In the fast-paced, all-day news cycle in which we live, many stories get overlooked, and often they are the ones that carry the most weight. Behind the actual stories, however, lies an issue that continues to weaken the church–conforming to the world’s way of thinking for the sake of personal or political gain.
As an example, consider the story of the bill in the Montana Legislature that would legalize assisted suicide. This of course is not the first bill on the subject. Nine states as well as the District of Columbia have already legalized the practice (and then of course there’s our neighbor to the north that legalized the practice through the Medical Assistance in Dying act). This post isn’t about the morality of the practice (we’ll speak to that in a later post), but it does assume that the practice of assisted suicide is contrary to Scripture. Instead, I want to focus on the growing support for the practice among political conservatives, seemingly making the issue more “bipartisan.”
Republican state Representative Tracy Sharp, for example, voted for the bill after a hearing filled with emotional testimony from people who have had direct experience with losing loved ones to terminal illness. Sharp said “I’m very – I’m anti-abortion. For this particular bill, which I know there’s a sanctity in life and all that, but I just can’t vote to deny all the people that we heard, something that I would want for myself. For me, it would be too hypocritical. I would like to die with dignity.”1 He joined the bill’s sponsor, fellow Republican Julie Darling, in urging support for the bill.
What’s striking about Rep. Sharp’s statement is the “but”. I know there’s a sanctity in life and all that, but I just can’t vote to deny. . . When we place a “but” after a statement of biblical truth (the Bible certainly speaks to the sanctity of life, Gen. 9:6 for example), whatever comes next reveals our true loyalties. In this case, it wasn’t even about a political decision; it was something “that I would want for myself.” Setting aside biblical truth for personal gain is a dangerous path to take.
Another example of this can be found in some segments of the church seemingly abandoning Jesus’ teachings in the Sermon on the Mount (Matt. 5-7) because they are “weak” and “don’t work anymore.” Russell Moore, a former top official for the Southern Baptist Convention said this during an interview with NPR:
Multiple pastors tell me, essentially, the same story about quoting the Sermon on the Mount, parenthetically, in their preaching—’turn the other cheek’—[and] to have someone come up after to say, ‘Where did you get those liberal talking points?’ When the pastor would say, ‘I’m literally quoting Jesus Christ’ … The response would be, ‘Yes, but that doesn’t work anymore. That’s weak’ When we get to the point where the teachings of Jesus himself are seen as subversive to us, then we’re in a crisis.2
This is an example of surrendering biblical truth–the very gospel itself–for the sake of political power. Paul’s first letter to the Corinthians warns the church about using worldly means to fight spiritual battles, and we would do well to remember and apply those teachings. Speaking of the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus had this to say:
Do not give dogs what is holy, and do not throw your pearls before pigs, lest they trample them underfoot and turn to attack you. (Matthew 7:6)
As I re-read that recently, I began to wonder if the American church is no longer afraid of the “pigs” or “dogs” (those who walk as enemies of the cross, Phil. 3:18) because we have adopted them as pets. Unfortunately, that is not said in jest. Consider the tone of speech coming from many (certainly not all) Christians and churches today. Consider how much political issues have become litmus tests in place of the gospel of Jesus. Could it be that we have adopted these “pets” so that, in fact, they wouldn’t turn on us?
It’s something to think about. And repent of.
“Montana lawmakers debate assisted suicide”, The World and Everythign In It, podcast of World Radio, March 11, 2025. https://wng.org/podcasts/montana-lawmakers-debate-assisted-suicide-1741646380. Accessed March 13, 2025.
Ailso Slisco, “Evangelicals Are Now Rejecting ‘Liberal’ Teachings of Jesus”, Newsweek, August 9, 2023. https://www.newsweek.com/evangelicals-rejecting-jesus-teachings-liberal-talking-points-pastor-1818706. Accessed March 13, 2025.
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