All posts by Dr. Charlie Self

Special 2024 Election Essay: Understanding the Moment: A Call to Courage, Discernment, and Wisdom

October 30th, 2024 |

Political propaganda and partisan passions aside, next week’s election is very important at all levels (local, state, and federal). We are in a moment of contention and polarization, yet there are signs of hope and moderation as people pause and think about what really matters.

We do not elect messiahs. Jesus Christ alone holds this title. We do not elect kings and queens, for our Constitution prohibits royal titles. We do elect women and men to represent and serve. We bear great responsibility in our free society. We also have an unelected bureaucracy that wields real influence but is ultimately subject to elected officials.

Writing as a thoughtful Christian, my hope for our country (and all countries) rests upon a spiritual awakening that renews church and society, welcoming many to faith and seeing virtue influence all spheres of the public square. Prayer, unselfish service to others, and thoughtful conversation about serious issues are all part of seeing every neighborhood and nation renewed.

With these thoughts in mind, here are some of the obvious and sometimes hidden issues that we must consider as we make the wisest choices for our world.

Families matter and parents have primary responsibility for the worldview of their children. Far too many people are yielding control of their children to governmental agencies that may not align with their enduring values.

The economy matters and there are policies and principles that can help life be better for many. But underneath the daily issues of work and shopping is a debt crisis of historical proportions. We must elect leaders that will steward the public trust and present balanced budgets and more efficient administrations.

A hospitable and secure border is possible. It will require more security, streamlined immigration processes, and deportation of criminal elements. There must be courage from both political parties, eschewing cheap labor and cheap votes in favor of safe and welcoming policies.

We must have compassion for all people, from conception to coronation. This means no to most abortions and active euthanasia, as well and making sure the needy are cared for and our veterans are served well.

Poverty alleviation must focus on access, empowerment, and opportunity in free markets. Neighborhoods are only renewed when all sectors (church, business, social services, education, government, etc.) cooperate and create the conditions for flourishing. And ever-increasing welfare apparatus is not enough.

Peace in the Middle East must be rooted in Israel’s safety and prosperity for all. We need to remember that the only place where a rainbow flag flies safely is in Israel. When local Arab leaders courageously acknowledge Israel’s right to exist and renounce violence, there will peace.

We must reaffirm that human beings are made in God’s image and come male and female. Though there are rare intersex individuals and some truly struggle with body dysphoria, these afflictions must not be allowed to overrule nature and science. If adults want to alter their chemistry and physiology on their dime, they can; however such life-altering and permanent changes should not be allowed for children.

True toleration means living peaceably with our differences, without coercion, cancellation or threats of violence. Toleration does not mean celebration. I can disagree and still be a good neighbor.

Freedom must be rooted in virtue. We are not free to do anything we please without regard for others. We are free to follow our conscience and help build a thriving society on first principles affirmed by all thoughtful women and men.

Love must be founded upon unselfish attitudes and actions, not just passions. The phrase, “Love is Love” is meaningless. We can differ on how people arrange their lives and fulfill their desires without intolerance.

Freedom of conscience/religion is the first freedom that anchors all other (speech, assembly, redress of government) First Amendment rights. There should never be a state religion or coercion in matters of faith. At the same time, people must bring their finest values to their public lives. Religion is never, “left at the door.” Proselytizing at the wrong times and not forcing one’s faith on others are important decisions for peace in a pluralistic world. At the same time, publicly expressing convictions and quietly praying must not be subject to prosecution.

I am certain there are many more issues bearing on this moment. Global empires such as China and Russia are uniting against the West and the USA. More than 300 million Christians face severe persecution around the world. Our VUCA (volatile, uncertain, chaotic, and ambiguous) world needs faithful and forthright, holy and humble people who will worship only God, hate only sin, and desire that all find peace and purpose in Christ.

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Prayers and Reflections in a Tumultuous Season, Part II

September 6th, 2024 |

As we navigate the raging waters of a surplus of instant information and deficit of deep wisdom, I hope the following will calm our hearts, enlighten our minds, and strengthen our hands for service to God and our communities.

“Lord, help me displace outrage with obedience, and instant reactions with intercession. Help me stand for truth with tears and pursue peacemaking as your child. Please continue your delivering, healing, and reconciling grace in my life and empower me toward victory over sin and all the schemes of evil. Jesus, you are Lord over all creation, including all powers of injustice and oppression. Thank you for your love and power. Amen.”

Isaiah 44:19 is a great verse for today’s hyper-reactive public square. As the prophet repudiates idolatry and the folly of using the same wood for a cooking fire and an idol, the little phrase, “no one stops to think…” leaps from the page. Pausing, considering context, and reflecting are lost arts in our pursuit of clicks and likes. As we necessarily debate issues, let’s stop and think and then share in a way that makes our world better.

“Loving Lord, awaken us to your pathos for the hurting, your providential care in our lives, and your power to help us walk in holy love. Holy Father, bring your divine embrace to the vulnerable and your wise discipline to the haughty. Jesus, as you were sent, so send us to share your light and love. Sovereign Spirit, unite your church in faith, hope, and love. Help us edify, not efface, the beauty of your church. Amen.”

There is a need for fresh intellectual leadership. The late Dallas Willard, renowned Christian author, shared with leaders that he longed for the day when pastors and local churches once again were the intellectual leaders of the community.

A special thank you to all faithful scholars. You pursue your fields with dedication and discipline and your discoveries help us understand world better. Yes, you have some dishonest and intemperate colleagues, but your efforts to learn and then teach remain important to our world. Throughout history, church and society have kept learning alive through much tumult. Always position your work as service and remember your good influence.

Friends, as we go forward, let us do so with passionate prayer and principled thinking, with a desire for all to meet Christ and a willingness to cooperate with people of conscience.

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Prayers and Reflections in a Tumultuous Season, Part I

August 28th, 2024 |

This moment is about more than electing particular leaders. Underneath the political polarization and the cultural clashes is a spiritual battle raging for the destiny of millions. In these two essays, I want to offer prayers and insights that will help us be good dual citizens of the kingdom of God and the USA (or anywhere we are living). We must begin any reflections with our identity as God’s people who are holy exiles (Jeremiah 29; I Peter 2:9-17). Exile is NOT disengagement, a bunker mentality, or retreat from reality. Exile is engaging incarnationally and understanding all the forces arrayed for and against the purposes of God. Here are some paragraphs and prayers.

We need more thoughtfulness. In our autonomous, subjective world, we too often ditch critical thinking and careful speech, and parrot agitation propaganda rooted in ideological narratives instead of empirical and rational research and reflection. The truth of a matter can be nuanced, but we prefer clicks over conversation, emotion over ethics. We can have convictions with compassion, learn more about many issues, and debate kindly.

“Gracious and loving Lord, hear our cries for help and pleas for mercy. You are near the brokenhearted and attentive to the crushed in spirit. Come with your embrace to all suffering loss today. Bring your healing to the afflicted. Fill hearts with hope in the midst of unexplainable challenges. Use your people to bring help to the hungry, justice to the oppressed, and an invitation to new life when we surrender to you. Thank you, Jesus. Amen.”

If we lament the anger and divisiveness of public conversations, then we must not add fuel to the fire by speaking and writing reactively. Intense, lively debate over issues is vital, but playground name-calling and labeling masses of people diverts focus from serious moral and political reflection. May we find love and unity at The Table. Kyrie Eleison.

Holy Lord, search my heart and scrutinize my thoughts. I welcome your conviction leading to repentance and your compassion empowering empathy. Purify my motivations and transform my affections. May your glory and the good of others animate all I do. Displace envy with encouragement, for your kingdom has room for all to flourish. May unconditional love and uncompromising ethics win the day. Amen.

Holy and loving character will sustain us after the hype and loud noises fade away.

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History and Hope: Renewing the American Promise Part Two: Toward Justice for All

July 17th, 2024 |

The American Experiment in virtue-based liberty is never done…we are always aspiring to live up to the noble values of our Founders and Framers. In Part One, we looked at our nation’s foundations, find much to thank God for…and much requiring repentance and realignment with truth. In this essay, we explore events from the 19th century to the present as signs of blessing and judgment, with the hope that we can live more helpful and hopeful lives.

The decades before the Civil War (1861-1865) saw a nation divided over slavery, with the Compromises of 1820 and 1850 failing to appease of the passions of both abolitionists and advocates of slavery. The British and French preceded the USA in the abolition of slavery, even as Americans boasted about having a freer nation!

Tragedy and blessing: The Civil War officially started as a war for Confederate independence (Southern view) and a war to preserve the Union (Northern view). By late 1862 with the Emancipation Proclamation and early 1865, with the passing of the 13th Amendment abolishing slavery, President Lincoln and many others understood the war to be God’s providential judgement on three centuries of slavery. More soldiers were killed and wounded in this war that all other wars combined. The 14th and 15th Amendments, passed in 1868 and 1870, enshrined citizenship and voting rights for all people.

Tragedy: beginning in 1876 and lasting until 1964, segregation and second-class citizenship for African Americans and other minorities became normalized. African-Americans were the most impacted, while other minorities felt the sting if prejudice through restrictive immigration and outright bans from whole arenas of society.

Blessing: Full equality and voting rights for women were promoted by Abigail Adams and others in the 1780s and 1790s but fell on deaf ears until the late 19th century. Suffragette movements (often led by married women of solid Christian faith) gained ground in particular states before 1900. Finally in 1920, full voting rights were enshrined in the 19th Amendment. It would take several more decades and court decisions to allow full equality for employment and property rights.

Blessing and tragedy: Many Americans boast that we are a “land of immigrants” and that the Statue of Liberty welcomes all (legally). And there is much to celebrate as we think of the millions coming through Ellis Island in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. We are indeed a wonderful “salad bowl” (Historian Carl Degler) of diverse ethnicities and traditions. While we celebrate Ellis Island in New York and appreciate the opportunities afforded to so many, we must also lament the oppression of Angel Island in California and the severe restrictions placed on Asian (especially Chines) immigrants from the 1870s to the 1940s. The open doors of previous decades shut harshly after World War I.

We closed our doors to Jewish immigration and capitulated to severe antisemitism from the 1920s to the1940s, only changing course after seeing the full evidence of the Holocaust.

Blessing: After World War II, the momentum for civil and voting rights for all was unstoppable, though only in 1965 were full rights established. The movement led by the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King was one of our last moments of unified advocacy with people from all backgrounds ready to help cash, “the promissory note” of the Declaration of Independence and the US Constitution.

The past six decades are their own unique narrative, with bright moments of divine life and tragic moments subverting the values and visions of the Founders. May we delight in the providential progress of our history and humbly continue the journey toward justice so all can flourish.

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History and Hope: Renewing the American Promise Part One: Foundations

July 9th, 2024 |

As the fireworks fade, it is fitting we reflect on America’s founding and future. For the theologically inclined, you will not find any traces of chosen nation status or manifest destiny in this essay. Biblically, there is one chosen nation/people: ancient Israel liberated under Moses and the expanded Israel of the Church established by Messiah Jesus. (See Exodus 19:6 and I Peter 2:9-10). We can, however, reflectively see the hand of divine providence in the affairs of nations. If we were to tour the globe and speak with Christians of all classes, cultures, and communities, we would hear stories of grace and discipline, amazing miracles from God and serious consequences of human rebellion.

America is a unique historical experiment in virtue-based liberty, sharing much in common with other nations, but bringing unique ideas and interventions to our world. In a spirit of gratitude and humility, here are some moments of blessing and tragedy that will help us pray and prepare for a preferred future.

Blessing: In 1620, the passengers of the Mayflower disembarked and discovered an indigenous man who spoke English and knew the Christian faith – his name was Squanto. His story of captivity, Christian instruction, and return to his land over a 15-year period is a drama all by itself. His skills enabled these pilgrims to survive and there was peace for half a century.

Tragedy: Alas, a year earlier (1619) in the Virginia colony, the first African slaves were brought ashore, beginning 246 years of chattel slavery on the North American continent. The need for strong labor to cultivate tobacco overtook any notions of justice and equality. Ironically, it will be several Virginians (Jefferson, Madison, Washington) that composed the finest writings on human liberty and best governance practices!

Blessing: In the 17th century, several colonies were sanctuaries for religious freedom, welcoming people of all backgrounds. Rhode Island was founded by Roger Williams for the expressed purpose of freedom of conscience and faith. Maryland, established by Lord Baltimore, was a haven for Catholics – and all others. Delaware had settlers from Scandinavia, Germany, Wales, and other locales. William Penn’s “Noble Experiment” establishing a sanctuary for Quakers and people of all faiths, was a special moment of divine blessing. Penn’s treaty with the indigenous tribes was the only one not broken by White settlers!

Blessing: Before the American Revolution, there were a series of religious revivals in the 1740s called the First Great Awakening that saw almost an eighth of the colonial population experience conversion. These moments of religious enthusiasm also stated a century of new missionary and social justice movements that would influence many important causes in the 19th and 20th century. Abolition of slavery, universal education, child labor reforms, women’s suffrage, and many other noble causes arose from deeply religious people joining with other people of conscience.

Blessing and tragedy: The Founders of our nation and Framers of our Constitution were a brilliant, idealistic, and wise group of leaders. They created an unprecedented government rooted in freedom of conscience, individual liberty, decentralized governance, and rights bestowed by God and protected by the Bill of Rights. Extraordinary work! But. In the interests of forming an improved national government for a fledgling nation, the Framers failed to inaugurate a plan for emancipation of the slaves. All but a few of these great thinkers knew in their hearts that slavery was unjust, and this failure harmed the integrity of the American vision.

As we will see in Part Two, it will take a Civil War to end slavery, and a century later, Civil Rights to end discrimination based on race. This does not invalidate the greatness of the American experiment, but it reveals the hardness of the human heart and the need for divine mercy. As we look at the second half of our kaleidoscopic history, we will notice more moments of blessings and judgment, all of which are designed to move us toward humility, holy love, and dedication to the common good.

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