Faith, works, and Politics
Joel and I have been conversing about the church, politics, and Jesus - and how much they should intermingle. I personally tend to think of Jesus as more of a table tossing kind of guy when it comes to right wing politics in the church. But recently Joel has presented some ideas that made me think that He would probably deliver the political table turning in equal doses to right and left, but for different reasons.
Our call as Christians is to be servants of God first. We are to be set apart (In the world and not of it), but we are called to be agents of change. As a Christian and a leftie I have no problems feeling that I am serving God and that I am being an agent of change but the in the world and not of it part is frequently left out. I am quick to get in there and look for injustice and error in the opinions and logic of the moral majority (both of which abound), but in doing so I am just following the pattern of the world. I am simply spawning more argument and which is just about as effective as salvation via apologetics.
“For our struggle is not against the flesh and blood [everyone Christian or not], but against the rulers, against authorities, against the powers of this dark world and the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.” Ephesians 6:12
10 comments:
i'm not sure what the approach looks like but here's a quote for you:
My point is not that everything is bad but everything is dangerous. Foucault
are we to be dangerous? or are we to be good? are they mutually exclusive? Christ was most definitely dangerous, but was he good? Point being, and maybe to reiterate your (ours, the) point, but maybe we are to criticize. Isn't silence just apathy...even in the midst of programs that i am seemingly for, the notion of reform demands constant criticism. Now how that manifests is the question. So, MAtt, i think i just reiterated your point by emphasizing our role in this world is to be dangerous and through some form of -- social or political or both -- action, Christ is seen. Let's not presume that Christ is only seen in the sunday morning veneer as kids parade and music is sung. Or through our propensity to feed those less fortunate on the obligatory holidays. He was seen in San Salvador as the missionaries' were killed by CIA trained police forces.
But we also need to be careful not to just presume that because we are being dangerous and critical that Christ WILL be seen. Our approach needs to follow the scriptures that you have pointed out. It's a difficult balance to obtain, and I'm not sure exaclty what it looks like.
The struggle is making sure our actions and speech are God honoring while trying to be dangerous and instill change.
I don't think I answered anything, but just reiterated and maybe confused the points that were already made. That's what happen when I try to put my two cents on things I know very little about.
p.s. i like the new banner in the top right corner. you're so internet savvy.
"How do we begin to DO?"
I used to ask this question alot, too. It was a question that plagued me when I was feeling
restless and ambitious,
insecure and unconfident,
ineffective and to blame for it,
unlovely and unworthy.
After my struggles and pain, and Christ's profound revelation, I agreed to simply obey him. That was to be my action.
It's like the servant idea.
Matt, you said, "Our call as Christians is to be servants of God first." And servants obey their master. Plain and simple. But don't try to win his approval by doing extra stuff. Unless of course he asked you to.
Then the servant metaphor dies quickly because Jesus said, I no longer call you servants, but friends...
Wow. Everytime I ponder that I choke up.
So I don't ask the DO question much anymore. In fact, I don't really ask Jesus very many questions at all. My deal right now is just trying to listen to him.
So, what are you going to do, Matt?
All made good points I think, but I really liked what Kevyn had to say.
I think for me Christ is asking me to "DO" something about the socio-political injustice in our country. Although, how the crap can a single person do anything, like stated before?
Well, I think for a start, it's helping people realize the right and left are not always aligned with what Christ said.
I have no idea if that's answering anything, but it's something that I've been working on for many years now. Coming to Christ in an extremely conservative (political and format wise) church I had struggled with the messages of how voting for the Republican party was the way to solve our countries and worlds moral problems.
We're going on an 8 year Republican president and has our world turned upside down? No! So, what I've started to do is just help people understand is that Christ's Church does not choose the sides of a corrupt establishment! We need to vote with our hearts, our minds and souls!
Okay, I'm going off on extreme tangents like you wouldn't believe. Or you would since you're reading this... It's a touchy subject, God and Politics, and I can talk for DAYS about it. Sorry.
Love you dude,
Let's Good Drink it up some day!
Thomas
hmmm.. hey man.
i really like your blog.. some great thoughts and challenging thinking..
i thought about this question many times before..i think it was touched on by someone else a little earlier, but i believe obediance is key. If our focus could shift from 'changing' the world.. and we could get off of the church is superman act, and if we turned to God in a gentle, submissive, humble spirit that simply wants to obey, i think we would see perhaps a greater effectiveness. i to often get trapped in what can i do, how can i live, and what does God have for me.. that i often neglect to simplist message of just learning to love God and love people... If i strive to love the people whom i surround, through the lens of God, is it possible to see cultural change?? what is culture? who defines it??
blessings.
jeff.
this is what you get for never updating. but you do have a great blog here and i'd like to sell you my bung-hole!!! it's CHEAP!!
lol Joel
Mattius, you can trash the stupid comments once you are signed in. You might want to turn word verification on as well, cuts down on the automatic blog spammers.
Great blog. Your question is also one I've been pondering for quite awhile. What am I called to do about things? My own answer is to keeping looking to Jesus for my cues. I read, pray, and follow what light I have. Hope that is helpful to you.
God bless!
Susan
Looking for information and found it at this great site...
long trips with multiple cats online business card orders delaware auto insurance quote paradox paintball guns social security & maternity leave eloan2c+cialis stock fraud hispanic soccer player free online virus scan fitness equipment design flash page web thailand best webhosting incorporation buying time share acura dealer illinois bible software cod and didrex plesk 6 7 unicode custom hummer percy cruise
What a great site Naked camping wife quite fan for cpu heat sink http://www.jobs8.info/switzerland-jobopenings-officeworker.html
Post a Comment