A physician member of CMDA recently asked me for a perspective on the tragic temporary takeover of the U.S. Capitol and the role of politicians before and after that tumultuous event. The physician’s email began, “I’m so saddened by this incident and so appalled….”

I’ve been asked to share the response to that physician more widely, so my edited response is below, followed by some thoughts on public policy ministry, the last four years and the next four years.

Thoughts on the Capitol Takeover and Surrounding Events

I responded to the physician’s concern and request for perspective about the Capitol takeover and surrounding politics as follows:

“If we as Christians view politicians as leaders whom God can use for His ends, we should be fine. For anyone who saw a particular politician as a savior, that’s another story, of course. But I don’t personally know of any believers who view politicians that way.

“A political loss can bare flawed character if a politician is not familiar enough with repentance and redemption and has never laid his or her ego at the cross. Such public personal failures can serve as a reminder to us all that the enemy will exploit the weakest point in our character. None of us is above such failure.”

Policy versus Politics

Those thoughts touch upon how I’ve personally navigated Washington, D.C. while serving as CMDA’s representative for well over a quarter of a century. Besides sensing a distinct calling from God to serve in this arena, the key consideration I have found helpful is distinguishing between politics and policy.

Politics focus on personalities, image, perceptions, peer pressure, emotions. Attaining and retaining power all too easily becomes the goal of politics and politicians.

By contrast, policy focuses on principles, ethics and real-world solutions. A politician can promise to save the world, but the dream can come crashing down with personal failures or, worse, assassination. A policy endures beyond personality because it is grounded in a principle, an idea, a value.

Non-partisan and Realistic

As a non-partisan, non-profit organization, CMDA works with political leaders as a means to an end, which is the advancement of policies that align with member-adopted positions and the restraint of policies opposed to those positions. We’re happy to work with the Republican Party, the Democrat Party or the Birthday Party—whoever supports our positions.

While we focus on policy and not politicians, we realistically recognize that some politicians are much more likely than others to advance favorable policies. Unfortunately, one of the major political parties has officially adopted a pro-abortion platform and has effectively driven out of the party any candidates who conscientiously object to that policy.

So realistically on pro-life legislation, that means I spend most of my time in Washington, D.C. working with the other party—not because CMDA is partisan, but because that’s where the pro-life politicians are at this point in history. Since my responsibilities include covering not only Congress but also the White House and federal agencies, focusing on the most likely productive paths to influence is simply a matter of efficient stewardship.

2021 and Beyond

Realistically speaking, we now face the prospect of four years with an administration and a majority in Congress who are on record supporting policies in direct contradiction to CMDA membership-endorsed official policy positions. Based on public statements and the positions of advisors and supporters, the symbiotic agenda of the new administration and Congress appears likely to include:

• Ending efforts to enforce the 2019 HHS conscience rule that would have protected conscience freedom for healthcare professionals. CMDA has been fighting in court alongside the U.S. government to protect the 2019 rule.
• With allies in Congress, removing Hyde Amendment pro-life legislative restrictions on government funding of abortions.
• Overturning the Mexico City policy and opening the door to taxpayer funding to groups that promote abortion overseas.
• Overturning the pro-life rule that reformed Planned Parenthood’s cash cow, the Title X family planning program, instead making grant partnerships once again hinge on presenting abortion as an alternative. Such a change would result in increased funding to Planned Parenthood groups while disqualifying any pro-life centers that otherwise could assist poor patients with Title X grant programs.
• Advocating for the FDA to lift safety restrictions on chemical abortion drugs, which according to a review of CDC data, are already fueling a rise in the number of abortions.

Besides this assault on life-affirming policies, the new administration and Congress are also expected to:

• Elevate LGBTQ rights over religious freedom, such as passing the Equality Act and also enforcing the 2016 HHS transgender mandate. CMDA has been in court fighting that mandate to protect our members’ conscience and medical judgment;
• Entertain party pressure to at least attempt to pack the U.S. Supreme Court with additional, abortion-affirming justices;
• End the Senate filibuster that provides the minority party with a measure of power to block partisan legislation and appointments;
• Admit new states such as the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico (and possibly also the U.S. Virgin Islands, American Samoa, Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands), in a move to put a long-time lock on the party’s political power.

Next Steps

I ended my communication with the physician friend who queried me about how to respond to recent political chaos by saying:

“Now we are left, for the moment, without a clear political leader while facing perhaps the greatest political threat to our values and our country’s carefully built foundations since the Civil War.

“So for those of us who know the real Leader, this is a time for prayer and carefully considered, courageous action as He leads.

“I’m thankful that you are one of those who will do so, like Daniel and Esther of old. God equip us and use us for His purposes in these dark times.”

Like this concerned physician, many members of CMDA have banded together precisely to address the challenges of steering an increasingly secular culture back toward biblical, life-affirming policies.

I encourage you to pray—earnestly and regularly—for these efforts in Washington, D.C. and in the states.

God may well be leading you to take a stand personally and professionally. You will find here a number of engagement options to consider, including working in the government, serving on federal commissions and providing congressional counsel and testimony.

Consider if God is calling you as a Christian healthcare professional to follow the examples of the biblical Daniel and Esther, by:

1. Committing now to following God’s commandments and conscience principles, as Daniel did: “But Daniel made up his mind that he would not defile himself…” (Daniel 1:8, NASB).
2. Deciding now to be prepared to sacrifice your career, your reputation, whatever it takes to faithfully follow God’s principles, as Queen Esther did: “…if I perish, I perish” (Esther 4:16b, NASB).

“See how great a love the Father has given us, that we would be called children of God; and in fact we are. For this reason the world does not know us: because it did not know Him.    Beloved, now we are children of God, and it has not appeared as yet what we will be. We know that when He appears, we will be like Him, because we will see Him just as He is. And everyone who has this hope set on Him purifies himself, just as He is pure” (1 John 3:1-3, NASB).

Addendum: Highlights of Policy Accomplishments 2017 to 2020