Thursday, June 23, 2005

"Christian" Politics

I know this is a topic of interest for several of my friends......this is a well-written editorial on the issue.

3 comments:

Gretchen Magruder said...

Michael,
I think we're on totally different pages here....you're talking about protecting religion, fighting for rights, making sure we're a "christian nation".....but here's the thing....We're supposed to be about Jesus and the things HE was about....feeding the hungry, healing the sick, extending grace to the broken, correcting and building up the Church....but I can't think of any time when he emphasized fighting for our rights when people challenge us. Jesus didn't give us any reason to think that he was concerned about the government or political things.

This other stuff is just a distraction, and I think the "Right" is totally falling for it!!! God's bigger than politics. We have a job to do, and it's the Gospel. It's time we just did what we were supposed to...the things Christ did....and stop worrying about the rest...I think God can handle it!!

Gretchen Magruder said...

Okay, Michael...I'll respond this time, but unlike many bloggers, I'm not really looking for a debate as much as an exchange of ideas to chew on....:-)

"You see they want us to stay out of politics so they can slowly take away our rights to be christian..."

I guess I'm not so sure we should be so concerned with our "rights"...that's the point...was Jesus? Dosen't scripture say we'd be blessed when we're persecuted for his sake?
(Matt. 5:10, 1 Peter 4:12-14, 1 Peter 2:21-23, 2 Timothy 3:12)

As far as schools go, I don't want them trying to teach religion to my kids or even praying with my kids. That's my job, according to scripture.

It's my job to extend God's love and grace to people around me so they understand that God meets their every need, and they don't choose sex outside of marriage and don't choose abortion.

It's my job to speak out against injustice...yes....about Darfur, the Sudan, Abortion, Unfair Wages in Columbia.....because that's what Jesus did. But I'm not saying just to preach the Gospel, but to DO the Gospel, and Be the Good News.

But Jesus never fought for his "rights" or said that we should.

That's the big issue for me, Michael.

I'm not saying we stay completely out of government or politics...I regularly voice my opinion with my legislators and congressmen...

But the more we argue this, the more convinced I am that Christians "becoming far more politically involved to protect our faith" is absolutely not the answer.

If you can show me Christ's example or direction to fight for our rights, I'd be interested to see that.

I'm not sure this is a bloggable dabate (but as I mentioned earlier, I don't want to do any debating in a blog format).

I appreciate your passion, Mike, but I can't go with you on this one.

Anonymous said...

Wait, this came out in Christianity Today? Oh boy, somebody lost a job. And advertising revenue.

By the way, where can I get a list of the "enemies of God"? I fear I may be loving some of them currently and would like to stop if it's a waste of time.

 This quote was part of my Lectio365 Sabbath devotion this morning, and as I considered what this day should look like, I began considering ...