Well, the Democratic convention is over and Barak is no longer the "presumed" candidate. And John McCain has picked his running mate. Next week the Republicans gather for their convention.
I had a further idea on Faith and Politics that I need to post. While I do not want to discuss politics, and by that I mean which candidate I might prefer, I feel compelled to discuss the issues. It is important for us as Christians to care about the issues that face us. The war in Iraq, the environment, racism, the economy, abortion, second amendment issues, etc. The issues are important and it IS important to vote for the person or persons who can best deal with them.
What I don't want to do is argue about candidates when the issues are more important. I have a healthy distrust for candidates, no matter what they might want to say about the issues. But what I do care about is to be clear in my mind and heart how I think and feel about the issues.
I will be glad to talk about the issues, to debate them, but not the candidates. I'll make up my own mind about how I'll vote on November 4. I hope you will too.
May God guide the electorate and have mercy on our country.
Saturday, August 30, 2008
Wednesday, August 27, 2008
Faith and Politics
Recently I have had some conversations about two topics, biblical faith and the ongoing political season. I want to write a little about these topics, not that I have the final word on either, nor that they are equally important.
As a believer, my primary interest is in fatihfulness to the Lord Jesus Christ as revealed in Scripture. When it is all said and done, Jesus is Lord! McCain or Obama may be elected - it seems certain that one will be President - but in the end Jesus is and will remain Lord.
The Bible says "Put not your trust in princes, in a son of man, in whom there is no salvation." (Psalm 146:3, ESV)
What little of the Democratic Convention I have watched - and the "talking heads" in the booths - has led me to believe that the American people are reenacting the time when the Israelites came to Samuel and said "Give us a king to judge us." (1 Samuel 8:6, ESV) The people already had a king, namely the LORD. But that didin't satisfy them. Samuel was getting old and would not be around forever. All the other nations had kings to rule them. Now the Israelites were eager to be like everyone else.
Don't get me wrong. I'm not slamming the Democrats. When the Republicans gather later on for their convention it won't be much different. The two parties belong not to the people, but to business interests, to the rich and powerful. They talk a good line about wanting to help the "average" American, but when it is over, the only ones helped will be the politicians and the wealthy.
I am going to vote. I'm not going to tell anyone who I am voting for. It's a private matter between me and God. As much as it is in my power, I don't want to talk about politics. I just don't want to waste my time. The One I want to talk about is the only One Who can bring true peace and justice, Who can come to the aid of the poor and disadvantaged. He is Jesus the Messiah, the Christ, the Son of the Living God. If he were eligible, I would write his name in for President - but he wasn't born in the United States, so he can't be President.
He has a more important seat than the President - he is King of the Universe. He is Lord.
On the church web page (www.clintondalefriends.org) I state that I have two non-negotiables: the Lordship of Jesus and the authority of the Bible.
As long as one truly accepts the Lordship of Jesus, he is going to care what Jesus teaches and expects of him. He will try to follow Jesus in all things. He may not understand everything about Jesus - I certainly don't! - but he will give Jesus first place in his life.
As long as one accepts the Scriptures as authoritative, he will dilegently search them for truth. He may not understand everything in the Bible - I certainly don't! - but he will not allow any other source of knowledge trump the Bible.
There is room in the church for diversity of belief and practice - as long as the essentials are understood and accepted. I was raised in a Quaker church, have hung out with Roman Catholics and pentecostals - I was a Methodist for a year and a half - and I appreciate the great breadth of worship in these and other Christian movements. There are many things in each group that I accept and some things that I just can't.
In March of 1964 I made a commitment to Jesus and my life was changed by the power of his Spirit. Over the years there have been many times I have failed the Lord, but he has never failed me. In my sin he found me, and even when I sin today he stays with me. I love the old saying, "Jesus loves us just as we are, but he loves us too much to leave us that way."
Of all the wonderful things the Lord has done in my life, two stand out for me: first, he led me to Cheryl and we have had twenty-seven years of marriage with a wonderful son; second, he led me to the church in Clintondale, a group of believers who have allowed me to share my life with them and who have brought great healing into my life.
I won't trade Jesus and the church for all the politicians in the world. And that is where the politicians are and that is where their hearts are, in the world. Jesus' kingdom is not of this world (John 18:36.) Jesus' Kingdom transcends this world - includes it, but goes beyond it. And its principles are very different.
Christians can support Obama; Christians can support McCain. People of faith can have differences of opinion over political issues. That makes for a healthy political system.
However, believers cannot differ on the essentials of the Christian faith. Jesus died for our sins, he was buried, raised from the dead and he is present with us today. (1 Corinthians 15:3ff) There can be no compromise with the Gospel.
Faith and Politics: I'll take faith. And I'll vote. But my faith is more important.
As a believer, my primary interest is in fatihfulness to the Lord Jesus Christ as revealed in Scripture. When it is all said and done, Jesus is Lord! McCain or Obama may be elected - it seems certain that one will be President - but in the end Jesus is and will remain Lord.
The Bible says "Put not your trust in princes, in a son of man, in whom there is no salvation." (Psalm 146:3, ESV)
What little of the Democratic Convention I have watched - and the "talking heads" in the booths - has led me to believe that the American people are reenacting the time when the Israelites came to Samuel and said "Give us a king to judge us." (1 Samuel 8:6, ESV) The people already had a king, namely the LORD. But that didin't satisfy them. Samuel was getting old and would not be around forever. All the other nations had kings to rule them. Now the Israelites were eager to be like everyone else.
Don't get me wrong. I'm not slamming the Democrats. When the Republicans gather later on for their convention it won't be much different. The two parties belong not to the people, but to business interests, to the rich and powerful. They talk a good line about wanting to help the "average" American, but when it is over, the only ones helped will be the politicians and the wealthy.
I am going to vote. I'm not going to tell anyone who I am voting for. It's a private matter between me and God. As much as it is in my power, I don't want to talk about politics. I just don't want to waste my time. The One I want to talk about is the only One Who can bring true peace and justice, Who can come to the aid of the poor and disadvantaged. He is Jesus the Messiah, the Christ, the Son of the Living God. If he were eligible, I would write his name in for President - but he wasn't born in the United States, so he can't be President.
He has a more important seat than the President - he is King of the Universe. He is Lord.
On the church web page (www.clintondalefriends.org) I state that I have two non-negotiables: the Lordship of Jesus and the authority of the Bible.
As long as one truly accepts the Lordship of Jesus, he is going to care what Jesus teaches and expects of him. He will try to follow Jesus in all things. He may not understand everything about Jesus - I certainly don't! - but he will give Jesus first place in his life.
As long as one accepts the Scriptures as authoritative, he will dilegently search them for truth. He may not understand everything in the Bible - I certainly don't! - but he will not allow any other source of knowledge trump the Bible.
There is room in the church for diversity of belief and practice - as long as the essentials are understood and accepted. I was raised in a Quaker church, have hung out with Roman Catholics and pentecostals - I was a Methodist for a year and a half - and I appreciate the great breadth of worship in these and other Christian movements. There are many things in each group that I accept and some things that I just can't.
In March of 1964 I made a commitment to Jesus and my life was changed by the power of his Spirit. Over the years there have been many times I have failed the Lord, but he has never failed me. In my sin he found me, and even when I sin today he stays with me. I love the old saying, "Jesus loves us just as we are, but he loves us too much to leave us that way."
Of all the wonderful things the Lord has done in my life, two stand out for me: first, he led me to Cheryl and we have had twenty-seven years of marriage with a wonderful son; second, he led me to the church in Clintondale, a group of believers who have allowed me to share my life with them and who have brought great healing into my life.
I won't trade Jesus and the church for all the politicians in the world. And that is where the politicians are and that is where their hearts are, in the world. Jesus' kingdom is not of this world (John 18:36.) Jesus' Kingdom transcends this world - includes it, but goes beyond it. And its principles are very different.
Christians can support Obama; Christians can support McCain. People of faith can have differences of opinion over political issues. That makes for a healthy political system.
However, believers cannot differ on the essentials of the Christian faith. Jesus died for our sins, he was buried, raised from the dead and he is present with us today. (1 Corinthians 15:3ff) There can be no compromise with the Gospel.
Faith and Politics: I'll take faith. And I'll vote. But my faith is more important.
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