Posts
While we don't disagree on politics (we are both conservatives, he started me listening to talk radio and Rush Limbaugh), I think we disagree on how those politics should be reflected in our theology.
Recently, we were discussing Sen. Barack Obama's former pastor and all the hateful, unChristian things he has said from the pulpit, including his blaming America for the terrorist attacks of 9/11.
After we both agreed on how reprehensable the statements were, our conversation went as follows:
Me: "Didn't Falwell say basically the same thing."
Dad: "Yeah, but he blamed it on the gays and abortion doctors. Then he backed away from it the next day. I wish he would have stuck to it."
Me: "But, isn't that the same thing - blaming America for the problem or at least saying we were partly responsible?"
Dad: "Yeah, but I agreed with him."
He made the last statement while laughing, knowing he had boxed himself into a contradictory position.
I think we, as Christians (of any political persuasion), must be careful that our faith influences our politics - we view our political choices through the lens of following Christ. We should not view following Christ from our political perspective. He will become warped and twisted into the image of our political leanings. Unfortunately, both sides of the aisle do this on a regular basis.
2 comments:
As a non-Christian I was always taught that when Christianity was founded it was done so to be explicitly non-political (give unto Caesar and all that), the problem with that is that in a modern liberal democracy it is a civic duty of all people to be involved in politics, and it is vaguely schizophrenic to compartmentalise ones mind into "political" and "non-political" spheres.
I honestly respect and commend those who manage a fair balance.
Some of the more extreme Christians I know refuse to be involved in politics at all (considering it not their place) - but to me, well, it is a civic duty, and that duty is owed to "Caesar" isn't it?
Of course not being a Christian its not an issue for me, if it was I don't know what I would do, my political opinions pretty much lost all sway in the world in 1799 so there is nothing I can do about them. :p
As a non-Christian I was always taught that when Christianity was founded it was done so to be explicitly non-political...
Not entirely. We were not told to stay out of politics, but rather to skeptically view politics and worldly power, as they are not the means to which we can accomplish our end.
Changed laws do not change hearts.
We should work within the government to promote quality culture and things beneficial to our society, but we should never confuse political power with Godly power. When the church and the state mixes, the church loses much more than the state.
Please keep reading Sophia and commenting. It is good to have another voice represented and to be reminded that sometimes someone other than me reads what I right. ;)
Post a Comment