United Methodist Bishop Will Willimon Talks Politics

United Methodist Bishop Will Willimon, ever the controversialist, talked about “Christians, Religion and Politics” at Methodist affiliated Wofford College in South Carolina on November 2. With his typical humor, he aligned himself with liberal political causes while also warning of the limits of politics.

Now bishop of North Alabama, and formerly dean of Duke University chapel, Willimon has written over 60 books and sold over a million. One audience member quipped, “Just about every thought in his head gets published.” Recently, Willimon has garnered even broader attention for condemning Alabama’s new law against illegal immigration. He asserts this law, which targets human smugglers and employers, threatens the church’s ministry among illegals.

Willimon opened the evening by discussing the Apostles’ Creed, where Christians cite “Pontius Pilate—a political hack—who used to brag about how many people he executed in Texas, erm, Palestine.” The bishop wondered why a political figure made it into such a foundational church creed.  He examined Gospel precedents for commentary on political participation.

“Jesus, as far as I know, wasn’t too interested in politics,” Willimon said. “But in three years the government was very interested in him.” In the end, Christ’s main commandment was to render unto Caesar what is Caesar’s and to God those things that are God’s. Christians, however, were left with a horrifying example of how the government treats Christ and His Body.

Although admitting he always votes Democrat, Willimon professed little faith in government. “We are enmeshed in an overwhelming bureaucratic structure,” he complained. In earlier days, Americans looked to clergy to teach them about purpose, eternity, and destiny—ultimately found in God. “Between 1856 and tonight, we ask all of that from the government,” Willimon observed. “The government has become for all intents and purposes God for us.” He also discussed how he had unequivocally supported Obamacare until he realized that it pivoted on a “fantasy of immortality.”

Anabaptist attitudes tinted Willimon’s speech. He taught that Enlightenment thinkers tried to stave off religious violence through unity in the nation-state rather than the church. These innovators pushed the Christian faith toward the realm of mere private opinion. “The modern nation is the most bloody tool invented by men,” Willimon complained. Citing the 20^th century, with its millions dead from totalitarian regimes, Willimon said: “Christianity has had friction with every polity in which it found itself.” In addition he proclaimed: “Jesus and His church are concerned with things more important than democratic political principles.”

Willimon mourned the predominance an “essentially atheist national polity” in America. “Jefferson created a polity with religion completely free as long as it was personal and private,” he recalled. “God wants more than your heart; He tends to want everything.” Finally Willimon asserted: “Jesus Christ just doesn’t mesh well with the politics of the right or the left.”

Clergy may engage “prophetically” in politics as long as they respected proper limits, Willimon suggested. He described “the strangeness of a few people running around believing God, not the government, rules this nation.” Justifying his recent actions, he protested, “Clergy are citizens of democracy, so we have the right to speak truth in these things.” He warned: “When Christians get involved with government, they must take the approach of two porcupines making love: very carefully.”

Willimon poked at evangelicals who used to argue “us mainline liberals should just preach the Gospel.”  He ironically noted, “[Jerry Falwell] was trying to act like a liberal Methodist [in founding the Moral Majority]…Believe me, you evangelicals are going to hate yourselves in the morning.”

Talking about his immigration stance, Willimon granted:  “All governments are obliged to protect borders.” But he believes the Alabama law is unenforceable and a threat to Christian ministry: “It makes a difference if Christians give food, clothing, and hospitality without asking if [someone’s] undocumented or not.” Seemingly anxious for civil disobedience, the bishop did not cite the rule of law until prompted by an audience question.

Willimon noted that many Alabama United Methodists oppose his immigration view, and they cite the Romans 13 admonition to honor civil authority. He retorts: “This is hardly a text praising obedience to the government.” And he added: “No preacher should presume to preach for a majority of Methodists…We speak for God.” To any politicians in the room, he commanded, “Your job is to pass laws and make our life better.”

Fondly remembering liberal evangelist Tony Campolo’s visit to Duke, Willimon shared the Baptist’s claim that the Bible says little about the unborn but much about the evils of wealth. He also recalled Campolo arguing: “The Bible doesn’t say much about homosexuality…[or] sex before marriage.” Although professing to be pro-life and pro-traditional marriage, Willimon has often enjoyed verbally skirting the edges and poking fun at traditionalists over the years.

Willimon concluded by stating, “Pontius Pilate is in the creed to remind us of the great danger of the political enterprise…Nevertheless, God even works through politics to redeem the world.” It was a careful assertion from a bishop who often enjoys being provocative.