How Much Should We?
Alright, I have something on my mind and I know that Johnnie and Diz will have a lot to say about it, or I hope they will at least, cuz I need to solidify what God's heart is on the matter. My question is, what involvement should we have in politics? Before salvation, I was much more liberal than my current state. I believed that I shouldn't be the one to dictate how others must live, but I wouldn't myself participate in the acts that many liberals desired to legalize. The major one being abortion - I have always seen this as wrong: don't do what it takes to have a baby, if you don't want the baby, but who am I to require you to live that way also? <-- this is what I used to believe... As for now, I do firmly believe that it should be law - as it involves a life that isn't given a say in the matter.
So what am I talking about? I'm not really sure anymore. I don't think this is going to end up where I thought I was headed, but here we go... I have had a bunch of encounters now with people that laugh at me or try to to encourage me to "live" more because I don't get involved in the type of activities that they do. They perceive my lack of involvement to be out of fear... That I don't go out and drink because God will send me to hell. This is the impression we are giving and I was thinking that this issue was tied into the natural laws that are voted strongly supported by the Christian community. I don't think that is the only or even primary cause of the issue though.
Is it right for me to even try to rationalize what these people think or should I just shrug it off and say they have a demon? I think that's part of the problem - people are quick to accuse the enemy, when we've given these people legitimate reasons to believe that we're off our rockers! Living life in fear of God - a fear that paralyzes you into being a drone is not healthy. (this is not to be confused with a Reverential awe of God or fear that provokes us to righteousness - this topic can be a whole other blog as once again I'm rabbit trailin').
While these thoughts don't flow nicely, I'm using this blog thing as an outlet for my thoughts, so... if you got some light, let it reveal and diffuse the confusion please.
posted by Professor Hawk @ 10:04 PM
5 comments
5 Comments:
dang scotty, way too much, i need to organize my thoughts and come back to this one!
Hmmm deep thoughts Scott. I have been thinking about politics a lot as well. My whole problem is like yours, how do christians involve themselves with politics? The way which we normally see, christians trying to turn our morals into law, seems to not be working to me.
Abortion for example. We're trying to outlaw abortions. The problem is that there is a huge amount of people (close to half) that want abortions legal. What I think we should be doing, is starting more debates. If we truly are killing human beings, lets get down to proving it, or at least providing lots of evidence, and present this evidence to people in a discussion.
Or we could at least discuss the huge decision God has placed in our hands: weather or not to let a new human being come into existance. (those are terms everyone can agree on) And once you start the process of a child coming into the world, is it right to end it? I think people who do not beleive in God might respond better to discussion along these lines, than another "Abortion is Murder/ My Body My Choice" bumper sticker battle. You feel me?
BUT, politics in general make me sick. I think my voting for some guy who says hes going to do something that I agree with, but might not, sucks. Which is why I think its more effective to move through grassroots movements, and spirit led Jesus revelations. But thats just me. I mean, we still gotta vote n stuff.
Anyways, I'll shut up now, I can go on and on... haha
yo, tom showed me this website about this most recent white-man-christian sex scandal
http://www.opuszine.com/
nice thoughts
PS - sorry for the sarcasism, you know me, and i think when im tired there are certian barriers that stop existing
There are some great questions in here that got me thinking, as I too wonder the depth that we are to care about politics, as it is a deep subject, that really needs to be researched. So instead of confusing myself with my own thoughts, i went to the word and this is what I found:
"Romans 13:1-5 (RSV):
1 Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God.
2 Therefore he who resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment.
3 For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. Would you have no fear of him who is in authority? Then do what is good, and you will receive his approval,
4 For he is God's servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword in vain; he is the servant of God to execute his wrath on the wrongdoer.
5 Therefore one must be subject, not only to avoid God's wrath but also for the sake of conscience.
I believe that God has given us the freedom, in all His wisdom, discernment, and authority to have choice about who should help govern. With this choice, it is our duty to pray and ask the Lord who He would lead us to "vote" for and follow, in order to maintain law and order amoung the different boundaries of this nation and world.
The Lord has given mankind boundaries and established authorities that will enforce His laws. If we dont vote or at least try to understand even a little bit of politics, then its like saying we dont care who is in office or what they stand for. For God has godly men in place to run for these offices and we as Christians should make it a point to at least have some type of understanding of them, in order to ensure that they will carry out His will..
Then there is the question of when there arent those type of people in office, and that is a whole other convo that I dont have the strength to get into..
As far as your concern for others making fun of you b/c of the fear you have; they are going to say those things b/c they dont understand Christ, what He did, or how you could have fun w/o going out to get drunk. Our call as Christians is to persevere through those comments and misunderstanding, standing firm in the things Christ has done through our experiences. Plant the seeds and let God do the rest. If they have the wrong idea, than all we need to do is like what Mike said, "dust the dirt of your feet" and move on in what you know to be true. God will work out the rest. Yea i am done!
you got me goin... i guess my response is my post.
but as a more pointed response to your blog; i think as a Christian it is foolish to not vote. Prayer would still be schools, "under God" would still be in the pledge and kids would still be able to kneel after scoring a TD in highschool football if different judges were elected or appointed (by people that were elected)into office. That being said, politics is frustrating. As tom said, its hard to trust some polished tool in a suit when he says he will act. Unfortunalty politics is how we get stuff done, how we allocate funds, and how we decide our future as a community and a nation. As christians we cant afford to turn a blind eye to politics.
That being said, I dont think God will necessarily tell us who to vote for mr/mrs anonymous. He may, but I doubt it. It is not that hard to find out where people stand on every issue. It is our responsibility to get informed and get out there and do out thing.
But i gotta get to bed.
DIz
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