows just to celebrate the cute baby with the wet hair.

In my life, I’ve rarely seen anything I would call truly evil—but when I do, I take my baptismal vows seriously. I feel called to “resist”. Vocally.

It’s not comfortable. It’s not because I’m “woke” or a “snowflake”. It’s not because I’m a Democrat or a Liberal. I speak up, LOUDLY, because I’m a follower of Christ. The way I read it, I’m supposed to.

Here’s the third question:

Do you confess Jesus Christ as your Savior,
put your whole trust in his grace,
and promise to serve him as your Lord,
in union with the Church which Christ has opened
to people of all ages, nations, and races?
-United Methodist baptismal vows

More than once, folks in or outside the church have asked, “Can a pastor say that?” Am I supposed to be that opinionated? My earnest answer is that to keep my mouth shut would be rejecting the commitment I made when I became a Christian. It’s that serious.

However, my denomination doesn’t insist that everybody live out that commitment in the same way. “In essentials, unity; in non-essentials, liberty; in all things, charity,” That quote is attributed to John Wesley, or Augustine, or various other theologians, and to me that holds true.

When you look at the world, you may see something very different from what I see. If you see the world differently, that doesn’t make you my enemy. But it does mean you and I will have to work at our relationship a bit.

If you do see major injustice, you don’t have to rant and rave (as I seem to do). No, you do you. That’s between you and God.

But these three baptism questions? They are among those “essentials”. Those vows are sacred oaths. We are united in a commitment to meet wickedness head on.

So what does your “yes” look like today?

I’m still struggling to find my way through unprecedented times. For now, I’m determined to stir up as much “good trouble” as I can.

Even if I risk making a few enemies…

or losing a few (Facebook) friends.

Have a great week,

Mitch