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Jun 6, 2006
Jesus the politicial: part 2 Back in college, I had a good friend named Freddie Smith. He was one of the first friends I met in college. He put off going to college to join the army, so he was a few years older than me. My second semester, we ended up in the same Music Appreciation class. Apparently, the professor didn't know I was there (you had to be there), and since it was a 9:15 class, We would often skip or cut out early to go grab some breakfast. Breakfast was a great deal on campus in those days. I could get 2 biscuits and gravy and a Mt. Dew for about $1.79. Fred and I would talk about many things during those breakfasts. One recurring theme: he tried to convince me that I was a Republican. "It's hard to be a Christian and a liberal," he said many times. Years later, I saw a bumper sticker: Jesus was a liberal. And, even more recently, I read a quote from a pastor in City Beat, "Jesus is a socialist." I wonder what Jesus would call himself. I doubt he would identify with any of those. Today, as with his contemporaries, each group is quick to claim Jesus as one of their own, at least when it suits their needs. The difference is that his contemporaries would get angry when Jesus said or did something that went against their ideologies. Today we simply ignore it. I read recently that James Dobson would not sign a document about environmental policies that many evangelical leaders were asked to endorse. Dobson refused, but not because he disagreed with it. Rather, he thought it would take attention away from the abortion debate. Why can't you fight abortion and demand better stewardship of the environment? Because, one is a Democratic issue, and one is a Republican issue. And that's the problem. It bugs me that guys like Fallwell and Dobson on the right and guys like Jim Wallis on the left are so ingrained into these political parties, they get to a point where then end up comprimising certain issues to hold a few. Eventually, then end up even comprimising their key issues in the name of the party. For example, Wallis' group Sojurners supported John Kerry during the last election. It was supposedly because Kerry would do more for the poor, but what bothered me as I watched it all play out was the realization that Kerry didn't care about the poor. If you don't think Bush is doing enough for the poor, then fine. The right then to do is call both parties out on this issue. Jesus didn't compromise to fit in with the Pharisees, Sadducees, Esscenes, or the Zealots. He always stuck to what was right. And if you are committed to a political party, I say go for it. There's not a thing wrong with that. But always let your faith guide you, yet remember that your party is not inherently Christian. And, it's okay to disagree with your party. In that case, stand up for what is right. Fred was right. It is hard to be a Christian and a liberal. But, it's also hard to be a Christian and a conservative. posted
by Unknown @ 10:45:00 PM |
