Impeachment—How should we respond - thoughts from MTS Associate Director
Rev. Thomas Eddy
 Most of us hold strong political beliefs. As we look around the country there have been many different responses to the impeachment of the president. Jubilant celebration, great sorrow, joy, anger, frustration, confusion, apathy, boredom, just to name a few. You probably have friends, family members, colleagues, church members, other Christians who have had some of these and other responses to the impeachment. How should we respond? Especially to those whom we strongly disagree with? I offer some advice from the Apostle Paul.
The advice comes at the end of the 12th chapter of the book of Romans. Before we look at this section, I want us to remember that Paul’s following paragraphs (remember his original letter was not divided into chapter and verses) are about God being sovereign over government and that we should “be subject to the governing authorities” and “one must be in subjection, not only to avoid God’s wrath but also for the sake of conscience.”
The passage I would like us to meditate on concerning our interactions with others about the impeachment is:
 Romans 12:14–21 (ESV): Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them. 15 Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. 16 Live in harmony with one another. Do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly. Never be wise in your own sight. 17 Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all. 18 If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. 19 Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.” 20 To the contrary, “if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.” 21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
First bless! There will be those who may hate you for your view about the impeachment and what you think about the president. Paul’s and my advice to you is to bless them and not curse them.
Rejoice & weep! You will have friends that are rejoicing over the situation for one reason or another and there will be others whom this situation brings great sadness. Empathize with them, right where they are. Show them the grace that Jesus has shown you.
Harmony! This is the central advice that Paul give us. Live in harmony with one another.
Be honorable! We might understand the situation better than others (or we think we do) and we may have been paying better attention to the process than others. It is easy to be haughty, to think we have greater wisdom than those around us. And especially to those with whom we disagree, it is natural to speak before we think. Paul warns us against all of this! He tells us instead to be honorable.
Peace! This is one of my favorite verses in the Bible. “If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all”. We should not start the political arguments, but if someone else does and does not want to live peaceably with us that does not “depend on you”. What does depend on us is what we say and our attitude towards others. Even if someone hates us for our political view we can live in peace with them even if they refuse to live in peace with us. Beloved, in these tense political times, this one piece of advice will lower your stress levels and as Paul later writes, bring a peace “which surpasses all understanding” and God will use that peace to “guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus”. I do not know about you but I need that peace in these troubled times.
Overcome evil! Lastly, Paul advises us to leave justice in God’s hands, not ours. Regardless of how we feel about the impeachment and how much we might want the situation to change, let God be sovereign over the situation. Have a firm faith that not only did the impeachment not catch God by surprise but it is part of the fabric of his sovereign plan for you, me, and the USA. If there are those in your life with whom you have a completely different opinion about the impeachment, then treat them well and do the equivalent of giving them food and drink. Live at peace with them and trust God in the situation, being good to everyone.
If we follow this ancient advice we will have a Merry Christmas and we will contribute to bringing “peace on Earth”.
Merry Christmas to you and your family.
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