Discussion Jumpstarter
Study leader reference - not a definitive answer
Question 4
Matt suggests the White House visit could be “not necessarily” wrong, but that openly communicating political support is where “many serious conservative Anabaptists” would have reservations; what is the difference between respectful access to rulers and becoming a political prop, and how can Christians discern the difference before they accept an invitation?
Another way to ask: What’s the difference between meeting a leader respectfully and being used to promote their politics? How can Christians tell the difference before saying yes to an invitation?
Discussion Jumpstarter
Direct Answer
The transcript implies respectful access means speaking to rulers as witnesses to Jesus’ kingdom, while becoming a prop means lending your presence to partisan support without clearly expressing core Christian demands.
- He says visiting the White House is “not necessarily” in conflict with nonresistance.
- But he adds many conservative Anabaptists would have “serious reservations” about visiting “to communicate that they’re politically supporting him.”
- He suspects the Amish “might have been used a bit” and were “likely chosen for their outspoken political support.”
- He observes they were “business people and not necessarily ministers,” and wonders if ministers would respond differently.
- He notes “we don’t know everything they said,” meaning discernment should include what will actually be communicated publicly.
- He critiques that they didn’t speak on “essential” faith commitments like enemy-love, so the public message stayed “around the edges.”