Thank you to all of you who commented on my last blog. Eight people expressed their opinion concerning the blog. I even thank my brother Jim who, instead of giving a comment on my controversial issue, wrote a list of controversial issues. I'll need your help one more time in order to help me with my class assignment. So I'll ask of you again, if you have a comment on this post please write it directly onto the blog rather than sending it to me by email and if you have a friend who might be interested in this please forward them the link to the blog.
What is a proper amount of involvement, in politics, for a Christian?
Can we all start by agreeing that the Bible does not mandate that we all be members of any particular political party? Depending on what type of church you attend (if you are a Christian) it may be unfathomable that Christians could have any other political view than you do. It used to be hip in Evangelical circles to be a Republican. I think it's now hip to be Democrat. My guess is that it is probably less ideologically driven than it is culturally driven. Young people overwhelmingly voted form Barack Obama, so the number speak for themselves. I guess if you really want to be anti-establishment these days you swing conservative. We can also probably all agree that some amount of political involvement is proper as Christians. But how much?
Is it possible to become so involved politically that we become distracted from the real goal of the Christian life, bringing glory to God in all things? Is it possible to become so politically aggressive that we begin to believe that all of our political beliefs are somehow justified in the Bible (small government, social programs, free market economy, pre-emptive war, etc...)? Is it possible to become so politically ignorant that we are totally unaware of the arena of ideas that we need to be entering? Is picketing bad? Is pacifism good?
Here's some principles that might be helpful in order to guide our discussion. 1. Jesus knew nothing of the Republican, Democrat, Whig, or Tea-Parties. That is not to say that He didn't care about politics but there is no way to claim that "Jesus was a Democrat" - Everclear. 2. It is not close minded, as a Christian, to oppose certain political stances because of what you read in Scripture. We, as Christians, need to allow the Truth of Scripture to inform all of life, even our political views. Christ is the Lord of every true believer and He even needs to affect every thought, action, and political view. 3. It's okay for Christians to affiliate with a political party but that affiliation should never be at the expense of conversation, fellowship, and worship with believers who think differently. True fellowship does not come from uniformity of political beliefs but agreement about the person and work of Jesus Christ. We need to be people who can converse, agree, or disagree about peripheral things while we maintain agreement about the Gospel of Christ. 4. It's okay for Christians to affiliate with a political party but guard against it being the first thing you always want or need to talk about. Jesus said that "out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks". If politics, fantasy football, YouTube clips etc are the first things that we must talk about then there may be a problem with our priorities. We can easily make politics or any other thing the ultimate thing. Even something good, like being politically informed can become an idol. 5. Demonstration, as a political activist, is not itself sinful but we must guard that it does not become sinful. Deep conviction can turn to pride in a second (I should know). Standing up for truth can quickly become standing up for 'me' and my hatred of being wrong. 6. Some believers are called to devote their entire vocational life to politics. Early 20th century Christian Fundamentalism was a large movement had very strong moral convictions but the movement had very little affect on the direction of the country because the group leaned towards separatism. Many times, they developed their own school systems (Church Schools, Bible Colleges, Seminaries) and even developed their own vacation spots (Christian Conference Centers). Their separation made it almost impossible for them to have political influence. Their best and their brightest were separated from the political scene. Is it possible that because a large group of Christians in this country separated from the culture at large, Christians were not engaged with the inner workings of America's political system the way we should have been? I'm encouraging the best from our church to make Christian impact in whatever field they find themselves in. Hopefully, some of them will go into politics and be advocates for change from within the system.
I've just given 6 simple principles. If you think about some other principles that may be helpful for the discussion or your disagree with these principles please feel free to write back. I'd love to hear your additional comments on this issue.
A couple of thoughts on your principles above:
ReplyDelete1. Jesus didn't have the option of participating in American politics, but I'm sure that he was aware of the political scene of his day, especially Jewish. I don't think it is an accident that he was in regular combat with both Pharisees and Sadducees, both representing contrary positions on Roman collaboration and economics. The salient point, though, is that, as far as we know, he confronted their self-seeking motives, not their political positions.
2. Most political issues can not be reduced to a simple moral principle. It is the nature of politics that one "moral" position may come into conflict with another (e.g., care for the poor and individual responsibility). Politicians or activists that approach their work from an inflexible moral stance often become demagogues, and thus ineffective in democratic processes.
3. Civility is just as important toward non-Christians as toward fellow Christians, don't you think? However, agreement on "the Gospel of Christ" principle can be sticky. If a Catholic bishop bans a pro-abortion politician from the Mass, he is witholding redemptive grace--that has a lot to do with the Gospel of Christ. Or, if I attend a church that is guilty of the collective sin of wholeheartedly supporting a clearly unjust war, might I need to find someplace else to worship?
4. We're not going to bring the kingdom in through political, even cultural change (sorry, Post-Mils!). Can the desire to see political society oriented directly to the Scriptures be its own idol?
5. What about civil disobedience? Is it sinful even to disobey immoral laws?
6. Fundamentalists separated because dispensational theology of the time required it. Remember, though, that while the pointy-headed Christians were opening soup kitchens and writing political manifestos, the Fundies were out saving souls. Is that so wrong? See Tertullian.
Just had one thought. In point #6 you mentioned that "some believers are
ReplyDeletecalled to devote their entire vocational life to politics" I feel it is
important to note that whether vocational or personal our lives as believers
are *called* to be devoted to Christ first, then to the vocation we feel God
is using for His purposes. I might have misinterpreted the point, but was
just a thought.
At the danger of being called out on the next blog...
ReplyDeleteThe reason some Christians get their political and spiritual priorities confused is that they equate them. The migration of the South from predominantly Democratic to predominantly Republican was based on two things- racism (as the Democrats were pushing de-segregation more aggressively) and morality (as the Democrats became the pro-choice, etc., party). What emerged was a deep alliance between Christians and Republicans, not only on moral issues, but on the entire Republican platform. Hence, traditional Christian positions (such as pacifism or human rights) were lost as Christians traded a pro-life stance for voting as the Republican party's most consistent block.
The point is this- politics is dirty business. I don't know how you get involved without being sullied by it. And, I don't know how you align with any political party without compromising something that is of great worth or great value. And this is a peril I think many Christians fail to recongize.
Check this article out:
ReplyDeleteAlabama Gov. Robert Bentley told a church crowd just moments into his new administration that those who have not accepted Jesus as their savior are not his brothers and sisters, shocking some critics who questioned Tuesday whether he can be fair to non-Christians.
"Anybody here today who has not accepted Jesus Christ as their savior, I'm telling you, you're not my brother and you're not my sister, and I want to be your brother," Bentley said Monday, his inauguration day, according to The Birmingham News.
The Anti-Defamation League on Tuesday called Bentley's remarks shocking.
"His comments are not only offensive, but also raise serious questions as to whether non-Christians can expect to receive equal treatment during his tenure as governor," said Bill Nigut, the ADL's regional director.
Speaking at Dexter Avenue King Memorial Church after the official inaugural ceremony, Bentley told the crowd that he considered anyone who believed in Jesus to be his brothers and sisters regardless of color, but anyone who isn't a Christian doesn't have that same relationship to him.
"If the Holy Spirit lives in you that makes you my brothers and sisters. Anyone who has not accepted Jesus, I want to be your brothers and sisters, too," Bentley said.
After his speech, Bentley said he did not mean to insult anyone.
Responding to questions about it, Bentley's office released a statement Tuesday saying he believes "he is the governor of all of Alabama."
"The governor clearly stated that he will be the governor of all Alabamians - Democrat, Republican and Independent, young, old, black and white, rich and poor. As stated in his (inaugural) address, Gov. Bentley believes his job is to make everyone's lives better," the statement said.
Ashfaq Taufique, president of the Birmingham Islamic Society, told The Birmingham News he wasn't sure how Bentley's remarks were intended.
"Does it mean that those who according to him are not saved are less important than those who are saved?" Taufique said.
"Does he want those of us who do not belong to the Christian faith to adopt his faith? That should be toned down. That's not what we need. If he means that, I hope he changes it. We don't want evangelical politicians. They can be whatever in their private life."
The official with the Anti-Defamation League, which fights discrimination against Jewish people, said it sounded like Bentley was using the office of governor to advocate for Christian conversion.
"If he does so, he is dancing dangerously close to a violation of the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, which forbids government from promoting the establishment of any religion," Nigut said.
The all-too-famous WWJD came to mind after reading this article. So, my interpretation of the Scriptures and of Jesus, that He came and He offended. He wouldn't have backed down and apologized for what He said; however, this governor is not Christ and is sinful. But, what are your thoughts?
ReplyDeleteRead the article below...
MONTGOMERY, Ala. – It took more than two days for Alabama Gov. Robert Bentley to apologize for controversial remarks he made during a Martin Luther King day speech in which he condemned the beliefs of non-Christians.
Bentley, a Republican, told a crowd at Dexter Avenue King Memorial Baptist Church on Monday that if they haven’t accepted Jesus Christ as their savior, they are not his brother or his sister.
Cont.
On Wednesday afternoon, Bentley issued a public apology: "If anyone from other religions felt disenfranchised by the language, I want to say I am sorry. I am sorry if I offended anyone in any way."
ReplyDeleteBill Nigut, the Southeast regional director of the Anti-Defamation League, believes Bentley should have been aware of the possible repercussions of his initial statement.
“The governor does not have to be a seasoned politician to understand the impact of remarks like that,” he said. “These are remarks of a man who truly believes what he said, apparently. This seems to be quite clear that Christians are part of an exclusive relationship he has with his brothers and sisters and the rest of us are not.”
Bentley was sworn in shortly before he spoke at the church where the late civil rights leader Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. was once a pastor. According to The Birmingham News, during his speech he said it was important for Alabamians to ''love and care for each other." He also told the crowd he is color blind. But just minutes later, he went on to say if they don’t have the same ‘daddy’ then they are not brothers and sisters.
"There may be some people here today who do not have living within them the Holy Spirit," Bentley said during his speech. ''But if you have been adopted in God's family like I have, and like you have if you're a Christian and if you're saved, and the Holy Spirit lives within you just like the Holy Spirit lives within me, then you know what that makes? It makes you and me brothers. And it makes you and me brother and sister."
“In the city and the state, there are segments of the population who were offended and others said it was good what he said,” said Joey Kennedy, an opinion writer for The Birmingham News who has closely watched the reaction to Bentley's remarks. “He is not a civilian anymore; he is not a private person anymore. He is the governor of Alabama every day, 24-hours a day.”
Kennedy went on to say that the fact Bentley chose to deliver his remarks in a church doesn’t make it appropriate. “The forum doesn’t matter. Look at the forum, it was a commemoration of Martin Luther King Day to honor the legacy of Dr. King, which was anything but exclusionary,” he said.
Gov. Bentley’s director of communications, Rebekah Mason, sent Fox News a statement on behalf of the governor.
“The governor had intended no offense by his remarks. He is the governor of all the people, Christians, non-Christians alike.”
At this time, he is not scheduled for an on-camera appearance to address Monday’s speech.
For Nigut and the ADL, the statement isn’t enough. He is looking for something more.
“An apology is only meaningful if it is consistent with a sincere understanding of what a person has done wrong. If Gov. Bentley were to say: ‘I realize I was wrong that we are all brothers and sister, and not single out only the ones who believe in Jesus Christ,’” Nigut said.
So is the governor simply exercising the First Amendment or is the statement up for interpretation?
ReplyDeleteGene Policinski, the executive director of The First Amendment Center, says Bentley needs to keep in mind, like all public officials, that his office represents all faiths.
“When a politician might reveal his beliefs, it is creating an impression,” Policinski said. “Religion is a part of many peoples’ lives, but there is an implication when a particular faith receives favorable or disfavorable treatment. It is a very difficult line to draw, but it is one any politician has to be aware of.”
Kennedy agrees with the statement that Bentley has First Amendment rights, but he is speaking as the governor, the one person who has the bully pulpit of the state.
“I challenge it was truly a religious forum, it was an audience of a lot of different people,” he said.
Fox News' Elizabeth Prann and The Associated Press contributed to this report.