It's time to vote. In this country we are bombarded by messages declaring that it is our civic duty to vote..."vote or die", in fact was a major message last time around. Take your little slice of political power. It's like dessert at a buffet. You just ate a big meal, you're not hungry. Now it's time for dessert. (I know, I know, the current political choices are like being offered dessert somebody pulled out of the garbage three weeks ago, left out to grow mold, then fed to a dog who vomited, collected off the floor, put on a plate, and poured battery acid on. but imagine they're apple pie and ice cream). You don't want a slice, but it's free--if you don't eat it you're not getting what you paid for. It is your right and duty to take your little slice of political power.
But be careful, because there's poison in the pie.
Our current political system is based on a lie...correction...all political systems are based on a lie. "There is a legitimate source of power in this world that is not God." Politics is a bandage on a gangrenous wound. It attempts to cover up and correct the inherent sinfulness of human beings and human society. But the foul seepage of septic sin, soaks through the bandage, and it has to be changed. That's why political systems never last forever. The foulness of humanity eventually soaks through even the best laid plans of men. The good news is that as Christians we have the cure...we don't have to participate in the cover-up--we just have to proclaim the truth.
One thing Jesus didn't do, was take political power. He probably could have gone the Caesar route. He was a smart guy and probably could have pulled a few of the power strings to get himself appointed. But he didn't. And the reason for that is that there is a sharp dichotomy between what the world values and recognizes as powerful, and what God values and recognizes and good. Jesus flipped the power structures of the world upside down. He said the poor are blessed, the weak, the meek, and those who seek. We are called to do likewise. So grab that slice of pie--but know that Christ turned it down.
Power naturally oppresses. That is clear in our society...even if it is not intended. The powerful in our society are the wealthy. Yeah the president is powerful, but behind the president are the oligarchs who paid for him to get there. (and this isn't just true of the current president, it is inherent in the system) And the rule of the dollar has left us with places like Detroit, where the broken and destitute abound, abandoned by the centers of power. When we participate in the lie. We allow it to go unspoken. We say "this system works, it is good.
So take that slice of pie...but pray first that you don't choke on the lie you're trying to swallow.
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4 comments:
Does that mean you're not going to vote?
You make a lot of spot-on comments about the corrupting influence of power and the inherent evil of man-made governments; separation of church and state doesn't just protect the state. However, isn't it a mistake to estrange ourselves from the secular government altogether? Every impulse of man is towards sin, and every effort tainted by it. That doesn't mean we're allowed to step back and wash our hands of man's sinful projects. Shouldn't there be a way to for Christians to engage and participate in politics while recognizing that they are sinful and fallible and serving a secular (not God-ordained) government?
good to see ya blogging again . . . looking forward to Christmas.
So, I guess I'm confused by your post. Forgive me if this comes across as disrespectful of you or your faith--I assure you that I have no such intention.
In any event, my questions:
First, you caution against becoming too entangled in America's secular government because that government is, due to it's man-made nature, deeply and irretrievably flawed. But many other institutions are equally flawed. I'm thinking specifically of public schools. So, should Christian parents avoid sending their children to public schools? If your response is "yes," then how do you reconcile that with the fact that you attended a public high school and are now attending a public medical school? If your answer is "no," then how do you reconcile that with your seemingly anti-government stance?
Second, while I agree that the current system has left places like Detroit out in the cold, how do you suggest that this situation be remedied? In other words, if you're willing to assume, as I am, that the current secular political system is likely to continue, how would you fix the problems the system has created? Put yet anther way: given the premises that the system is flawed, that it is likely to continue unchanged, but that we nonetheless have the goal of helping those the system tends to ignore, how do we go about doing that? It seems to me that the best solution is to grudgingly accept that we must work within the flawed system.
While I agree with you that all man-made institutions are inherently imperfect, I also think that if our goal is to effectuate the largest possible positive change, we should do everything we can within a broken system rather than throw our hands up and say that things are too bad to even bother with. What do you think?
Anyway, I hope you're doing well. Please don't delete my comment this time.
I don't mean any disrespect either, and I know that this may be one of your shock value statements that you half-believe used to spark debate (which if it is, I would recommend a disclaimer next time for people that don't know you very well). Alas, the desire for debate runs strong in this family so:
I agree with Jane. Although this post is eloquent, intriguing, and somewhat convincing (very politician like ;)), it is my opinion (and it's only an opinion) that the allusion made at the end is the exact opposite of what followers of Jesus are called to do. In partial agreement with this post, I believe that it is unchristian to vote….ignorantly, which I believe to be a huge problem in the Christian community today, including myself. That being said, I also "believe" that a better case can be made from the gospels that it is unchristian not to vote in our present time.
I pay taxes. I pay taxes because God told me to. He told me to through Jesus, who even told non-Romans to give exorbitant amounts of their income to Caesar even though none of this money would be used for the betterment of God's kingdom, actually more than likely it would be used in attempts to destroy God's Kingdom, even though they had no choice on how it was to be used. I still must give to Caesar, a far lesser amount, but a significant amount nonetheless. The difference now though is that I can have an influence on whether that money is used for the betterment of the world, or whether it aids in further destruction. Money is not everything. We as Americans tend to put more weight on the merits of money used correctly than we should, but nonetheless money has the ability to save lives and spread the Gospel. The government decides how they use the money we give them. Too much is used to feed the greedy oligarchs, we need to do what we can to curb this, which will never be done by rolling over. Politicians decide how much aid the Red Cross, World Vision, Salvation Army (I don't believe all institutions are evil), etc., receive (or don't receive) from our tax dollars. Politicians decide that it is ok to Rape God's world to line the pockets of the rich. Should we stand by and pretend it isn't happening? I know that it seems like we can't do anything, and the truth is, we can do very very little. But does that mean we don't try? We are called to be in the World and not of it, which doesn't mean uninvolved. The temporal has bearing on the eternal.
Finally, the issue that I find most problematic: Judgment. This blog places severe judgment on anyone involved in politics. It also places judgment on anyone who feels that God has called them to vote. It is one thing to feel convicted about voting, and to feel that God has called one not to (which if this blog was prayerfully considered and a result of scriptural study great), but it is a completely different thing to apply personal convictions to Christianity as a whole, especially when many people have given huge amounts time to prayer and study of scripture ultimately resulting in a call to vote. I know it seems impossible, but there are followers of Jesus involved in politics (very wise people), who are using their influence to feed the hungry, clothe the naked, heal the sick and advance the gospel. I would argue that not voting is destructive to the forward movement of the Kingdom on this front, calling these "Christians" false prophets, cheats and liars. Placing judgment on their motives, not to mention their salvation.
One other thing: It's important to remember that the presidential candidates are actually a relatively small part of the election, and yet they get all of the attention. I would feel much less strongly about voting if the presidential choice was all that is on the ballot. Maybe this blog was written with the presidential candidates in mind?
Wow, this got long. I guess it's important to me.
P.S. - On a lighter note, it's comforting to know that although a lot of money was spent on the election, our nation still spends more on more meaningful causes: like Halloween ☺
-Luke
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