Mitt Romney
Hillary Clinton
Barack Obama
John McCain
One of these four individuals will become our country's political future. What does that mean for us as Americans? Maybe a great deal. What does that mean for us as Christians? More or Less? How do we reconcile being a Christian and an American in this day and age? Not so long ago, and still today the bond holding America to God is spelled "Republican". (And Republican only) With moral dilemmas always re-raised, bringing Republican voters to the fore every four years, often the other major factors which determine a good president is not just his stance on abortion but how he or she handles the international economic landscape, the wisdom to bring peace or wield war and so many other diplomatic and inspiring duties. On the other hand, how are Christian ethics and morals played out in an American's life? Can a Christian be a democrat? Is it on the national level where we judge the faith of our country by the standards of the democracy (the public)? Or is it measured in how we live our lives in the local community and local church with real individuals and real people?
I may have overplayed my hand already. I was able to catch the last half of one of the many political debates over the past weeks and was quite captivated by the debate for our country and I couldn't help but come back to 1 Peter 2:9-12 which propels me to this truth: My Country is God's presence.
9But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. 10 Once you were not a people, but now you are God’s people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.
11Beloved, I urge you as sojourners and exiles to abstain from the passions of the flesh, which wage war against your soul. 12Keep your conduct among the Gentiles honorable, so that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day of visitation.
Jacynda and I recently purchased a home together in Athens, and I am totally jacked to have ownership of a 3.36 acre lot of soil and trees (and believe me, I am). But, if I died tomorrow it doesn't mean a thing. Actually the land would be a curse in such a situation as Jacynda would need to provide for herself and pay a mortgage.
What matters is that I am a child of God. We are as Christians "a people for his own possession." We are His. He dwells within us.
Yes it is true: we are to be good stewards of this great nation while we are here. We should do our duty and be good citizens. Is that end reached by simply and merely voting for the best representation of ourselves and what values we reflect and then walking away? Often that is the impression I get of what an American's attitude tends to be: An American is someone who fights for personal freedoms: The right to liberty and justice for all; the right to work for a living; the right to live the American dream; the right to own property; the right to have rights. We are a very individualistic society and at the bottom of it all, all popular culture wants is someone who reflects our own values--whether you are African American, wealthy, a lesbian, or a middle-class American--and then wants to be left alone.
I don't see Christ in such a discussion. I don't see Christ in politics, really. He wasn't in politics when he was here to seek and save that which was lost. Now that is not to say that those around him didn't politicize him. The Hebraic leadership constantly barraged him with politically-loaded situations.
Enough of me talking. Your turn: Over the course of the next 10 months we'll ourselves be barraged by political views and double-talk. You'll need to cut through the fluff and determine who will best lead the country for the next four to eight years and leave a legacy that will affect our lives for years to come.
Let the discussion begin:
How much does "morality" or the perception of morality play a part in your vote?
In your opinion, what is an American Christian or a Christian American? (compound phrases that I often find hard to define.)
What does Jesus have to do with politics? What does the church have to do with politics?
Has politics characterized Jesus/and or used Chrisitanity effectively in campaigns or have these topics been abused? How so?
How can Christians best influence people--politically or personally?
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