Pundits and Power
I know that our readers have strong feelings about next week's election. We are all concerned about the direction of our country and the potential direction of our country. We are all concerned about the brutal war we are engaged in.
A corollary to a previous post. Are we called to be politically powerful as Christians? How does the political direction of the country affect the Church? How do we most effectively bring about change?
posted by fatherneo at 4:53 PM
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10 Comments:
The first question needs to be examined. As "Christians", and I think you mean the Church, not simply individuals, I think that we must me politically informed (and not just on two issues). I don't know if the Church should be seeking power. The Church should never be about seeking power, but with standing with the poor, oppressed, and those without power.
Now, the individual is a different question. Sure, we can be politically powerful, as powerful as any other voter.
To the second question, how does the political direction of the country affect the Church? It depends on what issue. Some Evangelicals will protest the teaching of evolution. This may or may not be a bad thing. I think that weather intelligent design is taught or not kids will want to learn about it. Let them be taught that evolution is the only way and then hear there is another theory that isn't taught. The spirit of youth will prevail and they will seek out the truth. I think I'm on a tangent now.
The third question is the most interesting to me. The best way to bring about change is to love. It's not to gain power. It's not to bash the "liberals" or whatever. It's not to tell our congregations to vote with this party or that ammendment. It IS to love. It is to vote. It is to show the sacrificial love of Christ. It is to teach Christians to think for themselves (ABOUT ALL THE ISSUES). It is to dialogue. It is to pray. It is to love.
Juxtaposed:
Last paragraph, extremely well said
Is it possible to slap a man in love? I think it is. Is it possible to impede society's headlong rush to narcissism and self worship without whupping someone up aside the head? Remember, Christ came with a sword, not a flower. I know we all like love, but love without righteousness is lame. Jesus knew this. I think we are confused on this point right now.
Political power and love are a mixture of righteousness and charity, in the classical sense. The church should influence the political direction of the country. It always has. There are twenty four declarations in the Declaration of Independence. We only hear about one. Taxation without representation. The other twenty-three were all covered in sermons and have been preserved as leaflets from the decades before the Declaration was written. Morality is always legislated. The Christian worldview is the best storehouse of morality we have. Let's get proactive.
Morpheus,
You said,
"Morality is always legislated. The Christian worldview is the best storehouse of morality we have. Let's get proactive."
'Influenc[ing] the political direction of society' is that the goal and aim of the church? Can we lose on election day and win in hearts and minds? That doesn't mean wussiness--but losing to gain?
re: "The Christian worldview is the best storehouse of morality we have."
Ahh, but WHICH Christian worldview?
Certainly, there is only one Christ, but we flawed humans have all sorts of ideas about what a Christian Worldview is. The Klan has a sense of what a Christian Worldview is and it is a worldview that ought to be rejected.
I'm with juxtaposed. We are called to be faithful. To love. To do for the least of these.
If, in the process of doing these, we take actions that are political, so be it. But it ought to be our desire to be faithful to Christ's, not gain power.
Morpheus's comment is one of the best reasons to deny the Church tax-exempt status. This is a clear perversion of the bedrock principles of our Constitution.
The "best storehouse of morality" is a statement as stunning to me as the "raise the bar for others to come to Christ" comment. It's just sad; a bit like watching a Texan travel abroad for the first time.
"It's just sad; a bit like watching a Texan travel abroad for the first time."
Funny! You make that up?
"Ahh, but WHICH Christian worldview?"
I pick the one of the Church founded 2000 yrs ago, still found today in the Orthodox church.
The church founded 2000 years ago was, by all accounts, a pacifistic, communal-living church. Is that the world view you'll join me in adopting?
Dan:
'fraid so. I pulled that one out of the same place from whence my other churlish comments came yesterday. Apologies to all here who hail from Austin
F-E
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