My wife and I watched the new Tom Hanks movie, Greyhound this past weekend and thoroughly enjoyed it. It had two things going for it: Tom Hanks and WWII. We loved it for those reasons and more. It was a rare depiction of Navy battle and had a subtle, but powerful faith element to it. Hanks is a devout Christian, who is guided by prayer and Scripture as he skillfully leads a contingent across the Atlantic. I won’t give away the movie, but it demonstrates something we don’t see often in 2020: calm, but determined leadership under fire. Hanks as U.S. Navy Commander Earnest Krause shows otherworldly grit and grace.
But there is a line that stayed with me. I will not get this verbatim as I’m really bad at remembering exact movie lines (unlike some of my best friends who can rattle them off on command in a way that always provokes envy in me). After a harrowing clash with a German U-boat in which the destroyer Krause is commanding manages to sink a U-boat, one of his men celebrates the death of the Germans on board. “We got 18 Germans!” to which Hank’s character replies, soberly, “18 souls.”
They were souls to this devout man. He did what he had to do, fighting for the Allies and fighting for his country against the enemy who was defending the Nazi expansion. Hanks was on the side of the good guys and yet he didn’t fail to see that the men on the other side—sworn enemies bent on his own destruction—were human beings.
It made me think a lot this weekend about the way we see other people, especially in this election season, in the midst of a pandemic, when tensions are so high and trouble so ubiquitous. We are not, like Hanks, mostly fighting sworn enemies of the state. We are mostly having arguments with fellow Americans about the country we want to have. These are important, vital arguments that matter. And yet we can’t even see those who disagree with us—slightly or significantly—as souls. But that person on the other side of Twitter, who will walk into a voting booth this November and punch a ballot in a way different than you is not an avatar and is probably not your enemy. That person is a human being.
I’m not saying, at all, that the politics don’t matter. There are very real concerns on the ballot. There are issues of life and death, justice, and human flourishing. And yet we have to be honest with ourselves and understand that the “side” that we might find ourselves on in this season may not have all the answers for our country and probably doesn’t have all the best ideas.
Sometimes I read posts on social media or read articles by fellow Christians and I ask myself, I wonder if they have anyone in their life who disagrees with them? I have family members—people I love so deeply and who are better people than me, who love Jesus—who just love the President and think everything he does is near perfect. I go round and round in argument with them and yet I still love them. They are people who matter to me. And I hear from them reasons for voting the way they do. I have people in my life—dear friends who are better people than me, who love Jesus—who think the President is one of the worst in history, is an evil man and that nothing at all good has come from his time in office. And I go round and round with them and yet I still love them. They are people who matter to me. And I hear from them reasons for voting the way they do. I have friends who love Trump and friends who loathe Trump. And there are so many incentives from both sides and from the media to just break off these friendships and to let politics become such an overriding principle. But I’m not gonna do that. I love my friends and family. Also, I learn a lot from these conversations.
I’m convinced everyone needs a dear friend to the right of them politically and a dear friend to the left of them politically. I’m convinced everyone needs friends in different vocations and socioeconomic classes. I’m convinced everyone needs friends you can go round and round in disagreement with and yet love still.
This is what I think Paul is getting when he says he was “all things to all people.” Not that Paul was a principle-free squish, which we know he wasn’t given his strong public polemics on behalf of the gospel or that he didn’t have any guiding principles. And yet he was open-handed, humble and willing to listen to those who came at things differently. Especially the areas that are more complicated. The presence of folks who disagree with us is a discipline and a gift.
A Short Note About A Good Man
What will be our last act on this earth? We don’t know. But for John Powell it was risking his life to help a stranded motorist in a burning car on a busy highway. John was struck and killed on that highway early Sunday morning, leaving behind a wife and four children. John was a good man and a faithful preacher. It’s such an awful tragedy, hitting so close to me. I had gotten to know John through my work at ERLC. He was a close, close friend to some close friends of mine. I hope if you are reading this you might consider donating to help his family.
What I’m Reading
So I’m back to pleasure reading, having turned in my manuscript. Last week I was able to knock out the wonderful biography of William Jennings Bryan, A Godly Hero by Michael Kazin. I loved it. Bryan was an intriguing man: conservative theologically, progressive politically, three-time major party candidate for President, one-time Secretary of State and defender of creationism in the Scopes Monkey Trial. I picked up this bio a couple of years ago at a Charlottesville used book store.
Now on to other reading. I’m making my way through Gentle and Lowly by Dane Ortlund and He Calls Me Friend by John Perkins. Both are so, so good.
I’ve also started an intriguing biography of J. Edgar Hoover and am wanting to start the new thrillers by Dan Silva and Brad Thor. I’ve been walking less but plan on resuming that, which means a new audio book: George Marshall, Defender of the Republic.
Interesting Links
This week we lost several important men. JI Packer was one of them. Packer’s life’s work was such that Christians will be reading him in a hundred years. He’s perhaps best known for Knowing God but was prolific in teaching and writing about the Scriptures and theology. Justin Taylor has a wonderful bio here and DA Carson has a wonderful tribute here. I also enjoyed Collin Hansen, Kevin DeYoung, and Justin Taylor discussing his life on this podcast.
The towering civil rights leader and Congressman, John Lewis, passed away as well. There are several tributes worth reading: here in the New York Times, a tribute here in The Wall Street Journal. Lewis was buoyed by the power of forgiveness and Christian grace. I love this piece in The Undefeated about Lewis’ forgiveness. This essay by Lewis on forgiving George Wallace is a masterpiece.
Some podcasts:
I’ve been enjoying Rob Lowe’s new podcast, especially this conversation with Magic Johnson (warning: it’s a podcast, and therefore it’s unfiltered — you will hear Lowe use expletives).
This conversation on The Dispatch Podcast with Jake Tapper about his new movie The Outpost is awesome.
Personal Projects
I’m in the midst of promotion for A Way With Words, including this oped for USA Today and a million radio interviews. If you are interested in pre-ordering (which really helps authors), make sure you don’t miss out on these special bonuses.
I’m working on edits for The Characters of Easter with Moody, releasing next spring.
I’ve got several articles I’m either starting or editing. Watch for those.
I’m also keynoting this conference, Glorious Hope by the good folks at Gospel Centered Family.
Lastly, we are about to relaunch my podcast with a special series. I have recorded episodes with some amazing and surprising guests. Stay (i)tuned.
Stay in Touch
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