Blind Spot
Posted in The Historical Faith and tagged with America, Christianity, Generation, Politics, Republicans on August 5, 2010
I’ve been thinking for a while about my step back from party politics. I think that giving up their heart to the Republican Party en masse was one major downfall of the older generation of Evangelical Christianity.
While I do believe that our spiritual views should influence how we vote and what political candidates we support, I think we’re foolish if we think any party (unless it’s explicitly based on the Bible…then maybe) is going to have the same beliefs and priorities that we do.
I know I’m not the only one who has recognized this, and I’m glad that more and more people in my generation are picking up on this. I can’t wait until we can say together, “We are followers of Christ, not of the Republican Party. We are not them.”
I don’t intend to bash the GOP (they’re not better or worse than the Democrats), but there is a reason why politics get a bad name. And by saying that to be a Christian is to be a Republican, we’re dragging Christ’s name through the mud, too.
While I’d love us to get beyond the 2-party system, I’m not a fool. It’s almost as old as our country. We love to fall into an “us” vs. “them” mindset. But that doesn’t mean that I have to identify with either party. Instead, I want to evaluate each candidate individually. I’ll never fill in the “vote straight Democrat” or “vote straight Republican” bubbles…even if all of my candidates I’m choosing to vote for are of the same party.
So why I think that we’re on the right path by separating ourselves from the Republican Party, I know that there must be something else that my generation of Christians is missing. Each generation in the past had a flaw so obvious to other generations but that they were blind to.
What is ours? Could it be our greediness in holding on to our great wealth? Could it be our reliance on programs? Could it be the idea that we can be followers of Christ apart from being a part of His body?
Whatever our blind spot is, the thought that we have one (and that I, individually, do too) humbles me. May we always be teachable.
August 5th, 2010 at 9:11 am
This has always been something that completely confuses me – picking one of two options, Dems or Republican, (trying for the lesser of two evils most times) and being a Christian. I honestly don’t know what to think most times. Amen – may we always be teachable!
August 5th, 2010 at 12:03 pm
This really resonates with me, as right now, we have an election for state office coming up. Our incumbent chose to vote for the Everything But Marriage Act which allowed homosexual couples and senior citizen couples (regardless of their sexuality) to have a partnership and keep rights that would otherwise be denied them. He’s Republican, and is being smeared by his “prefers Republican Party” opponent for voting that way. Her whole campaign is about bringing “morals” to our State government, while she and her supporters are spreading nasty lies about the incumbent and all of his supporters.
Jesus never taught us to hate those that sin, but to hate the sin. He also called us to look at ourselves first and deal with our sin. The smearing in our small town has gone so far as to say that my coworker was adopted because her mom is a lesbian (however that is not the word they used) and wouldn’t sleep with her husband to create a child. And of course in our small town, you cannot say such horrible things without it coming out quite quickly. Luckily the person it was told to immediately called a close family friend to check the facts, and discovered it was of course untrue and quite mean spirited if the person spreading such lies knew how hard the couple had tried to have a child prior to adoption.
I will always vote for the person I feel will make the most just and equitable decisions.
Twitter: mayangelstar
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August 5th, 2010 at 2:59 pm
“May we always be teachable”
That is what I want. I live in a Republican bubble of friends and that is the one thing that astonishes me.
To vote Republican does not always equal out to voting for Christ…
August 5th, 2010 at 3:09 pm
TJ: Sounds like a mess. For all the mess it is, I do love politics. But not when it’s personal! I don’t think it should ever be about the candidates, but about the ISSUES.
Veronica: I do too. One time I was with a group of friends and the conversation turned political. I just sat there with my mouth shut. I think I surprised a couple of them, as they know I’m into politics. Finally, one asked them specifically, “What do you think about this?” and I answered. Sometimes when everyone else is saying one thing and you think another, it’s easier to keep quiet and keep the peace. That’s why I blog!
(Though if it was a sin issue, I hope I would have spoken up.)
August 5th, 2010 at 3:35 pm
I completely agree with you. I think too often, people confuse politics with religion and vice versa. Also, too often to people vote strictly according to party-lines, leaving the issues out altogether. To me “Democrat” and “Republican” means very little to me. What matters, or what should matter, is how you relate to the issues, morally, ethically, personally, even. How does that candidate speak to you? Who can you respect more? What changes do you want made and who seems best suited to make that happen?
You’re absolutely right, we need to always be teachable.
August 5th, 2010 at 7:57 pm
I think being forced to choose between two parties is the hardest thing about politics. Add religion to it and I get all kinds of worked up. I try to look at the person – the past, experience, convictions and focuses of the person. Being teachable must always remain a focus of each of us.
August 5th, 2010 at 8:01 pm
Being teachable, yes indeed. And humble. We could definitely use a healthy dose of humbling ourselves and crying out to the only One who can bring healing. The answer to our ills, nationally or personally, is not politics. It’s a Person: Jesus Christ.
August 5th, 2010 at 11:11 pm
I think that most Christians vote based on who thanked Jesus in their last speech instead who is really right for our country. And that bothers me sooooo much.
Thanks for stopping by my blog.
August 5th, 2010 at 11:11 pm
Down here in Oz, we have a federal election coming up in just over a fortnight and, as usual, there is great contention about what is the ‘Christian vote’? This is not just between the two major parties (Liberals and the Australian Labor Party) but the minor parties. There are the ‘right wing’ voters who believe they have the Christian vote because they vote for the ‘Christian’ parties. Then there are the lefties who vote for the Greens who believe they have the ‘Christian’ vote. I read a really helpful article recently that stated the Christian vote is not a vote for a particular party, but a vote for others ie. we will not just be considering which party will do the best thing by us, but those who are less fortunate. Was great to think about that, and I agree that we should be teachable. I prefer to number each box on the ballot paper. It is time consuming, but party preferences matter.
August 6th, 2010 at 9:59 am
Heligirl: There are unfortunately states where you are required to choose a party in order to vote in the primary. I’m thankful that NC is not one of those states…I’m independent, and I can declare at the poll which ballot I want!
Lisa: Yes, the answer is Jesus Christ!
Alexandria: “I think that most Christians vote based on who thanked Jesus in their last speech instead who is really right for our country.” Ouch…so true. I used to be that way. I assumed if someone mentioned Jesus’s name, they must be a follower of Christ. Unfortunately, we often allow that lip service to be enough.
Sarah: “Fortnight”…love it. We Americans should use that word more! “we will not just be considering which party will do the best thing by us, but those who are less fortunate.” YES. All people seem to choose what it simply best for them, what will give them the best return for their tax dollars. A totally poor way to run a government!
August 6th, 2010 at 7:26 pm
I’m sick of politics. I don’t think either party reflects Jesus, and I refuse to attach myself to either one. Our government is one big joke. Just have to trust God and that he has everything under control.
August 6th, 2010 at 9:41 pm
:) Don’t you use the ‘fortnight’ much in the States? I suppose ‘two weeks’ works just as well. :)
August 11th, 2010 at 8:04 pm
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