To be fair, He wasn't a Democrat, either.
Guys, it's tough out there. In a nation founded on principles of individual opportunity and freedom, we find ourselves in a quagmire of divisive politics, racism, and ultimate uncertainty. It's tough to really make any political statement without being rendered to one side or another. In fact, if you don't know me and you're reading this, you're probably already scanning through to find out my perspective so that you can prematurely put me in a proverbial box. Let me help you a little....
Hi, I'm Daniel. I'm a Christian. This probably gives you all you need, which is unfortunate. Why?
A recent study found that 83% percent of Americans claim to be Christians. Now, I can hear most of you voicing protest to this stat, and while it may not be accurate, it's tough because history suggests we're not great at judging someone's heart. Whatever the actual number is, Christians are being used for political gain. They have been used as a political pawn by the Republican party and a political punching bag by the Democrats.
For the last 40 years, the Republicans have relied on Jerry Falwell's "moral majority" to boost its success in southern and agrarian areas of the country. Because you're a Bible believer, it means you're supposed to stomach any policy or candidate that has an (R) before their name. Why? Because there's no way you'd ever vote for those baby killing, godless Democrats, right?
Speaking of the Democratic party in the last 40 years, no one paints an entire sect of the country with a wider swath than they do. Christians are dumb! They don't believe in science! They're racist and they hate the gay community! That's why they're all Republicans!
The truth is Christians are just as vast and diverse as the world itself. They hold wildly different viewpoints on an array of issues. Think I'm lying? Just google "protestant denominations". Go ahead. I'll wait. You found a ton, didn't you? The truth is, Christians actually uniformly agree on very little.
For instance, we don't agree on what baptism is supposed to look like or when it's supposed to occur. Did God choose us or did we choose Him? Can Christians drink? Is the Bible 100% literal, symbolic, poetic, or a mixture of all of those? Was the world created in six 24-hour days? Are Catholics Christians? Are Mormons Christians? This is just the tip of iceberg. The Christian community has come up with multiple answers to each of these questions, all with Biblical backing. You can find endless resources to back up each position, written by Biblical scholars and theologians that are way smarter than me, all of whom believe their opinion to be fact.
So what do we agree upon? Where are we like-minded? Christians believe in a creator, God. They believe God loved his creation so much that he sent his Son, Jesus Christ, to live among us and die so that we might live eternally. My theologian friends and family will want to add to this list, and rightly so, but this is the essence of Christianity: God became man, walked among us, and redeemed us because we're incapable of redeeming ourselves. This truth is so immensely powerful that it's life changing; it bridges the gap between the smaller differences that separate us into denominations.
So who do I vote for? Where should my support reside? If all Christians can disagree agreeably on some things, is it possible that Christians can hold different political views?
I think the answer to the first two questions varies. I think the answer to the third question is a resounding yes. Your political party shouldn't be akin your favorite sports team; they don't deserve your undying loyalty. Why? Several reasons, but mainly because political parties change allegiances over time (Republicans: the party of Lincoln! Lincoln was a moderate liberal. Different post for a different day) and because the individual candidate is a better barometer, because he or she can disagree with party lines at any given moment. The reality is that there isn't a "Christian" political party. Both major political parties have inconsistencies, both are corrupt, and neither party values human life from beginning to end.
If our agreement as Christians is in the person-hood, blamelessness, crucifixion and resurrection of Christ, then it would make sense to look to Him for guidance. This is tougher than it sounds, because like most points of division in the world, it's much easier to choose from a buffet of legality than it is to accept a reality with which you disagree. Here are a few reminders about our role as Christians in an unbelieving world:
America is not the epicenter of Christianity
Jesus was born in the US, right? I'm guessing probably somewhere in the southeast, to an affluent family.
Humans consistently lack proper scope and context of their place in this world. If you've ever been to a planetarium or seen pictures from the Hubble, you know just how vast the universe is and how small we really are. Knowing this, how is it possible that some Christians still believe that America has cornered the market on Christianity?
Humans consistently lack proper scope and context of their place in this world. If you've ever been to a planetarium or seen pictures from the Hubble, you know just how vast the universe is and how small we really are. Knowing this, how is it possible that some Christians still believe that America has cornered the market on Christianity?
Maybe our nation's founding has something to do with this myth. Christians differ over the idea of America being a "Christian nation". Some say it is. Some say it was. Some say it never has been. Regardless of which camp you're in, the US was founded upon the idea of individual freedom from an organized religion of any kind. This has allowed Christianity to thrive, but it's done the same thing for hypocrisy....
One of my least favorite things is when I hear someone say, "Christianity is under attack in America!" I'm not here to assess validity of this statement. That's not really the point. I can tell you, however, that Christians in America do not endure the same level of persecution that they do in the rest of the world . Freedom of religion is a fundamental right in our Constitution, not to mention that pesky stat from earlier, you know, the one where the majority of Americans are Christians? Have some Christians been persecuted here? Absolutely. Have other Christians used the name of Christ to further a selfish, unbiblical cause? Of course. Let's keep it in perspective.
I have some friends that are missionaries around the world, and two constants that I hear from them are how grateful I should be to live in a country where I can worship freely, and how tiny the Christian bubble is in America. It's easy to get complacent when there's a church on every corner. It's easy to forget just how fortunate and blessed we are to live in a country that honors our right to worship in whatever manner we see fit. Having said that....
I have some friends that are missionaries around the world, and two constants that I hear from them are how grateful I should be to live in a country where I can worship freely, and how tiny the Christian bubble is in America. It's easy to get complacent when there's a church on every corner. It's easy to forget just how fortunate and blessed we are to live in a country that honors our right to worship in whatever manner we see fit. Having said that....
Our Kingdom isn't an earthly one
This is easy to forget, because there's so much here that can take our focus. Jesus was concerned with social injustice. He cared about those in need and those who were hurting. He did not, however, go about fixing these problems through a political regime change.
Wrap your head around this: Jesus lived under a government that was corrupt, power hungry, and responsible for the deaths of countless innocent civilians. Over 30 years on the planet and never once did the Son of God make a political play to take over, even though many of his followers begged him to do so.
What can we learn from this example? It'd be easy to just ignore politics and our nation's problems on a macro scale and just focus on doing what we can individually. While we are called to live in a manner that reflects Christ, we're also given a grand responsibility as Americans to be a part of the political process. In doing so, we must remember that our treasure isn't here on earth. It's possible to live agreeably with a disagreeing government. It's okay to live in a nation and world that doesn't match your personal, moral values. How can you help change eternity?
The biggest blessing of individual freedom is also its biggest curse: we prioritize our rights ahead of the needs of others. I can't tell you how many times I hear a Christian say, "it's my Constitutional right to...." This isn't inherently a bad thing, but it's usually a foundation for selfishness. No one bothers to think if they should do something, they just want everyone to know that they can. It implies that we can earn our way to the top, and we aren't required to worry about anyone else. It's our right. This ideal, while distinctly American, flies directly in the face of the Gospel of Jesus Christ: We can't do it ourselves. We need a savior. Our rights must come second.
The difficult task of loving others as we love ourselves has been made seemingly impossible in today's culture of political negativity. Our freedom gives us the right to be selfish, but loving others requires being for something. Is anyone for anything any more?
It's so much easier to be against something than for it, especially in the political realm. I'm a culprit of this, lest you think I'm above the fray. Too many times, decisions are made based on "the lesser of two evils". The number one reason to vote for Trump is because he's not Hillary. Why vote for Hillary? Well, she's not Trump. Forget the fact that, semantics aside, evil is evil and should never be an option: if your best reason for action is a con, then it isn't a good action. Loving others sometimes means putting your own wishes and rights in the back seat. Which leads me to this last point, and boy is it important....
Wrap your head around this: Jesus lived under a government that was corrupt, power hungry, and responsible for the deaths of countless innocent civilians. Over 30 years on the planet and never once did the Son of God make a political play to take over, even though many of his followers begged him to do so.
What can we learn from this example? It'd be easy to just ignore politics and our nation's problems on a macro scale and just focus on doing what we can individually. While we are called to live in a manner that reflects Christ, we're also given a grand responsibility as Americans to be a part of the political process. In doing so, we must remember that our treasure isn't here on earth. It's possible to live agreeably with a disagreeing government. It's okay to live in a nation and world that doesn't match your personal, moral values. How can you help change eternity?
Having rights and being righteous are two very different things
One of the more infamous passages of the Bible is when Jesus answers an "expert of the Law" asking what he must do to receive salvation: "Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind. And love your neighbor as yourself."
It's hard for me to imagine either of the two current nominees for President loving anyone, much less their neighbor, as much as themselves. This is a tough commandment. It's used by countless political action groups and charities. It's sometimes used out of context (gasp!). Nevertheless, there's no way around it; this is an imperative of Christianity: you're commanded to love those around you, even those with whom you disagree.
The biggest blessing of individual freedom is also its biggest curse: we prioritize our rights ahead of the needs of others. I can't tell you how many times I hear a Christian say, "it's my Constitutional right to...." This isn't inherently a bad thing, but it's usually a foundation for selfishness. No one bothers to think if they should do something, they just want everyone to know that they can. It implies that we can earn our way to the top, and we aren't required to worry about anyone else. It's our right. This ideal, while distinctly American, flies directly in the face of the Gospel of Jesus Christ: We can't do it ourselves. We need a savior. Our rights must come second.
The difficult task of loving others as we love ourselves has been made seemingly impossible in today's culture of political negativity. Our freedom gives us the right to be selfish, but loving others requires being for something. Is anyone for anything any more?
It's so much easier to be against something than for it, especially in the political realm. I'm a culprit of this, lest you think I'm above the fray. Too many times, decisions are made based on "the lesser of two evils". The number one reason to vote for Trump is because he's not Hillary. Why vote for Hillary? Well, she's not Trump. Forget the fact that, semantics aside, evil is evil and should never be an option: if your best reason for action is a con, then it isn't a good action. Loving others sometimes means putting your own wishes and rights in the back seat. Which leads me to this last point, and boy is it important....
Avoid the Pride of Precedent
I grew up in a house with a teacher, a preacher, and an older brother that was/is crazy smart and articulate. Not a day goes by that I'm not grateful for my upbringing, especially in one particular area: fairness. As a young child/make-believe-attorney, I would consistently state my case to my parents on why I should get to do something, eat something, or say something. Almost always, my case centered around what my friends and/or my brother were allowed to do, eat, or say. My parents presented a united front that consisted of 3 of their greatest hits: "Well, you're not (fill in the blank of friend/brother)", "Because I said so!" and my favorite one of all, "Life's not fair!".
God bless my parents. As a child, I had a perspective of fairness. That perspective centered around me. If I didn't get what I wanted, I tried to show my parents a similar situation so they could see it my way. I'm thankful that they knew better.
Sadly enough, most American citizens tend to act like 5 year-old children: they all cry out for fairness while blaming the opposition for not complying. No one wants to take responsibility for their own actions; they'd rather point you towards the fact that their plight isn't the problem, it's the other side's fault! This is the definition of partisan politics: If a Republican plagiarized a speech, there's a hundred examples of how the other side did it first and worse. If a Democrat lied to the American people, then here's a list of the Republicans who did it first.
Look, I'm not here to tell you that I've never used an illustration, example, or comparison in my life. They're helpful and sometimes beneficial. The problem is that too often the argument of precedent is used to draw attention away from the problem. Instead of dealing with an issue, let's highlight someone else's! This is pride, and it's not Christlike at all.
As Christians, we believe that Jesus Christ not only lived on this planet, but he was the only person to ever live a perfect life. This perfection is important, because we all need it, yet can't attain it for ourselves. Jesus was sentenced to death for crimes he didn't commit. He had all the precedent in the world! He could've pointed to anyone else and comparatively they would've been more deserving of death. Yet, He didn't. Jesus died a blameless man in order to save the world that was responsible.
If you're an American, count your blessings. You live in an amazing place with unique opportunity. If you're an American Christian, count your blessings. You live in a place where you're free to openly worship. You're not better than anyone else. You need a savior just as much as anyone around you. Live in a manner that reflects that.
God bless my parents. As a child, I had a perspective of fairness. That perspective centered around me. If I didn't get what I wanted, I tried to show my parents a similar situation so they could see it my way. I'm thankful that they knew better.
Sadly enough, most American citizens tend to act like 5 year-old children: they all cry out for fairness while blaming the opposition for not complying. No one wants to take responsibility for their own actions; they'd rather point you towards the fact that their plight isn't the problem, it's the other side's fault! This is the definition of partisan politics: If a Republican plagiarized a speech, there's a hundred examples of how the other side did it first and worse. If a Democrat lied to the American people, then here's a list of the Republicans who did it first.
Look, I'm not here to tell you that I've never used an illustration, example, or comparison in my life. They're helpful and sometimes beneficial. The problem is that too often the argument of precedent is used to draw attention away from the problem. Instead of dealing with an issue, let's highlight someone else's! This is pride, and it's not Christlike at all.
As Christians, we believe that Jesus Christ not only lived on this planet, but he was the only person to ever live a perfect life. This perfection is important, because we all need it, yet can't attain it for ourselves. Jesus was sentenced to death for crimes he didn't commit. He had all the precedent in the world! He could've pointed to anyone else and comparatively they would've been more deserving of death. Yet, He didn't. Jesus died a blameless man in order to save the world that was responsible.
If you're an American, count your blessings. You live in an amazing place with unique opportunity. If you're an American Christian, count your blessings. You live in a place where you're free to openly worship. You're not better than anyone else. You need a savior just as much as anyone around you. Live in a manner that reflects that.
