Political seasons can be rough at times because nothing seems to bring up more debate than our political beliefs, and often our theological beliefs which we often see as closely related or intend to integrate.
I’ve become very disullisioned at times with the political process and the malicious 24 hour news cycle that accompanies it.
Two themes have really discouraged me in this election season. A lack of forgiveness and a spirit of judgment aimed at both candidates.
Though I could expound to great length, let me just suggest two glaring instances and then close this post.
First, a lack of forgiveness. I’m quite shocked and appalled at the number of people (especially Christians) who keep bringing up John McCain’s first marriage, often referring to tabloid articles and sensationalist material. McCain described the failure of his first marriage as his “greatest moral failure” in his interview with Rick Warren at Saddleback. If that is the case, then are we to take him at his word and forgive him…for something that happened over 30 years ago? And even if we don’t believe him, is it really our responsibility to be the moral police on this issue, determining whether or not we will or will not forgive?
So whether you like McCain or his politics should not matter, but to continue to bring up an issue I think reflects on our culture, and especially negative on us as Christians who are unwilling to forgive, and in fact bring up pass transgressions.
Second, judgmental behavior. Like above, I too have been shocked and appalled by people (especially Christians) who have been so quick to judge, and been judgmental towards Barack Obama. I have seen a real strong sense of judgment from others towards his full name (Barack Hussein Obama), implying because of that that he must be Muslim or have ties to Muslim extremists. Or that he can’t be a Christian, or is the enemy of Christianity. This can be seen in the mass chain email that everyone was asked to forward that claimed he is a “radical Muslim” who “will not recite the Pledge of Allegiance.
You may have even been someone who forwarded that email to others.
So whether you like Obama or his politics should not matter, we shouldn’t be passing judgment on him because of the fear of others. I think it reflects negatively again not only on us as a culture, but as Christians as well.
I think that whether we have voiced these views or not…either one of them…we have probably all been guilty of at least thinking something like it. True? False?
And I know, there are many more issues I could have raised, but these two just came to mind.
As a Christian and a citizen I believe that being involved in politics is important for us and a worthy obligation. But I am a Christian first and a citizen second, and my faith is not in the rulers or powers or principalities of this world, but in Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior. So at the end of the day, no matter who is in the Presidential Office, my faith is not in them, and my energy and strength will not be spent fretting and worrying about that. I will vote and be active, but not put faith in them as the end all. As the Apostle Paul says in Ephesians our struggle is not against the rulers of this world, but spiritual forces (Eph. 6:12).
Thoughts?
Agree?
Disagree?
