I remember learning how to lead a patrol through the woods of Quantico, Virginia. Getting a group of forty Marines through dense forest and marshes onto a target isn’t easy. You need to keep everyone spaced out, but not so spaced out that anyone loses track of the person in front of them. You need to read a map and compass without tripping on the tangled undergrowth. These were tricky, but there was one thing that we would continually forget–having someone watch our six. The six o’clock position represented what was behind us, and the last person in the patrol needed to turn backwards every few steps to ensure no one was sneaking up from the rear. We were ready for enemy contact from the front, but if they could get behind us undetected they would do incredible damage. I worry something similar is happening in the American church today.

For years evangelical Christians have felt pressure from society to conform to rapidly changing views on sexuality and gender. Our historic creeds, which proclaim one Lord and one faith are seen as old-fashioned and close-minded–how can anyone claim to have the truth? Certainly these dynamics have presented challenges for the church, but they are known threats.

Unfortunately, the greatest threats often come from our six. Satan comes as an angel of light, meaning our initial reaction will not be revulsion, but attraction. (2 Cor 11:14) His servants appear as servants of righteousness, eager to help us with the causes we care about. (2 Cor 11:15) When the serpent comes to Adam and Eve, they don’t grab the pitchfork; they begin a stimulating conversation, and Satan offers them a greater status. When he shows up to tempt Jesus, he doesn’t flash pictures of orgies and drunkenness, but shows Jesus his future kingdom and offers to let him have it without the suffering of the cross. The greatest threats to the Church usually aren’t the ones with “Made in Hell” stamped on the box, but the ones wrapped in beautiful paper. The greatest threats will seem to further our agendas and allow us to skip the suffering of the cross.

I’m sure we were all distressed by the January 6th breach of the US Capitol and further appalled by all the Christian regalia on display. We are quick to distance ourselves from that type of Christianity. But I wonder: was this just an aberrant expression of Christianity, or the fruit of a movement that’s been growing in American Evangelicalism for a long time?

Perhaps we’ve been so attuned to the threats in front that we’ve forgotten to watch our six. We didn’t see the danger in politicians and people in power who promised to help with the issues we care about–if only we would give them our votes or patronage. Or the danger in supporting those who put caustic words to an anger we’ve been letting stew (instead of praying it) as we watch our country step away from Christian morals. Or the danger in idolizing those who would do our dirty work to keep the liberals at bay so we could push the cross of suffering to the next generation. For decades politicians have courted evangelicals, offering to advance or at least protect the things we cared about (things that are good!): fighting abortion, protecting religious freedom and liberties, and more.

And yet, as I’ve thought about the events of the past months, I’m struck by how they echo Satan's tactics in Scripture – I know an easier way to your goals, and it won’t require suffering! (Just a little compromise.) But little did we realize that small compromise happened to be the most important thing; the way of Jesus always leads to a cross. We want to wear our crosses, not hang on them. But only one path leads to resurrection. And while we pray we will not have to suffer in that way, we cannot forget that all who want to follow Jesus must deny themselves and bear the weight of the cross. (Matt 16:24)

Pressure on churches to align with the more radical left or right factions will grow. Those alliances will promise protection and a platform for issues we care about. But giving in to that temptation may be the equivalent of selling our eternal birthright for some warm stew and continued tax deductions for our tithing. We’ll have lost what is most important, a Jesus who set his face towards the cross. (Luke 9:51)

But in all this I’m still optimistic; I think the best days are ahead for our church, even if they are harder days. I recently heard someone say that we have never lived in an age that so demands atonement, yet offers no path for forgiveness. Excommunication has never been more popular, as long as it isn’t in the church. But as more and more people are cast out of their political and social tribes for not adhering to the new creeds, Gospel-centered churches will be well positioned to offer these refugees living water–the possibility of forgiveness in a world that knows only revenge.

To do that, we’ve got to watch our six. We can’t compromise; we need to show people a better choice. We’ve got to be skeptical of any person or party or organization that comes to offer help–and with less suffering! It may get us an easier four years while we lose the thing the world needs even more than conservative judges or just laws. We’ll have lost the only thing that can change anything – a God who died for his enemies on a cross.

In Christ,
Pastor Jon