This week’s entry is written by our History Department, and specifically Kevin O’Melia.

We have a uniquely difficult task within the History department to think carefully about the ways in which our convictions as Christians intersect with our political convictions. As a department, we asked to use this blog space to touch on the upcoming presidential election and to identify some of our departmental convictions as we approach this divisive time.

Last year, I (Mr. O’Melia) had the privilege to attend a conference with Mr. Spector on the topic of Christian Nationalism. Christian Nationalism is the combination or the usurpation of the worship of state over the worship of God. While many of us would never admit that we value our nation over our faith, the conference opened my eyes to the little ways in which I have personally allowed this idolatry to infiltrate my own thinking. I find myself naturally drawn to the arena of politics and civics, both historical and modern. To be clear, this is not a problem; the problem occurs when my hope becomes ordered incorrectly (that’s language from Augustine). If my hope is found first in our nation, my political party, or even a specific political figure, then I am guilty of idolatry. Famous evangelist Dwight Moody said, “You don’t have to go to heathen lands today to find false gods. America is full of them. Whatever you love more than God is your idol.”

Many of us are guilty of basing our identity first around our political affiliation and second around our religious convictions. This is the definition of idolatry. If you are struggling to discern if this could be you, the history department at FRCS would offer a question: Are you more likely to share your faith or your political views with others? If we find ourselves more willing to share our political views, it might be true that we have mis-ordered our love or our hope.

So how do we apply this to the upcoming election season? We must be a people who vote from our moral convictions, our ethical convictions, and our theological convictions. We must be people who care about civic engagement. We are uniquely afforded the opportunity in this nation to engage politics with a voice and with representation. However, we also must remember that our ultimate hope is placed solely in Christ. America cannot save us. Donald Trump cannot save us, and Kamala Harris cannot save us. As a school and as a community, we must train and equip our students so that they may properly engage politics from a place of wisdom and eloquence. We need to raise up young Christian scholars who can think critically and are able to impact the world for Christ.

Regardless of which side of the political spectrum you fall in, we are to love each other in the way that Christ loved us. By showing this love to those with whom we disagree politically, we may affect change in our nation that politics alone may not ever be able to. We are first “citizens of heaven” and that can be done only through the power of Christ.