On a side note, I asked my wife what I should write about and she said I could write about what a wonderful wife I have - so I think I will, just to embarass her :). For all of you single guys out there I do not envy you at all. Too often it seems like modern society has exalted the idea of the fun, single guy who can have casual sex and enjoy life while the married guy is stuck with his wife and kids and boring life (although a more recent movie, "Marley and Me" actually presented the exact opposite and was quite enjoyable). In case you are wondering, married life is not boring at all. My wife is an incredible, talented, beautiful woman and a godly, loving, and hard-working mother of 4 little children. Life in our house is far from boring (for example, my 2 yr old son just came running out of his sister's room crying because he fell off the top bunk and when asked if he was "Ok" he responds by saying, "My bum hurts"). So I do have a wonderful wife who keeps me on my toes and is a great encouragment to me and also a discerning voice of wisdom in our home.
The following are some observations and considerations about "Christian" Politics.
- We don't believe America is Israel, but we sure act that way. For those of you who follow politics, watch the news, or are simply breathing you have probably heard of Scott Brown being recently elected to the Senate seat for the State of Massachusetts. This was a rather historic election since he calls himself an "independent" but truthfully acts like a Republican. I was bombarded with Facebook comments, "Praise God's," "Glory Hallelujah's" and such like for the next couple of days following this election. Somehow the nation is back on the right track and we have seen a historic victory in this election. While some of you may not like this, I actually find this all rather humorous. While some of my reasons relate to Scott Brown others are just general observations. So here are my thoughts.
- First of all, I am amazed at people who can find everything wrong with a democrat (or whoever the "other party" would be for you) and then excuse every action of their republican candidate. For example Scott Brown posed nude for Cosmopolitan magazine. As a believer I have a serious issue with this. The Bible is very clear that this is immoral and if we were under the Old Testament Law he would have been stoned for this action. Now let's compare this to the way Christians discussed Clinton and his actions both in office and before he was in office. His use of drugs and dodging the draft were both held up as awful moral problems that should disqualify him from office and any decent red-blooded Christian better vote against him. It was basically a decree from God Almighty. So what has happened to our righteousness? Where has our sense of moral right and wrong gone? I am seeing a little inconsistency here. Please stop jumping on every single thing Obama does when you hated the democrats for doing that with Bush.
- Second, I am amazed at people connecting capitalism with Christianity. I don't know about you, but the Bible is pretty silent concerning a particular economic system. You can use a bunch of proof texts from the Old Testament to argue that the Bible pushes for private property (and therefore capitalism), but Christ is also very clear that paying our taxes is biblical and God's command. Remember that when Christ commanded his disciples to pay taxes these were being sent to a wicked dictator with no democratic or republican form of government. Think about this - the tax money Christ gave to Caesar was likely used to pay the Roman soldiers who crucified him. I have heard many people talk about this great "victory" that Christians have experienced now that Scott Brown is in office. I am constantly confused by this. What victory are we talking about? Do we mean a victory for conservative politics? If so, then yes, I can see that. Do we mean a victory for Christianity or the Church? Then, no, I don't see that. What victory are we talking about? I thought our primary concern was with reaching the lost with the Gospel and training them up in Christ's teachings (this is called discipleship). If so, then none of that has been furthered at all by Scott Brown or any other conservative getting in office.
- Third, I am amazed by people associating the Church with Conservative, right-wing politics. Where do we get this? When was it decided that Christians were supposed to vote for Republicans and not Democrats? I can't find anything in Scripture at all. Some would argue that this is a Biblical issue because traditionally Republicans have been Pro-Life and Democrats have been Pro-Choice. That is a little naive and a misunderstanding. Remember that many Republicans are not truly Pro-Life, but simply talk the talk because they want your votes. Also remember that many Democrats are Pro-Life. Also remember that many Republicans have lobbied to remove the whole issue of Pro-Life/Pro-Choice from the party completely. They don't want it to be a political issue, and to be perfectly honest, they are probably right. When did we begin believing that we could make people moral through pasing laws? If abortion were made illegal tomorrow would that stop anyone who truly wanted to do it? Would that make anyone more moral or right? No, because God judges the heart, not the outward action. As Christians we must focus on the heart as well. Let's be more concerned with reaching out to the teen girls and young women in our neighborhood who need Christ and need love instead of picketing clinics. If God reaches their hearts then we won't have to be so worried about their actions. Let me conclude this section with this thought. The Republican Party is not a Christian Party. They are a political party and will always be such. They don't represent God or the Church.
- Fourth, I am amazed by Christians fighting for unborn children and yet also fighting against universal health care. Before explaining this, let me make myself clear - I do not support the current plan in the Senate for Universal Health Care. But, I do support some plan for Universal Health Care in America. Now before you slam your screens down in anger and start muttering those "un-christian" phrases about me like "socialist," stop and think about this for a minute. I just preached a message on the Sanctity of Life. The main point was that all people have value because they possess the image of God. Now if all people have value what is so wrong with saying that all people should have some level of care from doctors, nurses, etc. to help ensure their health and life. You can write this off by saying, "Well, they need to get a job with benefits and not be so lazy," but it isn't that simple. I am a pastor and have been blessed with what I consider to be a very decent salary, but I don't have healthcare. I can't afford it and the church can't afford it either. This isn't an issue of laziness it is just too expensive for me to get it. There are also a few other people in my church who I know cannot afford healthcare. I recently talked with a man who was instructed to take several tests because the doctors are concerned there may be issues with him in the future and he had to tell them that he couldn't afford it. This man may get seriously ill from cancer or who knows what else because he couldn't afford the tests. Why do we have a health care system designed to reward the rich with good healthcare, but those who are poor can just be sick and die? I thought we were Christians? I thought we were supposed to care about the poor? I thought we were supposed to care about life and value it? We don't have a problem with the government using our money through taxes to keep the roads up or pay police officers or fire fighters. Why would it be so bad for our tax money to save people's lives through healthcare?
- Fifth, let me conclude with a passage from the Bible. Acts 2:42-47 says, "And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers. 43 Then fear came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were done through the apostles. 44 Now all who believed were together, and had all things in common, 45 and sold their possessions and goods, and divided them among all, as anyone had need. 46 So continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart, 47 praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved." This is a great model of the early church and what we are supposed to be doing in the Church even today. Remember that the Book of Acts and the Epistles chronicle a great movement by God to grow this infant church into a powerful group of people who were obeying Christ during a time of great persecution. My final comment is that God doesn't need a conservative, republican form of American government to have a successful church. We must ask ourselves this question about politics. What are we fighting for? It isn't God's cause. It is Our cause. If we are truly honest with ourselves we would have to admit that the reason most Christians are involved in politics is because we are trying to make it easier on ourselves. We don't want gay-marriages because this might make it difficult on us (who really cares how the state government defines marriage - I thought God defined marriage, not the state). We don't want laws prohibiting actions of the church because this makes it more difficult on us. So really the whole political issue boils down to this - we don't want to struggle. We don't want persecution. I have had people tell me, "Well isn't it better that we have these rights so we can go about God's work in freedom?" You know what? I wonder if the answer is "No" Maybe, just maybe it isn't better for us to have all this freedom. Maybe, God knows that when we have all this freedom we get lazy and complacent and forget our priorities. We start spending more time fighting for our rights rather than sharing the blessed news of God's Son and what He did in our lives. Maybe, just maybe, we need persecution and not Scott Brown to get this nation on the right track.
12 comments:
Whoa...and I thought my blog was intense...groovy.
Yeah, Sue, this was kind of heavy. I didn't post this on Facebook because of that. I figured the people who really wanted to read my blog could get it.
I will try to be lighter next week.
Actually, I like the heavier posts...makes one think...which is good...to NOT be stagnant, y'know?
I must say that I have gotten some very negative feedback for my deeper posts...makes me stay light for awhile, but then I forget and write another deep one....I just can't help sharing my heart.
Don't try to be lighter next week! First of all, this is America! YOu have a right to your opinion and second, you said something profound once (well, you've said profound things lots of times!). You said that too often we are told what we want to hear and not what we need to hear. God knows what we need and when we need it. I'm glad that you were upset (to a degree) with the Chargers' loss - can't imagine why... it's only the Chargers! JK But, seriously, it shows your human side. Too often Pastors are lifted up onto a pedestal. Yes, you should hold yourself to a higher degree of accountability as you are an example and teacher to your flock but you are human and struggle with the same issues that we do. When we lift Pastors up we are shocked to discover that they are human and that their kids aren't perfectly behaved all the time and that oh my goodness... you might just make a mistake once in awhile (like your choice of NFL team :)) Thank you for your candor - I enjoy your teaching because you aren't afraid to step on toes, no matter how much it hurts :) May God bless your ministry!
Don't know why you'd struggle with saying any of that. It's a free country, you're entitled to your wrong opinions. ;) All joking aside, I can't help but wonder if you're unfamiliar with the good reasons for many of the conservative convictions you're discarding here, or are just disregarding them.
At the risk of writing a book here in response, let me try to clarify some of these conservative positions.
Regarding "connecting capitalism with Christianity," it is true that the scriptures do not endorse any particular economic system, however it's also true that the Founding Fathers (mostly Christians w/ a few Deists thrown in) attempted to use the scriptures in framing the constitution. For example, they purposed to have a representative democracy of elected officials based on Ex 18:21. Also, the separation of powers into the judicial, legislative & Executive branches was based on Isa 33:22 (and necessitated by Jer 17:19).
The political system we have here certainly isn't perfect (and now will be this side of the Second Coming), but it is vastly superior to the alternatives and it's definitely worth striving for. The further we slouch toward the socialist end of the political spectrum, the worse this nation (and the world at large) will become.
Regarding "associating the church with Conservative, right-wing politics," this is not about any one specific issue. It really goes back to the prior concern of keeping our nation as true to the original ideas of the Founding Fathers. By definition, conservatives are trying to maintain those ideas by limiting government power & maintaining individual liberty, while liberals are working to expand government (which necessarily entails encroaching on individual liberty). As a whole, the goals of the Republican party most closely aligns with those of conservative Christians.
Regarding Acts 2:42-47, this is a portrait of the early church in Jerusalem. They were a united community, learning the new doctrines of Christ thru the leadership of the Apostles and (I might add) fully expected Christ's return to be happening imminently. This may well be the ideal community on earth (probably not, tho, because eventually the money runs out and you have nothing left to sell and everyone starts really wanting to eat). Bear in mind also, that it didn't stay that way for long. Soon, the Apostles were being called upon to take care of the widows & orphans who were being neglected. Before too long, they were being driven out of Jerusalem by the Jews' persecution, and then by the Romans'.
It turns out that this model does not hold up well in a fallen, sin-cursed world peopled with selfish sinners. When the first groups of pilgrims settled in the New World (America), they tried this form of self government. It resulted in mass starvation and death over the first winter. After that they returned to that other biblical concept of 2Thes 3:10, "that if any would not work, neither should he eat."
Finally, I have to wonder about this notion: "Maybe, just maybe, we need persecution and not Scott Brown to get this nation on the right track." America is not the Church. It may well be that the Church (in America & elsewhere) needs persecution in order to grow, but America will not be improved by abandoning the Judeo-Christian principles upon which she was founded. As people under Roman rule, Jesus & his disciples we responsible for paying tribute to Ceasar, and we are likewise responsible for paying taxes & electing our representatives. "When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice: but when the wicked beareth rule, the people mourn." (Pv 29:2)
BTW, for anyone interested in better understanding the Christian's role in politics, I would highly wallbuilders.com. They have a vast and invaluable repository of documents from USA's founding era including personal correspondence of the Framers. As well as a whole lot of thoughtful interaction with these ideas.
For more Capitalism vs. Socialism, I recommend the DVD Politics: Easy as PIE from Congressman Bob McEwen (www.bobmcewen.com/products.html?ifrm_2=dvd.html).
Hey Tobias,
I would question your version of the founding of the American Constiution. You mention that the distribution of powers and representative form of government is rooted or necessitated by Scripture, but I highly doubt that a historical search will support those comments.
First of all, the American system of government was historically structured after the Roman Empire's form of government. Many do not realize just how important the classics and the Ancient Greek and Roman orators were in influencing the founding fathers. A quick search of their quotations and libraries will reveal just how much they relied on them. I would highly doubt that either the representative form of government or the separation of powers had anything to do with the Bible. Both of those are direct copies from the Roman form of government (which clearly was not founded on the Bible).
Second, the notion that many of the founding fathers were Christian is misleading. Most were not, only a very few were. I have seen most of the material you are referring to. I grew up watching and reading the David Barton videos and books. I have heard all the quotes from the all the founding fathers and their references to divine beings and God and going to church regularly. The problem with all of this is that it is terribly misleading. We take their references to God in the 1700's and read into them the 21st Century ideas. At that time everyone went to church and everyone "talked" about God. You wouldn't have gotten elected if you didn't believe in some sort of God. It was extremely common to talk about God. But notice the wording of the Declaration of Independence. "...the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God..." then later "...endowed by their Creator with certain..." These are not Christain phrases. These are phrases that would be acceptable to any New Age Pantheist today. Everyone at that time believed in some form of creation so a Creator was no big deal. Anybody could agree to that one. But notice that there is no mention of the God of the Bible or Jesus Christ. They made sure that wasn't in there because many of them weren't Christians.
We have to stop rewriting history and making these guys born again believers when they weren't.
Continuation from above.
You said, "It really goes back to the prior concern of keeping our nation as true to the original ideas of the Founding Fathers." This is my exact problem with all of this. Who really cares what the Founding Fathers thought? Do you? Really? Aren't they just men who did some great things, but they are still men. Couldn't they be wrong? The Constitution isn't the Bible and it can and should change. That was why they put an ammendment process into it. Why do we treat the constitution as if it is holy ground or sacred? It isn't. It is a man-made document and therefore is not perfect and is just someone's idea of a good government.
I would have to disagree with your portrait of the Jerusalem church. There is no indication that passage is suggesting a socialist system (and I wasn't either). The people who sold their things weren't selling everything they had. Ananias and Saphira reveal to us what was happening. They sold some land they possessed. Not everything they owned. Also the persecution that comes in Acts 8 is clearly from God to disperse the people out of Jerusalem. They had been commanded to carry the Gospel to the whole world and they weren't doing it. So God sent the persecution to scatter them.
I don't disagree with your last paragraph. It is the Church that would need persecution and not America. I also agree that we should vote and be active in our local and national politics. I completely agree that the Bible teaches us to be solid, active citizens who vote according to our conscience. What I am saying is that however the vote turns out we must realize that it is not a "victory" for the church or against the church. We may personally be excited that someone like Scott Brown is in office. We may not want big government, but is it necessarily the "Christian" thing to vote for Scott Brown? I don't know. I know many Christians who believe there is nothing unbiblical about big government and would argue that there is no biblical basis for this idea of individual rights. You don't see much emphasis on them in the OT or NT. There is private property, but even that private property God told them specific things they could or couldn't do with it because of the community (Boaz not harvesting the corners to help the poor, for example). So I guess I am saying that these things can and should be debated, but to say that one party stands for conservative Christians I still don't see it.
Rock on, Pierre. I'd say I agree with just about everything you wrote, and for me to write any more would detract from what you've said.
wow, it is so refreshing to find another Christian who think outside of the right wing, republican only, Bush worshiping conservative movement. thank you. you have said everything I wanted to say in this post.
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