Christian Politics
As I consider the current climate in this country surrounding the political arena, I cannot help but be amused at how my 'Christian' brothers and sisters choose to use their voices. There are hundreds of economic issues and equity issues that could be discussed, but we would rather use the political arena for personal and moral issues. And this, in a country where people claim to hate the over-involvement of the federal government.
It is fascinating how those opposing abortion never seem to get to opposing the death penalty or war. Even more compelling is the argument for upholding the tradition of marriage, when some of the opponents of gay marriage have been unfaithful in their own marriages. Before homosexuals pushed marriage to the top of the conversation list, all Christians should have been questioning the disintegration of the 'holy' union known as marriage.
Although the Biblical principal of 'welcoming the stranger' is very clear in both the Old and New Testaments, Christians have even jumped on the 'send the immigrants home' bandwagon. The 'Christian' argument? There isn't one. We have been so complacent in our faith practices, that we feel that it is okay to use the worldly argument: they don't deserve to come over here and benefit from my hard work. Unfortunately, the 'they' is understood by many to be a specific cultural/ethnic/socioeconomic group. No matter. As Christians, we are called to welcome the stranger. More importantly, we have all been strangers. I can remember being the outsider. But I was welcomed at the cross.
Abortion, gay marriage and immigration are all hot topics. But why? Where are the politically active Christians when it comes to conversations about babies dying from poverty? Or babies being sold for crack. What about sexual abuse that children suffer at the hands their own family members? Where do these issues stem from? Why aren't pastors rallying against sexually explicit prime time television shows? Why aren't we...being Christians?
You speak the truth, sister.
ReplyDeleteGovernment involvement is only a problem when their involvement doesn't match one's desires.