Just a day after welcoming Pope Francis, House Majority Leader John Boehner announced that he will step down from his role in Congress at the end of October. It’s a startling announcement that has caught almost everyone in Washington off-guard. Boehner’s resignation is being widely interpreted as a sign of just how irrational and divisive American politics has become.

This weekend, Boehner was making the rounds of TV news, explaining the current situation in Congress. He talked about how he plans to spend his last month in office, now freed of any need to protect himself politically. With nothing to fear at this point from far-right challengers, Boehner painted a dire picture of the spiritual state of the 114th Congress.

Boehner is engaging with this whole situation on a spiritual level. I was really struck by an interview that Boehner did with Face the Nation this Sunday morning, where he referenced the Bible, and referred to some of his fellow House members as false prophets. Check it out:

What Boehner is basically saying is that some Republicans are willing to say virtually anything to play to their far-right base. Despite the fact that they are clearly not going to be able to repeal Obamacare, or defund Planned Parenthood, for example, they’re publicly committed to doing just that. And they’re willing to shut down the federal government for prolonged periods, doing potentially huge damage to the US economy and reputation.

As I watched this video, I had several questions. First of all: How do we know the difference between false prophets and true ones? Prophets are uncompromising figures, and they’re often considered unrealistic. So how can we tell when someone has crossed the line from boldly challenging the status quo, to being a person who intentionally distorts reality and gains power through empty promises?

Another question: How much compromise should we want from our elected officials? For me personally, I’m happy when I see politicians who stand on principle and don’t back down from doing what is right, even when there are political costs. But there’s definitely a distinction between working strategically for justice and simply being obstructionist in order to create a self-serving spectacle. How can we tell which is happening?

And finally: Where is God in all of this? Clearly John Boehner feels that he’s been through some pretty significant spiritual discernment on this whole question, and he’s decided to walk away from the mess in Congress. Where does that leave us? What responsibility do you and I have to engage in the increasingly bogged-down world of US politics? What are other ways that we might find God calling us to make a positive impact in a world that is desperately in need of change? How can we find a path beyond the culture wars, coming to unity rather than compromise?

I the video below, I have a conversation with Nathan Hosler of the Church of the Brethren Office of Public Witness. During our talk, we consider what it means to be friends of Jesus in a society where false prophets hold positions of power and influence. We explore what each of us can do to be truthful and loving in the midst of a society that has largely lost its moral compass.

I’d love to hear your thoughts on these questions, and whatever other reactions John Boehner’s resignation elicits for you. Please share in the comments below!

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