So obviously these past few days have been rather politically charged.Normally I would thrive in that type of environment but I find more and more often that political discussions I have are either useless, hurtful (to other people), or both.I’m hesitant to express where my politics fall but it will kind of come into play in this explanation, so I’ll say that I’m a rather Liberal Christian who doesn’t have any issue with big government.I don’t mind redistribution of wealth in the least.I’m a recently declared pacifist and I’ve been moving towards being completely against violence in all forms including military actions.That being said, my Christianity causes me to desire abortions not to happen; however I don’t know that an out-right ban is the best way to get that to happen…and this week I’ve been moving towards non-involvement in politics...I don’t fall into a voting bloc, and I’m constantly thinking about things further and changing my stances if I feel I need to.
Misty’s parents are conservative Christians who feel they have earned what they have and don’t want it taken away by the government.Her mom religiously watches conservative pundits and listens to the far Right side.So I’ve been worried as I’ve visited Misty at her house in the past few weeks as she has been having heated discussions with her parents and I really didn’t want to get into that…enter Monday night.We are all eating and Misty’s parents are going through the propositions on the ballot in Cali (California has ballot measures that the citizens vote on called propositions).Prop 8 this year is a constitutional amendment to ban same sex marriage. We go by that and it passes over…bullet one dodged.Then Misty’s mom starts bringing up how Obama’s running mate said they were for traditional marriage but how Obama didn’t want Prop 8 to pass (meaning same sex marriage can continue).Misty says she has a similar position and the discussion begins.Misty’s mom is winning the argument with a technicality.I enter the discussion (should have let it go). I help Misty and her dad even joins us in saying that it is a technicality.Misty’s mom starts feeling ganged up on.She further attacks gay marriage and Misty brings up the argument that I told her for why I can’t support a ban on gay marriage.Basically I view this as major hypocrisy in the church since it is saying nothing of remarriage which is also a sexual sin related to marriage.So I don’t feel that the Church has any right to put such huge support behind this ban when they say nothing of remarriage.This may put me on the side of anti-remarriage and anti-gay marriage but Misty came from a father who remarried so I know God can redeem relationships that He may classify as sinful.I would not have felt comfortable bringing these things up with Misty’s parents since her dad is remarried…this is an issue that Misty’s mom has been going through and she takes this as a personal attack against her thinking that Misty is saying she should get divorced which is not the point she trying to make at all as she’s trying to say that their relationship has been redeemed by God.And so Misty and her mom both end up in tears.They have since apologized to each other, but I still see politics dividing as I watch facebook statuses change to those who celebrate an Obama win by degrading McCain and others express grave fears at Obama being President…So I see politics dividing God’s family.I see political maneuvers by governments having Christians kill Christians in war.I see politicians on all sides invoking the name of America in the place of the name of God.I see people combining their faith with nationalism and others having their faith in nationalism or politicians.
To my Christian brothers and sisters I bring a warning: beware of the spiritual powers behind politics.Demons have a hold there and love to use it to divide.Don’t let yourself be swayed by your peers who place their faith in fleeting things of this world like Presidents.No President or government in the foreseeable future is going to come anywhere close to Jesus until His return.God is not in the habit of killing babies, nor is he in the habit of starting wars between his servants.I’ll leave with a Shane Claiborne quote from his experience as a peacekeeper in Iraq when the US started bombing Baghdad:
"If this bloody, counterfeit liberation is American... I am proud to be Un-American.
If depleted uranium is American... I am proud to be Un-American.
If US sanctions are American... I am proud to be Un-American.
If the imposed "peace" of Pax Americana is American... I am proud to be Un-American.
BUT
If grace, humility, and nonviolence are American... I am proud to be American.
If global democracy is American... I am proud to be American.
If sharing to create a safe, sustainable world is American... I am proud to be American.
If loving our enemies is American... I am proud to be American.
REGARDLESS-
I would die for the people of New York but I will not kill for them... my Kingdom is not of this world.
I would die for the people of Baghdad but I will not kill for them... my Kingdom is not of this world.
I will stand in the way of terror and war... my Kingdom is not of this world.
I will pledge an allegiance deeper than nationalism, to my God and to my Family... my Kingdom is not of this world.
I will use my life to shout, "Another world is possible"... for my Kingdom is from another Place."
