Here We Stand: A Faithful Response to the New Administration

Holy Trinity Lutheran Church in Falls Church, Virginia, is a part of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA).  At this time of political polarization and increasing Christian nationalism, we think it is important to state the tenets of our beliefs as a faithful congregation.  These values are further reflected in ELCA Presiding Bishop Elizabeth Eaton’s statements about Christian nationalism.

Our beliefs are grounded in the teachings of Jesus Christ.  We are also guided by revered prophets and teachers who have exemplified Jesus’s values in their lives and work:  St. Paul, Martin Luther, Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Martin Luther King, Jr. and others.  This strengthens our commitment to Christ and to living our own individual lives in harmony with Him.

Our civic engagement is driven by our commitment to Jesus' Great Commission to spread the gospel, make disciples, and baptize in His name. (1) Rooted in Christian beliefs and values, our faith inspires honesty, fairness, and compassion in action, and promotes ethical leadership, justice, and a moral responsibility to care for God’s world through serving others.

Importance of Good Governance and Integrity in Civil Society 

  • We trust in and value democracy, the form of government that respects the rights of all of God’s children.  This means we support the integrity of the three co-equal branches of our government and the importance of making voting accessible for all citizens.  We support leaders, chosen by the people through free and fair elections, who obey and uphold the Constitution and the rule of law.

  • We believe in the rule of law – “Render unto Caesar the things that are Caesar’s and unto God the things that are God’s.” (2)

  • We believe that as Americans and faithful Christians, we are called to highlight and oppose unjust laws and policies. (3) As American Abolitionist Frederick Douglass said, “He is a lover of his country who rebukes and does not excuse its sins.”

  • We believe in the separation of church and state.  This means that we support the founders’ vision of the United States as a country where there is no official religion and instead all people are able to freely exercise their religious beliefs.  The nation must respect the traditions and beliefs of every religion, not just Christianity. (View Bishop Eaton’s statement)

  • We believe in the 10 Commandments.  Of particular relevance is the 9th, “Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbor.” (4) We believe in honesty, integrity, and transparency by national leaders as well as by ordinary citizens.

Value of Each of God’s Children

  • We follow the teachings of Jesus Christ, which include “loving our neighbor as ourselves.” (5) This means loving everyone regardless of race, class, gender, nationality, sexual orientation or gender identity.

  • We believe in the “Golden Rule” – “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.” (6) This means treating everyone with kindness and respect.

  • We believe we have a duty to care for the most vulnerable members of society including “widows and orphans” as well as all impoverished people. (7) This means we support government programs such as Medicaid, Medicare, Social Security, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Programs (SNAP), free and reduced-cost school lunches, and others which provide education, food and medical care for those in need.

  • We believe we have a duty to “welcome the stranger among us.” (8) This means we offer humanitarian assistance to homeless individuals, immigrants, asylum-seekers and refugees, regardless of their legal status, and support legal pathways for people fleeing violence to come to the United States.

  • We believe that “in Christ there is no east or west, in Him no south or north, but one great fellowship of love throughout the whole wide earth.” (9) This means we are concerned for our brothers and sisters around the globe who face poverty, disease and civil strife and providing humanitarian assistance to them.

  • We believe in respect and welcome for all people as created in the image of God—“There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.” (10) This means, as Bishop Eaton has said, that we believe our LGBTQIA+ siblings enrich our church, and we support our siblings against efforts to take away their civil and human rights—especially in this time of targeting transgender youth. In addition, we believe LGBTQIA+ lay leaders, deacons, pastors, and bishops are a blessing to this church and to our life together.

Our Responsibility to Care for God’s Creation

  • We believe in caring for God’s creation. (11) This means each of us has a duty to care for our planet and collectively we support regulations and agencies that protect it.

  • We value science and its ability to find cures for illnesses that plague humans.  This means funding research and supporting scientific efforts. (12)

  • For a study guide on these topics, see the ELCA Curriculum on Civic Life and Faith.

Footnotes

1.     Mark 16:15

2.     Matthew 22:21

3.     Isaiah 10:1-2, Micah 6:8, Romans 12:21

4.     Exodus 20:16

5.     Matthew 22:39

6.     Matthew 7:12

7.     Psalm 82:3-4, Psalm 146:9, Proverbs 31:8-9, Matthew 25:35, James 1:27

8.     Hebrews 13: 1-3, Matthew 25:35

9.     1908 Hymn by W.A. Dunkenley aka John Oxenham

10.  Galatians 3:28

11.  Genesis 1:28 and 2:15

12.  John 3:2