Nope, not writing about politics today. OK, well, sort of. The labels "conservative Christian voters" and "evangelical Christian voters" and all that got me thinking today. I hear them all the time, because we do follow politics with some interest around here. And at least this year, they kind of grate on me, because though I call myself a Christian and I've gone to church with self-identifying evangelicals my entire life, I end up feeling that I have nothing in common with the labeled groups and so many of the associated stereotypes. And I don't really understand their voting patterns.
As for the other piece of the label, the "conservative" bit, I'm coming to appreciate others with that outlook more. Though I tend to be more curious and progressive these days, I'm realizing that we absolutely need people who say "Wait, do we really need to change that?" or "Wait, do we really need to get involved in that?" Whether it's political, economic, religious, or whatever. To my broadly stereotyping mind, conservatives (not necessarily political ones) say - let's mainly stick with how things are or were. Libertarians let everything flex. Liberals chase broader or newer ideas and maybe get in others' business in the process.
So what if a "conservative Christian" was just one that said "let's be more conservative in our definitions of God and Christianity and stick with the themes that God has let us in on."
God says His ways are not our ways and His thoughts are higher than our thoughts. Can I stick with that instead of fitting God into this specific salvation prayer or that exact 1/20/40/60/80 year life opportunity to get it all done? I must be getting it wrong the instant I think I have Him all figured out.
God says that He loves the whole world, and by grace we are saved. Can I stick to that and not have a crystal clear definition of if that person or people group is saved, or worthy, or loved? I must be getting it wrong the second I think I have anyone's eternal destiny all figured out, including my own.
I make no claim to studying the related theology, and very well might be getting it wrong myself, but this is a kind of conservative Christianity I'm drawn by these days.
What do you think?
Showing posts with label Politics?. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Politics?. Show all posts
Wednesday, March 7, 2012
Friday, January 30, 2009
Church and state
Separate? Not separate? I am uneducated but curious about the subject lately.
John and I debate the role of Christian values in politics and government - he thinks more and more that those values might not have as much a place in government as they have in the past 30 years or so. I see his point, but wonder back, if they are my values, then shouldn't I want to spread them?
Another friend talks about America's Christian roots, that we are a Christian nation. That too, is a thought that I explore - finding some interesting two-sided insight here at Opposingviews.com. I read about Anne Hutchinson, co-founder of Rhode Island, who fled Puritan religious intolerance. Religious freedom, not just Christianity, seems to be a theme of our country's history.
A couple of days ago, I read this quote, written by an Iranian-American writer, Hooman Majd (in The Ayatollah Begs to Differ), son of a diplomat and cousin to the former Iranian president Khatami.
"It strikes me often while I am in Iran that were Christian evangelicals to take a tour of Iran today, they might find it the model for an ideal society they seek in America. Replace Allah with God, Mohammad with Jesus, keep the same public and private notions of chastity, sin, salvation and God's will, and a Christian Republic is born."
In Iran, it is one sect of Islam that rules (Shia). Their stands on the death penalty, modesty, interpretation of the Koran, etc. rule the land, for better or for worse. Puritans fled religious intolerance, yet they slipped into it themselves. What if Puritan Protestantism had become the law of our land? Would it look more like Iran here than we realize?
I see that Christian foundations have given our country strength of character. But I take pause as I consider that Christian-izing our government and policies might have some serious negative effects, not so unlike those we readily condemn in the Middle East. People in Jesus' day hoped that he would come and overthrow the brutal Romans. Instead, he did nothing of the sort, interacting with the government mainly just to pay his taxes. It's confusing!
What do you think?
John and I debate the role of Christian values in politics and government - he thinks more and more that those values might not have as much a place in government as they have in the past 30 years or so. I see his point, but wonder back, if they are my values, then shouldn't I want to spread them?
Another friend talks about America's Christian roots, that we are a Christian nation. That too, is a thought that I explore - finding some interesting two-sided insight here at Opposingviews.com. I read about Anne Hutchinson, co-founder of Rhode Island, who fled Puritan religious intolerance. Religious freedom, not just Christianity, seems to be a theme of our country's history.
A couple of days ago, I read this quote, written by an Iranian-American writer, Hooman Majd (in The Ayatollah Begs to Differ), son of a diplomat and cousin to the former Iranian president Khatami.
"It strikes me often while I am in Iran that were Christian evangelicals to take a tour of Iran today, they might find it the model for an ideal society they seek in America. Replace Allah with God, Mohammad with Jesus, keep the same public and private notions of chastity, sin, salvation and God's will, and a Christian Republic is born."
In Iran, it is one sect of Islam that rules (Shia). Their stands on the death penalty, modesty, interpretation of the Koran, etc. rule the land, for better or for worse. Puritans fled religious intolerance, yet they slipped into it themselves. What if Puritan Protestantism had become the law of our land? Would it look more like Iran here than we realize?
I see that Christian foundations have given our country strength of character. But I take pause as I consider that Christian-izing our government and policies might have some serious negative effects, not so unlike those we readily condemn in the Middle East. People in Jesus' day hoped that he would come and overthrow the brutal Romans. Instead, he did nothing of the sort, interacting with the government mainly just to pay his taxes. It's confusing!
What do you think?
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
In celebration of our new president (a day late)
I'm looking forward with curiosity and hope to see what our new president will accomplish. But no reflections on the inspiring speeches and elegant balls of yesterday...
The biggest local changes that I've seen coming in with the Obama presidency are in my girls! Abby goes around humming the "Barack Obama" song she learned at school, and then the girls argue over who gets to be Sasha and who gets to be Malia in their make-believe games. (Somehow my dominant two-year-old Rachel has won the right to be Malia, even though Abby protests that Malia is the big sister.)
In celebration of the new president, here is Abby singing about everything she learns at kindergarten - voting (on Nov. 14th?!), the White House, his wife Michelle, and of course, Malia and Sasha. Probably won't make it on American Idol any time soon, but I love her just the same.
The biggest local changes that I've seen coming in with the Obama presidency are in my girls! Abby goes around humming the "Barack Obama" song she learned at school, and then the girls argue over who gets to be Sasha and who gets to be Malia in their make-believe games. (Somehow my dominant two-year-old Rachel has won the right to be Malia, even though Abby protests that Malia is the big sister.)
In celebration of the new president, here is Abby singing about everything she learns at kindergarten - voting (on Nov. 14th?!), the White House, his wife Michelle, and of course, Malia and Sasha. Probably won't make it on American Idol any time soon, but I love her just the same.
Wednesday, November 5, 2008
Obama won... now what?
A quick 5 minute trip to Facebook this morning reminded me of the variety of emotions that people are feeling about the presidential election results from yesterday. "An historic event" happened (I love the proper "an") - you may be crying tears of joy, worried about the takeover of a liberal communist, apathetic, or somewhere in between.
Over the past two years of presidential campaigning, I've thought long and hard about what issues are important to me, about what kind of country I would like to live in. For me and many people around my age (20-somethings), this election was one that engaged us more than any other politics so far. As we processed our thoughts, a few most important values or issues floated to the top for each of us - what a great opportunity to think through them! And then we voted yesterday.
Obama won, and whether that is a dream come true or a nightmare, those values and issues shouldn't go away. Now that each of our votes are over and done with, what do we do with those values and issues?
I want to act on the things that I decided were most important to me. I cast my vote, but now it's really up to me. For example, I'm passionate about showing care for the poor, including health care and education, nutrition and family building. I contribute to those causes in small ways, but I'm challenged now to do more.
How about you? What values or issues defined your vote? Life? Peace? Education? Environment? Economic stability? Can you help at a crisis nursery, make peace at work, help in a local park, spend your money more carefully? You expected your candidate to do more - can you do more?
Obama won't fix (or break) the country, in spite of our hopes/fears. We will never fix all the problems of the world. But I will live, work, and pray hard at it.
Over the past two years of presidential campaigning, I've thought long and hard about what issues are important to me, about what kind of country I would like to live in. For me and many people around my age (20-somethings), this election was one that engaged us more than any other politics so far. As we processed our thoughts, a few most important values or issues floated to the top for each of us - what a great opportunity to think through them! And then we voted yesterday.
Obama won, and whether that is a dream come true or a nightmare, those values and issues shouldn't go away. Now that each of our votes are over and done with, what do we do with those values and issues?
I want to act on the things that I decided were most important to me. I cast my vote, but now it's really up to me. For example, I'm passionate about showing care for the poor, including health care and education, nutrition and family building. I contribute to those causes in small ways, but I'm challenged now to do more.
How about you? What values or issues defined your vote? Life? Peace? Education? Environment? Economic stability? Can you help at a crisis nursery, make peace at work, help in a local park, spend your money more carefully? You expected your candidate to do more - can you do more?
Obama won't fix (or break) the country, in spite of our hopes/fears. We will never fix all the problems of the world. But I will live, work, and pray hard at it.
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