Are we "Too political?"
Part one of a series: Questions Christians should be asking.
Disclaimer: I am not a Republican, Democrat, or a socialist. This blog is not meant to push any agenda, rather to question the existence of agendas and what that means to the Christian.
It is a dangerous moment for the church and the gospel when a temporal power is confused for a higher power.
-Mark Rodgers
Former staff director, Senate Republican Conference president
The conservative religious movement - or at least parts of it - has sold its soul to partisan politics. Many young evangelicals see that this is just Republican politics masquerading as conservative religion. When they observe this, they don't like it. And they are concerned that it could happen to the left too - exactly what happened on the right: The politicizing and corrupting of religion for the sake of political power.
-Jim Wallis
Founder and executive director, Sojourners Call to Renewal.
Isn't it funny how the word "politics" is made up of the words "poli" meaning 'many' in Latin, and 'tics' as in 'bloodsucking creatures.'
-Unknown
I am a week behind the curve with this blog, but my views on politics have been seven years in the making. Ever since I hit the ripe old age of eighteen I have sought to make since out of all the right wing, left wing, moderate, socialism, capitalism ideas and ideals. Most importantly, it has been a quest to find out how to be a Christian and still be involved in the world of politics.
George W. Bush vs John Kerry was the first election that I could cast a vote for Jesus and prevent the moral disaster of the century from occurring, with the pro-choice Kerry feeling the sharp edge of my ballot, Bush is re-elected and all is well with the world.
As an 18-year-old I equated the Republican party with the will of God - I was programmed by pastors, teachers, biased news organizations and friends to believe that Republican equals Jesus or at the very least, who he would vote for. The Republicans, after all, were pro-life, pro sanctity of marriage, and they were the best option of dealing with terrorists, not that there is anything wrong with these ideals - I am for all of these things as well.
Flash forward to the next election, the nation was in shambles. The stock market crashed, the recession paralyzed the average American. Millions are out of jobs, and the middle class was quickly disappearing. The race of morality quickly vanished into a race of who could get us out of this mess. The promise of moving forward came into play, Obama is elected and the nation looked forward to better days. Things started moving forward, but it was attributed to a "socialist agenda" so now that midterm elections are over the Republicans have regained an overwhelming majority of the House promising to save the country from a socialist agenda, putting an end to Obamacare and "taking the country back."
Some things that I have learned from all of this ^
1. God is sovereign a government or a leader is not.
Whose to say that the person that God chooses to lead a country is always godly or a Christian. God chose the heathen king Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon and Darius the great of Persia to rule over the people of God circa 722 - 586 B.C.E. This was a confirmed act of God's will by the profits.
2. You cannot legislate morality.
If I say that I am going to put a ban on crime, it will still exist. If a person has the evil in his or her heart to rob a bank, kill someone, or to have an abortion they will find a way to do so without the governments help. It is unfortunate that we live in such a immoral society but banning things doesn't work, if it did, prohibition would have stuck.
3. Just because you are a Christian doesn't mean you have to be a Republican (or any party).
As of now, I don't know what I am in the world of politics, but I know that I am not a republican. Shane Claiborne changed my thinking about the conservatives when he said: "I must say that I am still passionately pro-life, I just have a much more holistic sense of what it means to be for life, knowing that life does not just begin at conception and end at birth, and that if I am going to discourage abortion, I had better be ready to adopt some babies and care for some mothers."
4. Jesus seems to be a socialist.
Jesus answered, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” (redistribution of wealth).
So what am I getting at? I guess the simplest answer is that, for Christians, our hope should not be in a flawed human system. The kingdom of God is not democratic at all, it is a kingdom under a King, which is Christ. Jesus told Pilate when asked if he was a king, "“My kingdom is not of this world. If it were, my servants would fight to prevent my arrest by the Jewish leaders. But now my kingdom is from another place.” -John 18:36
It is not a bad thing to be involved with politics, after-all, we all have opinions and voices when it comes to who will run the country. But no political party or governmental system will equal the power of the Kingdom of God on earth as it is in heaven. In that kingdom there is, joy, wealth, healing, peace, deliverance...perfection. Christians should realize this whether they are Republican, Democrat, Independent etc.
Are Christians too political? If we are talking more about how President Obama is a socialist rather than praying for God to open his ears and heart to hear what is best for the country, then yes.
Are Christians too political? If we have more faith in people, parties and a failing system more than God, then yes.
Are Christians too political? If we spend our time attacking and judging "the left" instead of praying for, loving, and learning from them (there are valid points on both sides), then yes.
What are your thoughts? Join the conversation below if you agree or disagree.
No comments:
Post a Comment