I love a snarky comeback as much as the next guy. You might even say sarcasm is a love language in our family. However, one cheeky bit of conservative snark that has exploded in the social media world has me second guessing my propensity towards snide banter. I am speaking of the “Let’s Go Brandon” bandwagon. Is it funny? Perhaps. Should it be perpetuated by followers of Christ? I’m thinking not.
“Let’s Go Brandon” is a not-so-subtly veiled and vulgar slight against the president of the United States. As a Christian, someone who is called to emulate Jesus Christ in this world, I have to ask myself what kind of witness using that expression demonstrates? Especially for our children. Do the commands given to us in the Bible not apply to the public expression of our political opinions?
We have two jobs on this earth, both of which set us apart as the body of Christ: Love God. Love others (Matthew 22:37-40). What do these jobs look like at the ground level?
Love God
I suppose you could say that our anger at the current state of affairs in our country is born from our love for God. We want to follow his commands. We want to honor him in all that we do, and we long for the world to do the same. So we become angry when government and popular culture mess with our dearly held beliefs. We see it as a slight against the God that we love.
But what does loving God actually look like? Loving God means honoring him by following his lead. He compels us to love, not to hate. Vengeance is his business. Loving is ours. Loving God means being set apart to do his will.
I do not ask that you take them out of the world, but that you keep them from the evil one. They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth. As you sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world. (John 17:15-18)
You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. (Matthew 5:43-45)
Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them. (Romans 12:14)
Remind them to be submissive to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready for every good work, to speak evil of no one, to avoid quarreling, to be gentle, and to show perfect courtesy toward all people. (1 Thessalonians 4:11-12)
If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. (John 15:19)
First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way. This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all, which is the testimony given at the proper time. (1 Timothy 2:1-6)
Honor everyone. Love the brotherhood. Honor the emperor. (1 Peter 2:17)
Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear. (Ephesians 4:29)
Keep your conduct among the Gentiles honorable, so that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day of visitation. (1 Peter 2:12)
Love Others
It should go without saying that Christians are to love others. At all times. Even and especially those who hate us.
A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another. (John 13:34-35)
We love because he first loved us. If anyone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen. And this commandment we have from him: whoever loves God must also love his brother. (1 John 4:19-21)
Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. (1 John 4:11)
Hatred stirs up strife, but love covers all offenses. (Proverbs 10:12)
Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor. (Romans 12:10)
Owe no one anything, except to love each other, for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law. (Romans 13:8)
Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. (1 Corinthians 13:4-7)
Standing Firm as We Love
Christian, we are in the business of love, not hate. We are called to gentle, kind, and convicted truth-telling, not vitriol. All of the things we are witnessing in this world only confirm the need for urgency in spreading the gospel message. We are promised that the world’s love will “grow cold” (Matthew 24:12). The love of Christ, that is our love, must never do the same.
Understand, followers of Christ are not to acquiesce or compromise when it comes to standing firm in our faith. But standing firm looks very different in God’s economy. Standing firm means taking it to the chin while we steadfastly proclaim the truth of God’s love and plan of rescue. It means suffering and enduring persecution. It means the world will look crazy to us, while we look even crazier to it. It means loving Brandon, even as we hate what he stands for.
This level of love, this effort to stand firm in the face of blustering, hate-filled opposition is impossible without the intervention of our beloved Holy Spirit. He is our only help, our only hope in shining light into this bleak, dark, cold world. Our best defense against the insanity of our culture is not found in the Daily Wire, Fox News, Hannity, or Beck. It is found in the pages of Scripture, where God has laid out his expectations for his people. The Bible is where we learn that what we are witnessing is what was foretold, and where we receive peace and a sure hope in the midst of it. It is also where we find our instruction for how to navigate the absurdity of the world. Nowhere does God’s Word say to get down and dirty with our opponents. And God is wise in that instruction. Because when we join the clamor with our own clamorous opinion, we become just another voice in the fray. But when we stay on point with the gospel message, who knows how many people will hear and be changed?
This Christmas, and beyond, may all God’s people honor his Great Name by loving well, both in our homes and across all of our platforms. Let’s love Brandon “for the sake of (Christ’s) name among all the nations” (Romans 1:5).