For the first presidential election in my adulthood, I have felt the freedom - indeed, the urgency - to carefully examine both candidates and decide who to vote for. As I've discussed the choices with many people, I have heard some very pointed, poisonous attacks about Barack Obama.
A quick survey of my email reveals these types of comments:
Watch this video of Obama making fun of the Bible
Dr. James Dobson is praying that the Obama speech [at the Democratic convention held in an outdoor stadium] is rained out.
Read Mrs. Obama's college thesis (scary stuff)
Now, I am not here to address such attacks because Lithos is not the place to such a thing. But I am deeply saddened as I watch fellow brothers and sisters in Christ spread fear and lies about a presidential nominee.
Most of it does not strike me as, well, very Christlike.
And here is what I realized talking on the phone with my mom tonight. John Wimber, the founder of the Vineyard Association of Churches, often said this: "Everyone is someone's fool, whose fool are you?"
I've been a fool for the Republican party. I've been a fool for George W. Bush (twice). And this year I have been very tempted to be a fool for Barack Obama.
But tonight I have rejected that whole paradigm.
I only want to be a fool for Jesus Christ, the Jewish carpenter from Nazareth. I want His bumper sticker on my car, His pin on my lapel, His grace, love, and truth in my heart. I don't want to trade one fallible, fallen president for another - I want to serve the President "who was, who is, and who is to come."
I want to reject a politics that says I must attack or disdain those I disagree with. I want to pray for my enemies and those who oppose me. I want to trust that God is in charge of all the earth and has sovereignly chosen already the President of the United States for the next four years.
This does not mean that I am abandoning my love of all things political. Or turning off Hardball, Countdown, The Situation Room, or AC360. Or that I am staying home of Election Day. But it does mean that I will pray for the grace and wisdom to approach these activities and my opinions differently, more like my King would.
And I hope for the sake of the cross and the credibility of the church, more of my brothers and sisters will decide whose fool they are this contentious election year - and choose the radical carpenter peasant with the wounds forever in His loving hands.
5 comments:
Brother Stone:
I hope to be able to respond fully to your posting later this evening. Suffice it to say for now... I find your comments very, very interesting - and I share many of your sentiments.
I am glad that there is someone like you "out there," a man of obvious faith, of bountiful intellect, etc.
no kiddin' ...I really mean that part about the bountiful intellect! wayne p
This comment below is from my friend Jay from DTS:
A very astute and obviously well thought out entry.
I agree with you completely. While we try desperately to hold onto our presuppositions, we must allows for them to become, or better yet, subscribe to preunderstandings instead of presuppositions.
We must be able to discern, seek and be obedient to God's will. We live in a country that has elected
officials to guide us. We must decide in each of our
hearts where we feel God is leading us in our decision to vote for the best candidate. BUT, we do not have an option I believe to not vote. We must not shirk that responsibility by hiding behind the "evil of two lessers" argument.
In God's sovereignty, this country will be run by who he has determined long before I was born. I just feel blessed and honored that HE has given me the opportunity to be involved in His kingdom. Republican=Evangelical; Democrat=Liberal. McCain=Conservative; Obama=Anti-Christ
We live in an either/or world. You're either for
something or against it. If you choose not to decide
you still have made a choice (Geddy Lee—free will). I just pray that whatever choice is made, it is the
center of God's will.
Mr. Stone:
I hope that it is okay that I read your original posting aloud in the Advanced Placement U.S. Government and Politics course at King's Ridge Christian School in Alpharetta, Georgia. (I did credit you with the posting, and suggested to the AP students that you are a HECK of a lot smarter than me!)...
These 17- and 18-year-old students were honestly "wowed" by the commentary. Whether Catholic, Methodist, Episcopalian... all the students said that they found your commentary very interesting - and meaningful to them.
They said that they would read the blog entry again tonight, and also encourage their parents to read it - so that they might discuss the commentary at home.
Thank you, Matt for challenging me - and for challenging 10 juniors and seniors at a great Christian secondary school!
good job
Matt,
Like so many of life's opportunities, our involvment in politics must be weighed and balanced. Will I engage or not, and at what levels of energy and time will I engage? So many of us are in a love-hate relationship with the political system. It's kind of like the money in my pocket. On it are the words, "In God we Trust." What an interesing irony. And it's printed by our government.
I think my engagement comes down to how much I trust in my government to accomplish what governments are supposed to do (however we determine that) and what is my "calling" to engage that important influence on my life. I think some people are called to be more involved than others.
As to the "political talk" I hear and play with myself . . . the hyperbole that dominates the rhetoric of campaign provides too big a target not to make light of the constant excesses. But two other thoughts also influence my converstaions. First, we better be slow to speak, since we dare not curse our brother/sister who is made in God's image. Second, ideas do have consequences, and we must judge bad ideas and their almost certain consequences. Some of the ideas being floated are hyperbole and others are contrary to godliness. I'm for going after the ideas rather than the person. But if a person identifies him/herself with an idea, so much so that the idea becomes the "brand" of that person, the two can get merged in the criticism.
So, I continue my love-hate, and my converstaions, and my usually light hearted attitude . . . because I don't want to place my hopes in man, but in God. Hmm, so how do we engage in the meantime? I will let you, Matt, keep working on that.
T
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