What compels a lifelong counterterrorism and counterintelligence security analyst to go to seminary and seek work in ministry? The short answer is I felt a calling to serve God, my neighbors, and even my enemies.
The long answer is that I’m called to continue exploring ways to make peace through engaged, loving-kindness.
The term “loyal opposition” comes from the British parliamentary system to describe opposing the political party in charge while remaining loyal to the nation and process.
There has never been a greater need to recognize and affirm a truth: people of goodwill can disagree. They can believe differently from you without being evil or an existential threat. In these trying times of culture wars, crusades, and take-no-prisoner ideologies, we can use more loyalty to the idea of community. Kindness and peace are deeply engrained in Christianity. God told us to “pray for the good of the city we live in,”[1] and that living loyally under civil authorities is an obligation of conscience.[2] Democracies and religions cannot long survive without the ability to air different views within the political process without demonizing or demagoguery.
The average non-churchgoer can be forgiven for not knowing Christians are commanded to love everyone and be peacemakers. The primary damage to Christianity’s reputation isn’t heresies or conspiracies. It is Christians running around trying to be right instead of being decent, lecturing instead of loving.
There is a strong, growing, and disturbing trend of political positions overtly stated as religious doctrine. Faith is used to defend some execrable[3] ideologies. Ideologies touted to be sanctioned by God produce abominations masquerading as theology.
I try to live out my long answer of peace and loving kindness daily. I will try to answer it daily for the rest of my life. This blog is one way I’m unpacking that answer. Why this format? As an itinerant pastor, student, and analyst, I share the lessons I learn with others, and they share their lessons with me. Through the process, we all hopefully learn something or at least understand why we believe what we believe.
I look forward to what this experiment might yield. The only agenda I have is to explore airing my loyal dissenting analysis. I’ve spent most of my adult life serving the nation and world in national and joint combined security endeavors. I consider myself a serious and devout Christian who endeavors to incorporate a high theology of the incarnation of Jesus Christ into my daily mission of loving kindness to everyone. Finally, as a lifelong outsider and nomad, I’ve cultivated the gift of asking questions and challenging popular beliefs.
Regardless of what I write or what you think I’m saying, I desire to always be lovingly kind. I’ve been shown and am shown loving kindness from Jesus daily, and I want to pass that on to whoever might find it relevant.
I love every single one of you, and there’s not a thing you can do about it!
Blessings of peace and grace to you and those you love, now and always,
Johnie
[1] Jeremiah 29:7
[2] Rom 13:1-7
[3] WARNING (Language): I edited this from the original to suit the sensitivities I was raised with. Shitty. Many ideologies and theologies masquerading as morality and decency are just shitty by any definition.
Loyal Opposition 