Whose Side Is God On?

Is God right, left or center? Is God conservative, progressive, centrist?

In church news from this past week, best-selling author Rick Warren was roasted for a recent post on X. Below shows the post (though it is now deleted).

I think what may have set people off is the last portion: “you’ll find him [the real Jesus] in the middle, not on either side.”

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This kind of language typically gets labeled as centrist or bothsidesism (seeing the positive in both sides). Many disagree with such an approach, bringing the charge that truth and justice choose sides. And I think that is a fair assessment. There comes a time when we must make a decision, hopefully guided by God’s truth and justice.

Whether it’s worth it or not, following the social media rage directed toward Warren, he not only deleted the post, but he offered an apology as well.

Now, in certain situations, I think we may note both pros and cons, positives and negatives. Matter of fact, much of life calls for us to consider such. I recognize both the pros and cons from theological ideas and church denominations all the way down to the pros and cons of the coffee I choose to drink. I embrace both positives and negatives in my own life of teaching and job performance, though the negatives are more difficult and sometimes painful to swallow.

Life is not a computer language made up of binary 1s and 0s. All that we encounter very rarely leans black or white, completely right or completely wrong.

Still, I also understand choices have to be made, which are typically based upon the best information we have in any given situation, whether studying theology or choosing a hot beverage. Again, truth and justice call for us to choose a side, hopefully one that is both true and right.

So, with that, does God have a side?

Does God, say, choose Democrat or Republican, Arminian or Calvinist, Methodist or Baptist?

I have been accused of bothsidesism before. It was not given as a compliment. And if you need a marker for me, I’d say I lean left of center in both theological and social (or political) issues. But what I see, as best I can now, is that the ways and perspectives of Christ are on some level supra-side. Meaning Christ isn’t particularly on a side. God hasn’t bought the t-shirt or bumper sticker for a particular brand of politics or theology.

In thinking about this over the past few weeks, I am reminded of what the angel of the Lord said to Joshua when he showed up before Israel’s battle against the city of Jericho.

Now when Joshua was near Jericho, he looked up and saw a man standing in front of him with a drawn sword in his hand. Joshua went up to him and asked, “Are you for us or for our enemies?”

“Neither,” he replied, “but as commander of the army of the Lord I have now come.” Then Joshua fell facedown to the ground in reverence, and asked him, “What message does my Lord have for his servant?”

The commander of the Lord’s army replied, “Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy.” And Joshua did so. (Josh 6:13-15)

Like us, Joshua wanted to know whose side God is on. Are you with us or them? The angel’s response calls for pause: Neither. Rather, there was a different team, one separate from Israel and Jericho.

I think there is something in this to consider.

At least from my small perspective, it has pushed me to see that God is neither Democrat or Republican (or Libertarian or Green for that matter). God is not Methodist or Baptist or Presbyterian or Assembly of God, etc. God is not conservative or progressive.

God has God’s own side, own way, own perspective. And when we ask God if he is on our side or theirs, expect the same answer given to Joshua: Neither.

Now, it may be that a particular group — say, politically or denominationally — embraces the better ideas and practices. I am more keen to embrace social programs as a way to support the poor and minorities. I am adamant that women are to be appointed leaders within the church. And, while I may argue these are the best approaches in light of my understanding of Christ and Scripture, I steer clear of arguing God has chosen my side (or the side of the group of which I am a part). This doesn’t mean God is a centrist, because, again, God is neither left or right or center.

“Are you for us or for our enemies?”

“Neither…”

In a binary world, the other side isn’t just, well, the other side. They are typically labeled as the enemy. But God surprises us with the reminder of which side gets the Lord’s commitment. God’s own side.

This is not about bothsidesism. It’s about being supra-side, above and beyond ours or the others’ side.

I think until we realize this, it will impede upon our discipleship and transformation into the image of God’s Son.

In our extremely binary world, even the binaries of the supposedly non-binary progressive context, we need to back away from the trees and recognize God can approach things very differently from us.

God isn’t picking nor cheering for “teams” and “sides”. Well, God picks God’s side. But, if God doesn’t actually choose one of our sides, it may mean that we need to be a tad more fluid in our approaches, especially as we engage in the world of social media.