I am working on synthesizing some thoughts from two books: The Spirit of Our Politics by Michael Wear and Jesus and the Powers by NT Wright and Michael Bird.

There are three areas I am covering to put together some thoughts on how we are are live as Christians in America. (NOT American Christians. Note the difference.) There are the concerns Wear, Wright, and Bird raise. They give an evaluation of our current situation in Western culture. There are the truths they want to put forward so we can have an anchor. Then there is the way forward. They approach some action steps for believers in today’s tumultuous atmosphere.

Michael Wear draws heavily on Dallas Willard for his book and it is refreshing. One of the truths he pulls from Dallas is this: God is joy.

We should, to begin with, think that God leads a very interesting life, and that he is full of joy. Undoubtedly he is the most joyous being in the universe. The abundance of his love and generosity is inseparable from his infinite joy. (p. 72)

Can we imagine a joyful God? This isn’t about having a “right” answer, but to ask: How do we think about God?

We need to be anchored in truth. Not political truth. The Kingdom of God’s truth. It is deeper, more meaningful, and more joyous than any ideology finding its way in this world, or any ideology trying to drive division and hate in this world. THIS is what needs to be deep in us.

There are a lot of things I can be upset about in this world. There is no doubt there is truth to be spoken that isn’t “pleasant.” We are in times that need prophetic voices and prophetic action.

But to do so with anger as the deepest motivation will not be long-lived. To live in the knowledge of the deep joy of God is sustainable and life giving. He takes joy in his creation. He takes joy in humanity.

He delights in you.

And anything disrupting that beautiful creation needs to be dealt with so the full abundance of the creation can be restored. God won’t move in justice out of simple anger so “evil” can be destroyed. He will move in justice so evil can be moved aside and joy can be restored.

This is a deep truth we need flowing from the deepest part of our beings.