There's one thing about politics. It's usually one extreme or the other. People can talk about the middle ground all they want, but the truth is that politicians know that to win elections, you must cater to one extreme element or another. Try to please everybody and you quickly become political roadkill.
And this pandering has nothing to do with Truth. It's all about expediency. What will get the candidate the most votes. Say what you will and do what you will as long as you get votes.
For some strange reason, Christians don't seem to understand this fact. The world of most Christians consists of a world of black and white. And they expect there political candidates to reflect their black and white value system to some degree. And on the surface, they do.......until they get into office!
That's the reason most people hate politics, the pure hypocrisy of the whole process. Ironically, that's the reason people also love politics, the hypocritical challenge presented to them.
Personally, I prefer to be sure about as much as possible. When it comes to politics of this world, they only thing I'm sure of is that I'm not sure about any of it!
So, I resort to the only politics I am sure about, where Truth is Truth and it remains the Truth at all times.
The politics of Jesus Christ, made by Christ for his followers, Christians. I'm learning to love it more every day!
Sunday, June 27, 2010
Post Jesus Culture - The Political Sky Is Falling!
Welcome to the World of Post Christian America, where everything you hold dear as a Christian, including God and Country, is under attack. And the more that is perceived as lost to them, the more Christians dig in their bunkers and prepare for the warfare to come. After all, much damage has been done by the enemy, mainly Democrats, therefore, there's much ground to recover. And it begins with this year's mid term elections, because the Leader of the Enemey, Barak Obama, has stumbled and apparently rendered his troops vulnerable.
So, what's at stake in this broohaha? Oh not much. Just the Legal foundation of the entire Country. After all, how can Christians expect to conduct themselves properly if they don't have guidelines, ie laws? And with so many fundamental laws being overturned or modified and others facing attacks from various sides, the Christian lifestyle of Believers in Jesus is severely threatened.
You remember Jesus. He's one of the Founders.....wrote the declaration, signed it over fifty times, wrote the Constitution and got it passed by enough states. And in the middle of all that he fought the Revolution singlehanded. Don't believe me? Ask Washington? Who do you think really got them safely through the winter at Valley Forge? And do you think he would go to all that trouble just to have the Congress and Judiciary pass just any laws? No Sireee! They passed His Laws! Right outa the Good Book!
Don't remember? First of all, The Defense of Marrige Act, Prohibition, repeal of Prohibition, Outcome Based Education, Founding era Slavery, abolition of Slavery, Bankruptcy laws, Abortion, Churches tax exemptions and last, but not least, the tens of thousands of rules, regulations and laws regarding the IRS. Yes, Jesus did it all!
And now they're tearing down this culture of Christ. And Christians are screaming because, for some reason, they can't seem to fathom life without all these American constructs. This just can't happen to American Christianity. So this American Jesus and his American lifestyle and values has got to be preserved and promoted.
Of course, there is an alternative. They could turn to the Jesus of the Bible and his laws about how to live among all cultures in this world. Having been tortured and murdered unjustly, I don't think any of us are going to lecture him on the proper response to unkind treatment. Then again, seeing that His purpose for coming into this world was to face this treatment on behalf of the human race, I don't think suffering on behalf of Jesus has many advocates or volunteers. No, this type of political activism requires a dedication of a different sort. It must be remembered, too, that the law undergirding this type of action is of a different sort. Therein lies the crux.
Whose law do we serve? The law of Man or the Law of a Holy God? Each set of laws manifests itself in a distinct culture. And by the way, those cultures are always at odds with one another, no exceptions.
So, what's at stake in this broohaha? Oh not much. Just the Legal foundation of the entire Country. After all, how can Christians expect to conduct themselves properly if they don't have guidelines, ie laws? And with so many fundamental laws being overturned or modified and others facing attacks from various sides, the Christian lifestyle of Believers in Jesus is severely threatened.
You remember Jesus. He's one of the Founders.....wrote the declaration, signed it over fifty times, wrote the Constitution and got it passed by enough states. And in the middle of all that he fought the Revolution singlehanded. Don't believe me? Ask Washington? Who do you think really got them safely through the winter at Valley Forge? And do you think he would go to all that trouble just to have the Congress and Judiciary pass just any laws? No Sireee! They passed His Laws! Right outa the Good Book!
Don't remember? First of all, The Defense of Marrige Act, Prohibition, repeal of Prohibition, Outcome Based Education, Founding era Slavery, abolition of Slavery, Bankruptcy laws, Abortion, Churches tax exemptions and last, but not least, the tens of thousands of rules, regulations and laws regarding the IRS. Yes, Jesus did it all!
And now they're tearing down this culture of Christ. And Christians are screaming because, for some reason, they can't seem to fathom life without all these American constructs. This just can't happen to American Christianity. So this American Jesus and his American lifestyle and values has got to be preserved and promoted.
Of course, there is an alternative. They could turn to the Jesus of the Bible and his laws about how to live among all cultures in this world. Having been tortured and murdered unjustly, I don't think any of us are going to lecture him on the proper response to unkind treatment. Then again, seeing that His purpose for coming into this world was to face this treatment on behalf of the human race, I don't think suffering on behalf of Jesus has many advocates or volunteers. No, this type of political activism requires a dedication of a different sort. It must be remembered, too, that the law undergirding this type of action is of a different sort. Therein lies the crux.
Whose law do we serve? The law of Man or the Law of a Holy God? Each set of laws manifests itself in a distinct culture. And by the way, those cultures are always at odds with one another, no exceptions.
Christians & Political Hypocrisy
Over the last several years, I've found a serious problem among Christians when it comes to the subject of Politics. While it seems that many are serious about political issues, most aren't very serious about discussing the biblical merits of being politically involved. In other words, does the Bible mandate or even allow political involvement for Believers?
That problem in discussing this issue? Hypocrisy!
The hypocrisy lies in one simple fact that I'm seeing more and more in this day and age. No one wants to contemplate anything that might cause them to change their present lifestyle. They simply want to maintain the status quo. And if that status quo happens to be the current popular thought about Christians and politics, so be it.
The end result? For me, alot of short and / or shallow conversations.
That problem in discussing this issue? Hypocrisy!
The hypocrisy lies in one simple fact that I'm seeing more and more in this day and age. No one wants to contemplate anything that might cause them to change their present lifestyle. They simply want to maintain the status quo. And if that status quo happens to be the current popular thought about Christians and politics, so be it.
The end result? For me, alot of short and / or shallow conversations.
The Bible and Politics - Are You Serious?
With the plethora of Christians interested in poitics over the last 4-5 decades, I can't help but wonder just how serious most Christians are when it comes to considering what God and His Word have to say about the subject. I have had numerous opportunities to discuss politics with other Believers, especially over the last several years. Conversational progress, however, has been slow to occur
When certain political points are mentioned or made from a truly Biblical perspective (in other words, a verse or passage of Scripture), it's amazing how many conversations are almost immediately changed or ended.
It's also very interesting that some of these points are not something completely new to those I am conversing with. They are familiar with the verse or verses that I mention and their implications. They just don't want to talk about it.
So, as I said, I have to wonder just how serious are professed Believers in Christ when it comes to truly living out the Word of God, even in the realm of politics.
When certain political points are mentioned or made from a truly Biblical perspective (in other words, a verse or passage of Scripture), it's amazing how many conversations are almost immediately changed or ended.
It's also very interesting that some of these points are not something completely new to those I am conversing with. They are familiar with the verse or verses that I mention and their implications. They just don't want to talk about it.
So, as I said, I have to wonder just how serious are professed Believers in Christ when it comes to truly living out the Word of God, even in the realm of politics.
Christian Politicians - What Have They Accomplished?
I ask the following question as a "Christian."
With all the moral problems in America that have been addressed over the last 50 years, what have Christian politicans accomplished to stem the tide of mmoral decay and decadence?
With all the moral problems in America that have been addressed over the last 50 years, what have Christian politicans accomplished to stem the tide of mmoral decay and decadence?
Christians & Political Office - What Would Jesus Say?
Here's a simple question.
Should a Christian seek to attain political office if, in order to hold that office and exercise that official power, he or she were required to disobey a direct command of Jesus Christ?
Should a Christian seek to attain political office if, in order to hold that office and exercise that official power, he or she were required to disobey a direct command of Jesus Christ?
GOP - An Attractive Option Next to Obama?
With the Obama administration reeling under the weight of its own Democratic inexperience and ineptitude, not to mention the grossly unpopular policies touted and implemented in the past year and a half, is it any wonder that the Republicans are actually looking like a viable and attractive option for the mid term elections? Who thought that the GOP train wreck that aided in Obama's 2008 election would so soon find itself being sought by all manner of politically disgruntled citizens. All of a sudden, Republicans are't all that bad!
Can anyone say "Jeb Bush for President!"?
With such an unexpected political turnaround, do you feel like you have no clue about politics?
Have you considered the words of FDR being appropo?......... "If it happens in politics, it was planned that way"..........Does this thought seem foreign? Could an insider such as FDR actually be speaking the truth?
Could such a thought help us to begin to understand Politics?
Can anyone say "Jeb Bush for President!"?
With such an unexpected political turnaround, do you feel like you have no clue about politics?
Have you considered the words of FDR being appropo?......... "If it happens in politics, it was planned that way"..........Does this thought seem foreign? Could an insider such as FDR actually be speaking the truth?
Could such a thought help us to begin to understand Politics?
Christian America - The Good News
If you call yourself a "Christian," you probably don't mind the mission of a certain number of conservatives to thoroughly prove that the vast majority of American Founding Fathers were, not only Christians themselves, but intended to found The United States as a Christian Nation. After all, who would tend to argue with identifying with one of your own group?
And after all, who would want to oppose one who has believed the Good News of Jesus Christ, the Gospel? Who would want to denigrate in the slightest a person who has received eternal life through the grace of God? Who could say anything negative about one who has repented of their lifestyle before a holy God and accepted his way of reconciliation........and exercised the required faith mandated by that same God?
What about the Gospel itself? What is the Gospel? Does it matter in this issue of Christian America? If so, how?
And after all, who would want to oppose one who has believed the Good News of Jesus Christ, the Gospel? Who would want to denigrate in the slightest a person who has received eternal life through the grace of God? Who could say anything negative about one who has repented of their lifestyle before a holy God and accepted his way of reconciliation........and exercised the required faith mandated by that same God?
What about the Gospel itself? What is the Gospel? Does it matter in this issue of Christian America? If so, how?
Christian America - The Vital Question
For more than two centuries, the campaign to justify national actions under the broad banner of "Christian" has proceeded with a full head of political steam. With the Obama administration now wallowing in its own quagmire of indecision while slowly overturning the will of the people via legislation and executive fiat, taking back America has never looked so appealing to many. The return to American Christian roots to thoroughly examine the lives of the Founders has never been more popular.
The conclusion of Conservatives from these historical forays is nearly always that the Founders' original intent was that The United States be a Christian Nation.
For the sake of conversation, let's grant that conclusion.
My next question would be "What determines if a person is a Christian?" In other words, what criteria is used to determine if a person is to be considered a Christian? What is the standard?
Just wondering.
The conclusion of Conservatives from these historical forays is nearly always that the Founders' original intent was that The United States be a Christian Nation.
For the sake of conversation, let's grant that conclusion.
My next question would be "What determines if a person is a Christian?" In other words, what criteria is used to determine if a person is to be considered a Christian? What is the standard?
Just wondering.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)