When I think about Christians and politics these days, the term “pyrrhic victory” comes to mind. Poor king Pyrrhus, who ruled in Greece in the third century BC, fought the Romans in the battle of Asculum in 279 BC. He won, but at such a cost it was tantamount to defeat. Here’s how Plutarch relates the story in Life of Pyrrhus:
The armies separated; and, it is said, Pyrrhus replied to one that gave him joy of his victory that one other such victory would utterly undo him. For he had lost a great part of the forces he brought with him, and almost all his particular friends and principal commanders; there were no others there to make recruits, and he found the confederates in Italy backward. On the other hand, as from a fountain continually flowing out of the city, the Roman camp was quickly and plentifully filled up with fresh men, not at all abating in courage for the loss they sustained, but even from their very anger gaining new force and resolution to go on with the war.
Down through the centuries there have been many such military “pyrrhic victories.” In American history, The Battle of Bunker Hill, where British troops fought Washington’s army for control of Boston peninsula, is an example. The Redcoats won the battle, but at a much greater cost in lives lost than the revolutionaries. General Washington responded to the defeat by saying: “I have a another hill I’d like to sell the British.” As a result of Bunker Hill, British troops quartered in Boston never again ventured outside the city and the revolutionary cause won wider support.
But pyrrhic victory also has a broader meaning. Besides referring to military victories that cause greater harm than good, pyrrhic victory refers to any cause that advances by means which ultimately cause its defeat. Prohibition and the Eighteenth Amendment could be considered pyrrhic victories. Alcohol will never again be banned in the United States.
On the other hand, Abolition and the Thirteenth Amendment was not a pyrrhic victory. Instead it set on course a transformation of race relations in the United States that continues to this day; a transformation that reflects deeply held beliefs about humanity and equality. Slavery will never again be instituted in the United States.
So why the difference? The difference is between imposing something on a society and infusing a society with something. The Eighteenth Amendment imposed values on the general population while the Thirteenth Amendment reflected a process of infusion that had already been going on for some time. Prohibition was an imposition while Abolition was a natural outgrowth of generally accepted values.
And that brings me to Christians and politics. If we fail to infuse our culture with Christian values, then simply canonizing those values into law will always be seen as an imposition, with the result that we will always ultimately fail – a pyrrhic victory. But if we succeed in infusing our culture with Christian values – by living them out consistently on a broad basis, by expressing them persuasively in art and literature, and by winning as many people as possible to Jesus Christ – then the legal aspect will come naturally.
This post first appeared in NewCommandment.org.
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10 thoughts on “Pyrrhic Victory: Why I’m Ambivalent about Christians and Politics”
Hey Herb , Great Article. Terry Smith here, guy with long white beard that helped JR put on the IRON Sharpens IRON events in CA, and Nevada, I did all of the recording for the events. Really like your new direction with the Blog and the new media.
Hi, Terry. Great to hear from you! I have good memories of you and JR and our ministry together there in central CA and Nevada. And thanks for your encouraging words. It’s a new world out there since we last met, isn’t it? Though it’s been a challenge to adopt this new direction in ministry, it looks like it’s bearing fruit.
Blessings,
Herb
I have been following your blogs for several years and found them to be inspiring. I started a widows ministry 3years ago using Miriam Neff’s “Widow Connection” materials. The pastors of my church have been rather tepid in their response and remain uninvolved In spite of my numerous pleas and sharing your Information. I h a ve found that most other churches here In Casper Wyoming to have m uch the same response. I’m getting very frustrated and I’m sure they are getting tired of hearing from me. Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Linda Lensert
Widows of Faith Ministry
Hi, Linda. I’m good friends with Miriam Neff. She has some excellent material and I’m glad you’re using it. Sadly, though, the response you’re getting from your church is typical. If you would like me to come up and meet with you and your pastor (and anyone else) for lunch, I would be more than happy to do so. Also, I’m good friends with Brad Hopkins, the director of the rescue mission there in Casper. You might want to contact him as well. He might be able to set something up with other pastors in the area.
Know that I am available to help in any way I can.
Blessings,
Herb
Thank you for that information I will follow up on that. I will speak to the pastors and see if they are open to meeting with you. The response they keep giving me is that no men In the church have a “vision” for this ministry. They have allowed me the freedom these past 3 years to minister to widows and feel that is adequate. But this is only part of the church responsibility.
Sorry for posting that request on the wrong place on your website
Linda Lensert
You can post anywhere you want, Linda. Let me know how it goes with your pastors.
Herb
No doubt, simply passing laws or changing policies won’t get the job done. Law and public policy, however, do serve a vital role: the way nations conduct themselves matters to God. When abortions were occurring “in the shadows” in America it was a problem. That said, when the government of the land officially gave abortion its imprimatur, the situation worsened exponentially. Law, regulations, etc. furthermore provide a pedagogical function in a culture — what the government says is impermissible or permitted sends a message to citizens, and thus can play a role in conditioning their hearts and direct them toward repentance, righteousness, etc. (or toward licentiousness, corruption and the like.) Again, Christian influence in politics and government alone is not sufficient to rescue a darkening nation, but it ought to be a part of the picture. It’s one reason the “salt” of God’s people must permeate every part of a society — including the formulation of it’s laws, policies, etc.
Well said, Steve. I agree completely.
Yes the salt of Gods people must permeate every part of a society including the formulation of its laws, policies, etc. with their pedagogical function. It’s a practical way to bring stability if enough people support it. This pushes back against the wedge bringing instability into society, the idea that everyone has the right to think what they want to think, believe what they want to believe and do what they want to do, provided they don’t “hate.” This hate is apparent when you try to impose your world view on an individual or group by political or any other means. So hate is the only “sin” left. The evangelical challenge then, is to move love out of the murky undefined idea of “not hating.”
So, go NCMM, demonstrate that the “sin” of commanding people to love is no sin at all if it is “as I have loved you.” Experiencing this love and it’s resulting community is the main way people come to experience God. Simply pushing back politically against the sharp edge of the wedge likely risks a phyrric victory scenario that wastes resources, generates increasing bad will and stirs up the hate mud. Priority needs to be given to ministries like NCMM to spark an exponential reversal of the worsened situations faced now.
This is a very insightful reply, Greg. You’re right that the only sin left is hate and Christians are continually being pushed into that category. So it’s critical that we become known for the way we love – each other and the world. Hopefully, it’s not too late.
Again, thanks for participating in the conversation.
Herb