election

I’ve been asked over and over lately about where I stand on the issues of the presidential race. Usually I try to change the subject or avoid it all together. I’ve said before that I don’t like politics and don’t trust anyone running today. But if you have to know where I stand… I think that a bumper sticker I saw the other day sums it up. “Scared as Hell in ‘08″. Or apathetic as hell in 08.

I don’t consider myself Republican or Democrat. Both have points and both miss the mark greatly.

I’m pro environment and anti big business. I’m pro choice, but anti-abortion.

I support our troops, but I think war makes sense only in certain circumstances and we haven’t seen those circumstances in decades.

Christians who blindly vote Republican, are certainly not thinkers. They’re pro war and anti abortion. So the message is it’s okay to kill some, but not others.

I’m pretty anti-political. I don’t have much faith in the process, feeling that money and companies run most of it. So I choose to do the best with the time I have. I believe in helping the poor and those in need. I just do what I’m called to do and not worry about politics.

And who do I like for president? Hilary is scary. McCain is creepy. And Obama is good at sounding good.

So that’s where I stand. What about you?

When thinking back upon Palm Sunday and Easter, I began to think about Jesus and His views on politics. Christians have long tried to figure out which side he would be on. I read this great quote about “American Jesus” and his beliefs (not sure who said it).

“Several times during the week, I thought about telling my family what’s happened to Jesus in the United States – how he’s been kidnapped by politicians and preachers who decide what he does and doesn’t think. They speak for him, and it doesn’t always make sense. They say Jesus is ‘pro life,’ but he doesn’t seem to have a problem with the death penalty. And he thinks stem cell research – something that would save lives – is no different from murdering babies. They say he’s the embodiment of kindness, love, decency and compassion. But he hates gays, lesbians and Muslims. And he’s not too crazy about Buddhists, Hindus and the rest. Jews? He can put up with them if he has to.”

If you really boil politics down it is simply the pursuit of power and authority. Christ was pretty clear who has the power and authority: God. It’s his authority and power we should concern ourselves with. What happened to “seek ye first the kingdom of heaven…” Do we do that? How many times we use Jesus as a platform for our own agendas.

So it comes to this: is your life driven by an agenda or a calling?

We are called to follow Christ. Anything short of that is an fallible, self-serving agenda. It’s it about ’my way vs. your way’. But what about His way?

All I know is this - He’s less concerned with any of the political issues of the day and more concerned with the state of our hearts. 

 Will politics save our country? Nope. They never will.  Our only hope is prayer and a pursuit of Christ. His way will always lead to the hurting people, not towards picketing or pushing policy. That was his way. Jesus didn’t concern himself with politics, only people.   

Are we a Christian nation? Ha ha. Don’t even get me started on that one…

Expectation and Anticipation (Palm [A])