I'd like to continue with the thoughts I've raised in my last two posts. My concern here is not so much with the political state of affairs with our country as it is with the spiritual state of my friends and fellow Christians dealing with the political state of affairs with our country.
Like you, I too am concerned about many of the things I see as problems with America. When I encourage Christians to demonstrate a Christlike spirit toward President elect Barack, I was not suggesting we turn a blind eye and just give up trying to make a difference. I for one, am not very excited about how the election turned out. I will also be the first to tell you, that had McCain won, I would not have been very excited how the election turned out. Neither reflected my views on the things that really matter. I remember listening to KFLR in Phoenix telling me to vote my Christians principles, and I kept asking the radio, "And just what would that look like?" Did McCain relflect my Christian principles? Did Obama? The truth is neither did. They were not running for Pastor of the United States, (though some of us acted as if they were) they were running for President. And since Barack won, he is my President. But that doesn't mean as a citizen of the United States, I cannot speak out my opinion, or take action for the things I believe is right. The issue is not what I can do or say, but how I do or say those things as a Christian. I will not abandon my most important status as a Child of God in order to exercise my 'rights' as a citizen. And no matter how things turn out over the next 4 or 40 years, I need to keep one thing in perspective. I am not (and neither are you) an American Christian. I am a Christian who just happens to be an American citizen. Do you understand the difference? We are in this world, but are not to be of this world. Most of us recognize the unBiblical nature of the "Gospel of Prosperity", but too many of us -especially Conservatives & Republicans are blind to the "Gospel of Patriotism". We have married what it means to be a Christian with being a Patriot. They are not the same thing. And I am not depressed over what is happening in America. Because depression would be the result of a failed expectation. And I have no expectations that America is my hope, security, or future.
Which brings me to a related question. I have heard a great deal of praise for America as being the best country in the world lately. Having lived in 2 other countries and visited several more, I believe that America is the best country in the world. But I have to ask, "What is the criteria for defining 'best'?" If by best we mean; the best for economic opportunity, or the best for freedom of speech, or the best for just all around freedom to do what we want to do, then yes, America is the best. But is that the best for living out our faith in Christ? I really have to question the notion that the best that is America; is really the best for Christians. We are one of the most morally depraved, amoral, self-serving, dollar conscious cultures in the world. That our culture has thrown God out of schools and government and desires to throw God out of the public square is no suprise, and no big deal either. But that Christians have traded the rich inheritance of the Kingdom of Grace, for a cheap porridge of patriotic wringing of hands over the state of America; that is a huge deal and is by far the saddest state of affairs for us.
In a time of fear that we may start loosing some of our 'rights', let us remember that as Christians we have one of the most powerful rights of all; Christians have the right to give up their rights for the sake of Christ. After all He did that for us.
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