Learning from JD Vance’s Faith

During my sabbatical, I had the chance to read the Vice President’s new book Communion: Finding My Way Back to Faith. I enjoyed it. Vance tells the story of how he went from a committed evangelical in high school, to a discontent atheist in college, to a Roman Catholic as a young professional. The death of his grandmother (“Mawmaw”) led him to have a crisis of faith, diverting him from his evangelical roots. The disillusionment of atheism led him to fellowship with the Catholic Church. I was surprised at how evangelical Vance’s upbringing was. He was one of us!

Vance raises several reasons why he chose to not return to his Pentecostal, Southern Baptist, and non-denominational roots. These reasons are important for us to ponder. He shares this story of a friend and why his friend rejected Christianity:

“Wesley, like me and so many of his generation, had grown up in a church with few institutional roots. His pastor was articulate and caring, and the services had a certain evangelical thrill: modern music, thunderous sermons, and the occasional speaking in tongues. His church had no formal affiliation with any defined theology, proudly declaring itself ‘nondenominational.’ It was entirely the creation of its pastor. By the time Wesley hit adolescence, its superficial appeal had waned.”

When I read this quote, I was sad. JD Vance (and his friend) had given our approach to Christianity a try and had found it wanting. It was all hype, no substance.

What keeps people grounded to Christ is not the flashy, the cool, the hip, and the rad. Pastors preaching in skinny jeans with trendy haircuts is a fad that will not last. Pumping congregants with spiritual sugar every week only leads to illness and weight gain. What lasts in gospel ministry? Consistent, sound, faithful exposition of the Word of God, along with regular explanation as to what we believe and why we believe it. In short: theology over vibes, substance over trends, and the members of the church over the appeal of the pastor.

Pastor Chance Sumner