If you are a regular reader of this blog, it is pretty obvious that I tend to lean left on the political spectrum. If you need to skip reading today, I completely understand, but my ideology isn't a bandwagon thing. I have always seen things from this angle, even in the 80s when it was an unfashionable perspective to adhere to at the conservative Christian college that I happily attended. Earlier this week, an old college friend that I Twitter with, made an interesting comment. He wrote, “I bet no one would care if a preacher endorsed Obama from the pulpit. Bizarre country I live in.” I did not respond to the Twitter because, well, I don’t really know why – but I have given it considerable thought.
Once before, I mentioned that one of my favorite presidents was Jimmy Carter. This fact inspired some sneering, and emails that generally said, “Oh, poor, poor, idealistic, naive Wendy who has no understanding of the real world.” Now, I like Jimmy Carter because I believe he is a man of peace and I believe that he chose to be transparent in a country that only wants to hear what they want to hear. Jimmy basically committed political suicide, but he's been resurrected to build homes for people through Habitat for Humanity.
So, I started asking myself – can Christians even aspire to be president? I do not believe that we have a Christian candidate (or vice-candidate) this election, but I'm not sure that bothers me. I’m beginning to think that it would be impossible to be a Christian and run for president. I don’t even think Jesus Himself would make it past the primaries, given the crazy system in America.
I mean, what does it mean to be a Christian? Is it defined by being pro-life and pro-heterosexual marriage?
Christian=
Love enemies.
Do not judge.
Tell the truth.
Keep no record of wrongs.
Say only things that build other people up.
Feed the hungry, give to the poor, clothe the naked, visit the sick and imprisoned.
Promote peace.
Do not hoard for yourself, but be generous with time, talent and treasure (btw – I think this is suppose to happen OUTSIDE the church building).
Love God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength. Love neighbors too.
Do to others as you would have others do to you.
OK – you get it, right? No one who aspires to honor God in these ways would survive a run for President, in my opinion. How could he or she? So much of the process violates what we intrinsically believe to be of the Gospel.
As a Christian and a voter, I look for a candidate who demonstrates a caring for the things I care about. I deeply care if people have enough to eat. I am deeply distressed over war. I believe nationalism has gone awry and that Americans have become so insular in their thinking that we have forgotten the power of humility and global cooperation. I value diplomacy and the ability to listen. So, I have to watch closely and decide whose thinking is more congruent with my own belief system, and simply realize that it's up to ME to change the world - every day, faithfully - even though I will never sit in the Oval Office.
And while I wholeheartedly support the idea that the unborn have life, I suspect that we have limited the definition for our own convenience and even for political reasons.
For a person to claim that they believe in the sanctity of life is enormous. It is a wide and encompassing issue that would demand pro-lifers be just as concerned with the children who currently live in poverty as with those who are in someone’s womb. It would insist that we help the morbidly obese. The heart of this belief would demand that we protest outside of death row just as much as Planned Parenthood, not too mention adding a passionate voice to support environmental protections. Sanctity of life would care for Africans dying from mosquito bites and whether all people have adequate health care just as much as abortion statistics. I do not believe we have a candidate that is pro-life. I can hardly find Christians who are pro-life.
The good news is, God doesn’t need us to defend Him (or what we perceive as His morality) with our votes. As a matter of fact, I suspect that God hardly cares about Election Day (bold enough for you?) because I believe He’s far more interested in whether we demonstrate the truth of Him - with the way we live out the Gospel - the other 364 days of the year. He's not looking for truth from places where grace has not been realized.
This is not an endorsement - from a pulpit or a blog. This is a simple call for generosity of spirit, for deeper thinking, for demonstrative love, and dare I say, a little idealism.
10 comments:
Wow. I've read this post 3 times now. I wish you were going to be an advisor to the next president. Parts of this post could be a great inaugural address.
Bravo!
Mrs. Fitz
Well sister you said a lot. I was reminded yesterday by a friend that in most cases the Chirstian community is not pro-life, they are anti-abortion.
So how do I live a life of simpicity so that I can demonstrate that I am pro-life with all of my resources?
you've expressed yourself well... I agree with you in many ways, but still have the sensation that we'll be voting differently.
Well Wendy, I guess you should move to Canada (where we have at least 5 lesser evils to choose from instead of 2) or at least become a Mennonite :-)
“For a person to claim that they believe in the sanctity of life is enormous. It is a wide and encompassing issue that would demand pro-lifers be just as concerned with the children who currently live in poverty as with those who are in someone’s womb. It would insist that we help the morbidly obese. The heart of this belief would demand that we protest outside of death row just as much as Planned Parenthood. “
While I respect your opinion, your argument is fundamentally flawed in that the only individual who shares the fate of an aborted child is the convicted murderer. We are not holding a gun to the heads of the morbidly obese or children of poverty. I would also point out that both the felon and the obese have lived a life of choice that ultimately led them to where they are today; no matter what their circumstances may have been, free will was exercised.
There are many pro-lifers (I’ve worked with them) who do indeed live their lives with just as much concern for the unborn as for those living in need. I have watched as these woman worked tirelessly to feed, clothe, educate, as well as disciple these individuals…and I live in small town.
Maureen, I suspect we agree more than you think. The women you refer to sound like the very people who understand the concept of pro-life that I am trying to communicate (perhaps inadequately). I love it. Where we differ is in our interpretation of "sanctity of life." I understand that to include all life - regardless of "guilt" or situation. That aside, I so appreciate your passionate voice. We live in a world without heroes. Your words are from a person who cares - I applaud that!
How as a Christian do you judge what is in the hearts of the men running for President? How can you be so sure they are not Christian? I believe both men care about the issues that are important to you and to me.
The left-leaning and the right-leaning ideology always puzzles me. Most Americans want the same basic things… A good economy where people have jobs and can afford to live, a good standard of living with opportunity and freedom, a strong national defense to protect ourselves, global respect, cooperation, and peace. No one wishes America to be the aggressor. No one wants to see hunger and poverty either in Africa or the back alleys of America. No one wants to see a neighbor go bankrupt because they needed surgery. If we all want the same things, how do we have such a different philosophy in how to achieve it?
It seems so obvious to me, love liberally and vote conservatively.
But as I see friends “parenting” their children, it becomes apparent how differently people think when it comes to leading. After all, we all want the same basic things for our children… Strength, wisdom, compassion, opportunity, freedom. Yet some parents foster hard-working, empowered, empathetic children and others raise kids with no confidence, no ethics, and no real hope for changing even their own circumstances, much less the world.
Human dignity comes from being able to take care of one’s self. Americans root for the underdog, we cheer for success, we cheer for the Phillies. A socialist ideology will never bring happiness or opportunity to those being helped. Life is about choices and the consequences of those choices.
Jimmy Carter is a good man but was a terrible president. I would make a terrible president. I am confident we will be voting differently on Tuesday. Which is ironic, because you, me and Maureen are far more alike than we are different. And I am willing to bet that we all have pretty good kids, because we care.
Read the Book of Acts - particularly Acts 2:42-47. How did the early Christians function?
I would say that I disagree with you. I have only a moment because I'm at work but. Faith and politics do mix. You cannot separate the two. We as Americans ascribe to elect the individuals that represent the moral character and fiber in which we desire to governed by. Though Jesus would not have run for President, that does not mean that one who desires to be Christ-like cannot or should not run. Regardless of his likelihood to win, to stand for what is right is more important than doing what is popular. That is called courage.
Also, doing what is right is not always popular. Standing up for "Pro-life" also means willing to institute justice for those oppressed. Sometimes this takes action rather than idealism. This is also a biblical theme. Would we stand by and not help save those in genocide or oppression. We all know diplomacy has limits and action is called for. Look at International Justice Mission. They react to the legalized raping of teen girls in India by helping law enforcement raid brothels to save these girls. Which is more just in the eyes of God, letting girls get raped for centuries or taking action to end this for of opression. Pro-life.
To place our virtues aside because its "too idealistic" to have a canditate that reflects your moral hopes is without courage. Stand up for the guy even if you know he won't win the election.
I can not stand for a person who supports partial birth abortion, wilth drawling quickly from Iraq leaving opportunity for more lives to be lost through civil war then instituting democracy, one who is ineligible to run the FBI, national health care plan that is flawed, and does not support the sacredness of marriage.
I simple have to say with you. I disagree.
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