I haven't written a post for a while. The events over the last year or so here in The States have rocked in some way my foundations. I have been questioning if it is actually possible to mix "Christianity and Politics". My thoughts are still jumbled so I am going to try and put them down in what will be certainly a very muddled way.
What do I mean by rocked my foundations? The messaging of so many of the Countries Evangelical leaders in supporting certain political opinions and statements has been in my view heinous. I have struggled trying to align the teaching of Jesus with this. The Sermon on the Mount has been front and center of my thoughts. We are called to be Peacemakers yet a leading pastor encouraging the President to blow North Korea up. I have no words apart from heartbreak and grief. This is just one of the many examples I could quote. It seems that the Church, or, at least the "religious right", for lack of a better term has turned the current climate and secular leadership into a personality cult reminding me of the Lenin, Stalin, Hitlers cults of early part of the twentieth century. This has became a worship of politicians, flag and Country with this coming higher than any thing else including the God they profess to serve as leaders. I can't get my head around it and doubt I ever will. The other part of this is the hateful things they spew forth. You only have to look at social media and read the despicable comments and then look at the profiles. The worst comments come from those who then post how they love Jesus etc.. How can not this disconnect be seen?
This made me think that it is impossible to be a Jesus follower and active in politics. The two just do not work. It is even hard to see how the Constitution can be followed (despite what we are seeing above!!). What should I do? What should we do?
I think the answer is we are called to be light in the world. Be divorcing myself and walking away I think is as bad as the misrepresentation of who we should be. I'd like to think of myself as an Independent and try to look at each issue in the light of Jesus teaching and I don't really see me changing that attitude. However, in 2018 I totally align myself to the Democrat party, which, ironically is perceived to be the more secular wing. I can no longer with a clear conscience side with anyone in the GOP. I have posted before on how I no longer can call myself an Evangelical. This still breaks my heart, but, it is the honest situation. We are living back in the world of the Pharisees and the early founders of the Church would not recognize their Church. They would see a new Sanhedrin. I can't agree with everything the Democrats say and I still and will continue to say that I think it is impossible to completely agree with one party. That just means lack of thought, laziness or an ideologue. However, when it comes to a choice between trying to treat everyone fairly, respectfully and with dignity there is only one way to go. It is time to stop worrying about the different ism's and just follow Jesus's teaching. Even if you are not a Christian and just think Jesus is an historical figure you cannot go wrong following His teaching or putting it into a modern terminology His politics. Doing this we would have a safer and fairer world.
It is time to stop sitting on the fence. It is time to say NO MORE. It is time for the Church to say to it's leaders: STOP.
Stop teaching greed, stop supporting hate, start teaching Christ!!!
I hope this ramble captures a little of what I have been struggling with and my thoughts. There are so many issues to discuss and I will try and do this some more. In closing this I am going to copy the Beatitudes from Matthew's Gospel. Let's try and use this as our ideology!!
Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of Heaven. (Matthew 5:3)
Blessed are those who mourn: for they will be comforted. (5:4)Blessed are the meek: for they will inherit the earth. (5:5)Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness: for they will be filled. (5:6)Blessed are the merciful: for they will be shown mercy. (5:7)Blessed are the pure in heart: for they will see God. (5:8)Blessed are the peacemakers: for they will be called children of God. (5:9)Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. (5:10)
-Richard
