Judging by all the comments generated by the last post about vice presidential selections, politics is at the forefront of many of our brains. John McCain’s campaign slogan, “Country First,” caught my eye this week as he spoke up in Green Bay. I like this year’s candidates, but McCain’s slogan doesn’t resonate with me as a Christian. I have always thought of myself as a Christian first with everything else following way behind (Father, Husband, American, PC user, Math geek, elevator music lover…).
What are we to think about politics as a Christian? I think that people take at least 3 different perspectives on it (I know I’ve been in each camp at different times in my life).
(1) Whatever!: Politics doesn’t matter. It’s all corrupt. It will never accomplish what it claims. it will always be opposed to the counter-cultural claims of Christianity, so I will ignore it and focus on Christ and what he can accomplish in individual lives.
(2) Jesus for President: Politics and Christianity cannot be separated. Because political action involves moral decision making, Christians must not only be active in the political realm, they must work to take control of it so that Christian values are protected and promoted throughout our God-blessed land.
(3) 2 Kings for Me: Jesus is my king! He works through me & others who are a part of his church to bring his love, forgiveness, and mercy to all people. He’s the king who teaches me what a ’servant-king’ should be like. But I also have a secondary king (the government) who works through the political machine. This king is king over all people in my nation, some of whom are a part of the church and some who are not. Through political processes and schemes, this king strives to bring justice to his people, but is often thwarted by the selfish & sinful desires of his subjects. This kingdom will never be ‘Christian’, but it may be ‘Godly’ according to natural law. Knowing I have 2 kings, I strive my best to work for both – always keeping in mind that my king Jesus will be with me a lot longer than the other.
How do politics and Christianity intersect in your life?
John, I understand where you are trying to go with this, but I really don’t think John McCain means “Country First” the way you have match the United States up vs. GOD (or being a Christan). We all know that while McCain was taken as a prisoner of war he prayed a lot and was fighting for his American Pride. I think Senator Lieberman said it best when he said this, “between one candidate, John McCain, who has always put the country first, worked across party lines to get things done, and one candidate who has not.’’ Keep in mind folks Lieberman was the VP candidate for the Democrats in 2000.
Please remember this, we are “ONE NATION UNDER GOD”!
One more thing…Country First: Reform * Prosperity * Peace. You forgot the tag line so I though I would add that for you. I think they are all good things don’t you? One thing you have to agree with is McCain is more middle then what Obama is to the Left. Remember if you want reform you have to have someone who can agree with the other side at some point in time. Have you ever heard of the McCain/Feingold bill? Ummm…yep that Feingold guy just happens to be our Jr. Senator right here in Wisconsin, and guess what he is a Democrat. I BEGG YOU TO FIND BILL THAT OBAMA WENT TOGETHER WITH A REPULICAN ON!!!Better yet try to find any legislation that Obama has his name on. You will not find it because in his 100 days as a Senator he has done nothing and now some people want him as our President? Please!
BJ – you never answered the question…
Should we put Country First over Christian First? Can we ever expect true prosperity (not just rampant capitalism)? Can we ever truly reform ourselves & our government to reflect the highest ideology (that of our holy God)? Can we ever honestly have peace in our cities, nation, & world (where sin will still run roughshod over justice)?
If we can’t really do what they promise(trust me, we can’t), how much faith/effort/passion should we put into a system that breaks from the reality we know from our Bible?
McCain, like all politicians, is selling a story: that he, more than the other guy, can make our lives better than they were yesterday.
The question is, how much of that story he’s selling is truly our story? If we are ‘Christian First’; if our story starts & ends with Christ, does McCain’s message fit within it?
Don’t worry, I won’t just pick on McCain — Obama is for next week
Okay, I was not trying to skirt the question, but I understand I did. I guess its the politician in me
Of course we as Christian’s should never, but our Country before our values as Christians, but does that mean we should not put some sort of faith in a politician who shares values with me? If truly our land does not matter why do we see religious wars all over the world? I value the land and County I live on and in, don’t you? Peace thought out the world may happen someday, but not before many wars.
Come on BJ, your second post disappoints me. Obama has been involved in MANY bills, including bipartisan (think CAFE standards). Here is a short list to get you started (only 152 bills).
http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/.....))+01763))
That is all I will say about the off topic stuff. I will post a response to John’s question (fantastic question) as soon as my blood pressure returns to normal
Okay, okay he has introduced bills that is easy, but can you find one where it was joint with a Republican? That is more to my point!
BJ – you win a prize!
(to be determined later at my discretion)
Your last comment was our 200th comment on Faith Emergence.
Mike – you were so close…
Marsha marsha marsha
“Country First” may be a bit too nationalistic, but imagine the vitriol that would be unleashed on McCain if he had something like “Christ First” as a political slogan. He’d be accused of being a jihadist and wanting to establish a theocracy. In fact, such a slogan would be a confusion of the two kingdoms. On the other hand, it seems entirely appropriate to emphasize the country’s preeminence in a political campaign, though I might prefer something like “Constitution First” that doesn’t smack so much of collectivism. For a real kingdom-confusing ad, look no further: http://hotair.com/archives/200.....cit-cross/