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Reading the News Through the Lens of Faith- Pt 5
By Dan | June 5, 2008
So it’s finally official. We’ll be having an Obama vs. McCain election this year. I don’t know how you feel about the candidates. I don’t know how you feel about many of the issues. I’ve certainly got some strong beliefs that I’m happy to share with people on a personal level.
But that’s not exactly where I want to go today. I’m curious about something of a more fundamental nature. How do you feel about politics as a Christian? I know I’ve been really discouraged at times. You listen to rhetoric that is often so vicious. You see personal attacks. You watch polls go back and forth and so often what seems to really be moving people isn’t the candidates stand on issues or their character, but instead sound bites, slogans, money, and misleading ads.
It’s enough that coming into this year’s presidential race (which actually started well before this year, another frustration I have) I was tempted to finally withdraw a little. Just sit on the sidelines, ignore everything, and when November came around, decide then whether or not it was even worth going to the polls.
Then as I was thinking about things a little more, getting ready for a sermon, praying, I realized that this wasn’t an option. You see, God gives us politics. Does that seem a little laughable to you. It’s true. The government, the public realm, is one of the spheres in this world that God is working through, just like families and businesses, to make his world work. Now obviously, just like families and economics, there is a lot broken in the world of politics, but we can’t give up on it either. So I have to stay involved, learn about the candidates, and pick the best person for the job.
So what about you? Have you ever felt like giving up? Where have you seen God working in the past in politics? Are there any signs of hope for the future?
And I know this is hard to do, but let’s try to avoid getting too partisan here.
Topics: News Through Faith, Uncategorized |
June 5th, 2008 at 6:29 am
Politics is about people and how they deal with the created world, so - of course - this is of great concern to us & to God. But remember that Politics, as we know it, is not THE answer. I liked what Eugene Cho said here on his blog,
June 5th, 2008 at 6:48 am
I think it’s very important that we as Christians pay close attention to our government, and this, for better or worse, includes the world of politics. Our different government entities (at the local, state, and federal levels), have a very real impact on our lives and the lives of others. This impact includes such things as:
- Our ability to speak freely and to congregate.
- Our ability to give charitably.
- Our ability to care for others, both within our country and around the world.
- The protection of life (both born and unborn).
- The way in which our country impacts the lives of others around the world.
And it’s not just the government as an entity that matters. Our government leaders (if they are truly leading) can impact the tone set throughout the country. The positions a leader takes on race, religion, sexuality, world relations, etc. can influence others by bringing the issue out into the public forum or by conveying a message about the acceptability of certain behaviors or beliefs.
So, yes, I think it’s very important to select our leaders carefully, to speak out on issues that are important to us as Christians, and to carefully consider the impact that legislation has on us and others. But I also think that it is very important to always pray for our leaders, even when we don’t agree with them, and to pray that God’s will would be carried out throughout the world.
June 5th, 2008 at 8:25 am
I’m tempted to start a series on the two kingdoms some time in the future. This is such an important issue and such a difficult one to navigate today. I appreciate the comments because they do hit the nail precisely on the head where so often go too far in one direction or the other. As John’s quote points out, politics is part of the equation, but it is not The Answer (which is where many people go too far, suggesting God can use government to create some kind of heaven on earth/utopia). The ultimate source of hope is Jesus Christ and none other. Politics is simply one of a number of pieces that God uses to guide the world we live in today and hopefully even make it a little better. The best we can hope for out of this world and the government’s influence is a little taste of that which is to come.
Paul does a good job of drawing us to the important reasons we want to be involved. God has some very important roles for government to play, from protecting the natural law all the way up to ensuring that the church can speak it’s voice to our world. I like the emphasis on prayer at the end. While our votes are important, let’s not forget to apply our spiritual voices to the matters of this world too.
June 8th, 2008 at 8:48 pm
One of the quintessential examples of God working through politics, I think, is in the life of William Wilberforce. Here was a Christian who used his political influence over many years to finally end the British slave trade. One of my favorite scenes in the movie Amazing Grace is where Wilberforce is offered the choice to either do “God’s work” or to do some good for his fellow man. Then someone says, “Why not both?” Sure, politics can’t offer salvation in the ultimate sense, but God’s rule is over all of creation, both church and state, secular and sacred. And God has ordained the state with a specific function, namely promoting justice and restraining evil. So when Christians get involved in politics, it’s not to impose some kind of “theocracy”. Christians aren’t calling the state to be the church. They’re calling the state to be the state!
June 10th, 2008 at 2:04 am
I guess it feels good to know I’m not the only one struggling with this election… Not necessarily who to vote for, but just the way things are going. I’ve found myself getting pretty hopeless about it. I also had great hopes early on. A candidate or two that I was truly excited about. Now I find myself (again) getting ready to vote for the “lesser of evils”.
It is important, though. No matter how painful or frustrating it might be, I think it is part of our calling to vote, and to vote what we feel that God has put on our hearts.
Indeed, politics is not THE answer in any way. Only our Saviour is. But it is important, nonetheless. Even if I really don’t want it to be.