Politics
So I don't know about you, but I can't wait until November 5. That way the election will be over and we can get on with other things. But last night as I watched the final debate between Obama and McCain some things struck me.
1. The amount of money both candidates have spent on advertising, especially Obama. Both candidates are trying to speak for the "average" citizen in the United States. But I don't think either of them get it. Two weeks ago Obama spent 6 million dollars on advertising alone. 6 MILLION DOLLARS!!!! Think of where that money could have gone to that would make this world a better place. How it could help fight the war against HIV/AIDS in Africa. How it could help fight the war on world hunger. How it could help fight the world on global poverty. It makes me sick to think about the amount of money spent on politics this last year and how there are much more pressing issues than who is elected on November 4.
2. No matter who wins the presidence on November 4, they can not bring true and lasting change in the world. I believe that only Jesus along with those of us who call ourselves Christ followers can bring change in the world.
3. Here is part of a text from a recent sermon of mine:
Another issue when it comes to the world in which we live is in regards to government. All too often we look to the government to solve the problems of our world. When something happens in our world, like a natural disaster like Ike or when the market falls, we immediately think, “Ok so what is the government going to do in order to fix this.” We hear the politicians saying what they will do or won’t do. But all too often we are asking the government to do what the church should be about. The church is a people called out of the world to embody a social alternative that the world cannot know on its own terms. We are not simply asking the government to be what God has commissioned the church to be.
The desire for Washington to solve our country’s and our world’s problems, then leads to looking at our politicians to be our saviors. Just look at the crowds listening to Barak Obama and you will see eyes of people who believe that Barak is the savior of America. And when you look at the Republican side, you see people holding signs that say Country First and believe that America is the “city on a hill which cannot be hidden.” We need to realize that government, politics, and presidents will not change people’s hearts, lives, and our world. It will be Christ followers who put their hope, allegiance, and trust in Christ and work, in the power of the Holy Spirit, to build for the kingdom of God. It will be radical disciples of Jesus who spend time not working on voting the “right candidate” into office, but spending time loving people, serving people, and being the hands and feet of Christ. Putting our allegiance in Christ and his kingdom, and not the kingdom of the world. Derek Webb, a songwriter puts it this way, “My first allegiance is not to a flag, a country, or a man. My first allegiance is not to democracy or blood. It’s to a king and a kingdom.” The first Christians weren’t martyred because they worshipped Jesus. They were martyred because they refused to worship Caesar along with Jesus as well as not giving primary allegiance to the empire. As Christ-followers ourselves, we shouldn’t give primary allegiance to the country that we live in. We shouldn’t let our country define who are enemies are. The blood of Jesus transcends national borders and puts us into a family that is made up of Americans, Iraqis, Israelis, Palestinians, and people of all ethnic and racial makeup.
So no matter what happens on November 4, I still, along with Shane Claiborne, say "Jesus for President"
1. The amount of money both candidates have spent on advertising, especially Obama. Both candidates are trying to speak for the "average" citizen in the United States. But I don't think either of them get it. Two weeks ago Obama spent 6 million dollars on advertising alone. 6 MILLION DOLLARS!!!! Think of where that money could have gone to that would make this world a better place. How it could help fight the war against HIV/AIDS in Africa. How it could help fight the war on world hunger. How it could help fight the world on global poverty. It makes me sick to think about the amount of money spent on politics this last year and how there are much more pressing issues than who is elected on November 4.
2. No matter who wins the presidence on November 4, they can not bring true and lasting change in the world. I believe that only Jesus along with those of us who call ourselves Christ followers can bring change in the world.
3. Here is part of a text from a recent sermon of mine:
Another issue when it comes to the world in which we live is in regards to government. All too often we look to the government to solve the problems of our world. When something happens in our world, like a natural disaster like Ike or when the market falls, we immediately think, “Ok so what is the government going to do in order to fix this.” We hear the politicians saying what they will do or won’t do. But all too often we are asking the government to do what the church should be about. The church is a people called out of the world to embody a social alternative that the world cannot know on its own terms. We are not simply asking the government to be what God has commissioned the church to be.
The desire for Washington to solve our country’s and our world’s problems, then leads to looking at our politicians to be our saviors. Just look at the crowds listening to Barak Obama and you will see eyes of people who believe that Barak is the savior of America. And when you look at the Republican side, you see people holding signs that say Country First and believe that America is the “city on a hill which cannot be hidden.” We need to realize that government, politics, and presidents will not change people’s hearts, lives, and our world. It will be Christ followers who put their hope, allegiance, and trust in Christ and work, in the power of the Holy Spirit, to build for the kingdom of God. It will be radical disciples of Jesus who spend time not working on voting the “right candidate” into office, but spending time loving people, serving people, and being the hands and feet of Christ. Putting our allegiance in Christ and his kingdom, and not the kingdom of the world. Derek Webb, a songwriter puts it this way, “My first allegiance is not to a flag, a country, or a man. My first allegiance is not to democracy or blood. It’s to a king and a kingdom.” The first Christians weren’t martyred because they worshipped Jesus. They were martyred because they refused to worship Caesar along with Jesus as well as not giving primary allegiance to the empire. As Christ-followers ourselves, we shouldn’t give primary allegiance to the country that we live in. We shouldn’t let our country define who are enemies are. The blood of Jesus transcends national borders and puts us into a family that is made up of Americans, Iraqis, Israelis, Palestinians, and people of all ethnic and racial makeup.
So no matter what happens on November 4, I still, along with Shane Claiborne, say "Jesus for President"
posted by Ryan at 10:50 AM
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