Jesus in the Middle?

On February 11, 2025, Rick Warren, the former pastor of Saddleback Church, tweeted:

If the Gospel writers had revealed any contrasting political/worldview positions of the two thieves, then Warren might have a basis for making such an application. Since Scripture contains no such contrast between the thieves, Warren has basically just taken the word "middle" and loaded in a meaning for the term from outside the text. Warren's tweet is an example of false equivalence and eisegesis.

There are biblical texts that clearly have bearing on hot-button political issues of our day. For example:

• Life is consistently valued from the womb (Job 31:15; Psalm 139:13; Isaiah 44:24; Luke 1:41).
• Jesus affirms gender distinctions, and He affirms marriage as a lifelong union of a man and a woman (Matthew 19:4-6).
• Justice and love are to be extended to the "stranger [who] sojourns with you in your land" (Leviticus 19:33-34).
• Mosaic law regulates private industry in order to ensure that the vulnerable in society have a source of provision (Deuteronomy 24:19-22).

However, the exact ways in which Bible verses should influence the crafting of specific laws in our nation (at local, state, and federal levels) are debatable. Nobody should attempt to coopt the Bible–nor the focal point of the Bible: Jesus Christ our Savior–for his own political agenda. The Lord will not serve as a poster-boy for leftist, centrist, or right-wing political groups.

"When Joshua was by Jericho, he lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, a man was standing before him with his drawn sword in his hand. And Joshua went to him and said to him, 'Are you for us, or for our adversaries?' 'Neither,' He replied. 'I have now come as Commander of the LORD’s army.' Then Joshua fell facedown in reverence and asked Him, 'What does my Lord have to say to His servant?' (Joshua 5:13-14 ESV)

Even God's old covenant people–national Israel–could not claim the Angel of the LORD as their own, as if He would serve their agenda. Instead, Joshua had to humbly enquire about the Lord's will, then submit to that will. Likewise, followers of Christ must–with humility, gentleness, and respect–seek the will of Christ from Scripture, and then pray for wisdom as we strive to implement His will.

Biblical political engagement does not require Christians to find a centrist position between protecting life in the womb or allowing it to be electively destroyed: it does not require Christians to find a centrist position between protecting children from genital mutilation and allowing for childhood genital mutilation. Biblical political engagement does require Christians "to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God" (Micah 6:8). Let us pray for the Spirit to help us exemplify these cardinal and heavenly virtues in our lives.