We Need An Anchor

At Peace in the Midst of Our Political Storm

We are not the first Christians who have had to endure unrest and fear that our nation might unravel politically, racially, and economically.

Dietrich Bonhoeffer, a young theologian, found himself living in a Germany rife with riots, finger pointing, and political strife, which brought widespread fear and conflict of every sort. Germany’s first attempt at democracy, the Weimar Republic established after World War I, was about to unravel. There was fear of communism, and with soup lines in Berlin and Munich, there was fear of starvation. Open fighting on the streets increased the fears and anxiety even more.

On January 15, 1933, Bonhoeffer, speaking at the Trinity Church in Berlin, preached a sermon titled, “Overcoming Fear.” His text was Matthew 8:23–27. In that passage, Jesus and His disciples got into the boat, and it wasn’t long before a violent storm arose on the sea. It was so great that “the boat was being swamped by the waves; but he [Jesus] was asleep” (v. 24). Jesus was sleeping!

Bonhoeffer made the point that storms always come as soon as Jesus gets into the boat. He said, “Fear is in the boat; all arms are frozen and drop their oars; all hope is lost.” Fear is in the boat. His description of this fear is vivid: “It crouches in people’s hearts. It hollows out their insides, until their resistance and strength are spent and they suddenly break down. Fear secretly gnaws and eats away at all the ties that bind a person to God and to others, and when in time of need that person reaches for those ties and clings to them, they break and the individual sinks back into himself or herself, helpless and despairing, while hell rejoices.” “Fear,” he says, “takes away a person’s humanity.”

The disciples are surprised at Jesus’ seeming indifference. They shout, “Save us, Lord; we are perishing.” And with Jesus awake, Bonhoeffer says, “Then it is as if the heavens opened, as if the heavenly hosts themselves raised a shout of victory in the midst of hopelessness: Christ is in the boat . . . Fear shrinks back, and the waves subside. The sea becomes calm and the boat rests on its quiet surface.” Christ is in the boat!

Here in the United States, we are told each political election is “the most important election in our history.” Forgive the repetition, but I do believe that the 2024 election is indeed the most important election we have had in my lifetime. And given our economic, political, and national uncertainty, I sense “fear is in the boat.”

No matter who wins or loses, we will wake up on November 6 to a very divided country; half of the population will be relieved, the other half deeply disappointed and possibly angry. We can expect rough winds and high waves, but let us remember that Jesus is with us in the boat.

Bonhoeffer knew that the assurance of Jesus with us in the boat did not mean we’d be spared suffering. We’re not guaranteed a smooth journey, but we are guaranteed a safe landing. To learn more about his fate, turn to the Q & A in the middle of this newsletter.

And I hope you will take advantage of the opportunity to receive my message on “Christian Nationalism,” a topic receiving a great deal of attention in this election year.

And don’t forget: Jesus is with you in your boat!

Christians and Politics—Do They Mix? Making Political Decisions Based on Truth

There is no question that our nation stands at a crossroad―politically, socially, and morally. With a critical election looming, and with competing claims fighting for our attention and our vote, Pastor Lutzer brings a seasoned, biblical approach to this ever controversial subject.

Q: I find it interesting you used Bonhoeffer, who urged us to believe Christ was with us in the boat, but wasn’t he hanged for his opposition to Hitler?

A: Incredibly interesting. He had been a pacifist, but when he understood the full extent of Hitler’s evil schemes, he joined the resistance. He, along with others, plotted to have “der Führer” assassinated. When the plot was discovered, Bonhoeffer was hanged in the Flossenbürg concentration camp, and even though his friends searched for his body, it was never found. The doctor who was on hand to confirm the death said he had never seen anyone die with such tranquility. Before ascending to the gallows, stripped of his clothes, Bonhoeffer got on his knees and prayed, “Lord this is the end—but for me it is the beginning of Life.”

Q: So, although Christ is with us in the boat, this doesn’t mean we’ll have smooth sailing? And it’s possible that our boat might be dashed to pieces?

A: Yes, you can put it that way. Christ is with us in our boat to be sure, but we must put biblical truth in a larger perspective. In this same sermon, Bonhoeffer said, “This world must fall, God stands above all, his thoughts unswayed, his Word unstayed, his will forever our ground and hope.” Let me emphasize that even though Christ is with us, this is not a guarantee we’ll be kept from suffering, despair, and death. But, as I already emphasized, it does mean we will arrive safely on that distant shore! Jesus was with Bonhoeffer, on those gallows.

Q: Let’s talk about the upcoming election. What is your advice to homes and churches presently divided about which political party would be best for our country?

A: If you can exchange views peaceably and with respect, that’s fine, but often there’s so much acrimony on both sides of our political divide that as believers, we should look at this as an opportunity to prove our unity in Christ is stronger than our political unity.

Q: Do we elect our president or does God have the final say?

A: To answer this question in detail would require a book, or at least a chapter in a book. So let me say this: God, working in and through human events, does indeed have the last word in elections. We cast our ballots; God uses our vote to shape His ends and bring about His purposes. This is why we must always see God behind our headlines.

Q: What is your opinion of the future of the U.S.—no matter who gets elected?

A: I cannot read God’s mind, so I want to speak carefully. We must remember that, as a nation, we have deeper problems than those which could be solved in Washington. Don’t misunderstand, I do believe politics is important, but when I see the advancing of evil, when I see the destruction of our young people through the sexualization of our culture, only God can save us from ourselves. As the saying goes, “I am not a pessimist or an optimist but a realist.” Without a return to God in repentance and faith, I see the continued disintegration of our culture on many levels. As you know, various studies have been done on the “dechurching” of America, and the situation is not encouraging.

Q: You have given a lecture on “Christian Nationalism.” That’s a long subject, but I do want to ask: What should be the attitude of Christians, given such negativity in our culture?

A: Excellent question: Jesus, speaking to His disciples promised, “In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world” (John 16:33). And remember, most of those disciples would die as martyrs. We will not be deterred by the headlines if we remember God has already lived our tomorrows! And He will bring us all the way to the shore!

Editor's note: Bonhoeffer's sermon "Overcoming Fear" can be found here among other collected sermons.