unChristian, Part Five: Too Political

Hello, my name is Bryan Watts. I am a follower of Christ, and I get my news from CNN and NPR. Consider the minds of the far right blown.

Now, I also get my news from Fox News at times, but to be honest, that particular channel irritates me. Why is that? They are so unbelievably biased, I have come to the conclusion that they quit trying to seem "fair and balanced." Is CNN fair? No. Is NPR balanced? No. However, I feel that CNN does the most even job of reporting, if one must pick a favorite.

Why have I gone into this? I began discussing news channels because today's topic is all about politics, particularly Christians and their supposed right-wing extremism. Now, I'm not going to go into detail of my political opinions, although I am well-informed on the issues and I try to research each candidate that is running for a major office. This, I believe, is the duty of all men and women that vote. If you don't know what the candidate stands for, how can you expect them to represent you? I will say now that, if I had a label, they would probably call me "independent" or "moderately conservative." I, however, do not campaign for any one party or politician (with the exception of when my close friend from high school ran for city council. That was cool.).

The fact is that churches, if one can call them churches, like Westboro Baptist Church (yes, this is two mentions of them in this series) and other extremists have given Christians a bad name in the arena of politics. Also, the presence of professing Christians like George W. Bush, Mike Hucabee, and others have given the GOP a strong "Christian vote."

Christians are viewed as a people obsessed with getting their chosen leaders into the office, in order to "save the country." While I will not say whether or not the US needs saving, I will say that it is good for Christians to have a healthy involvement in politics. Yes, Christians should vote for someone who has Bibical principles. Yes, Christians should be well informed on the candidates. Yes, Christians should vote. Some big differences loom, however:

- Politically reliant v Spiritually reliant: I cannot tell you how many people have told me how doomed the United States is now that Barack Obama is president. Many people, lots being professing Christians, have told me that the country will be a socialist nation, and soon. The entire world may collapse now that Dub-yah isn't president, and a Democrat is holding down the Oval Office. Here's the thing: the world doesn't revolve around the Oval Office; it revolves around our Lord.

"21 Haven’t you heard? Don’t you understand? Are you deaf to the words of God— the words He gave before the world began? Are you so ignorant? 22 God sits above the circle of the earth. The people below seem like grasshoppers to him! He spreads out the heavens like a curtain and makes his tent from them." -Isaiah 40:21-22, NLT

To God, Barack Obama is a grasshopper. George Bush is a grasshopper. You, me: we're all grasshoppers. God sits above the Earth, and spreads the heavens out like a curtain. And we are worried because a certain party controls the White House... who cares?! God is in control. He runs this show, and the world is doomed when He lets it happen, not because of a man's election to office.

- Poor loser v Great lover: For some reason, when a person one disagrees with takes office, one gets downright hateful. I have heard some terrible things said about George Bush and Barack Obama. No one from "the other side" seems to have any respect for the winner from "the enemy." This runs completely against what we are told by Christ, to love our neighbor as ourself. Also:

"The first thing I want you to do is pray. Pray every way you know how, for everyone you know. Pray especially for 2 rulers and their governments to rule well so we can be quietly about our business of living simply, in humble contemplation. 3 This is the way our Savior God wants us to live." -1 Timothy 2:1-3, MSG

Clearly, Paul wants us to pray for our governement. I don't see any place in this chapter, or in the Bible, where Paul says, "Pray for those people you agree with them on abortion and the Iraq War; curse the other one and hope for their bitter end." Negative, homie. Instead, we are urged, encouraged, and all but commanded to pray for our leaders. This was written to Timothy while Timothy was in Ephesus. Do you think the church in Ephesus agreed with the leaders of the local government? No! Christians across the globe were being persecuted for their faith! Dying, jail, you name it. These government leaders probably treated the church like second-class citizens, and yet Paul says to pray for them. It's insane, but that's exactly what Christian love is supposed to be. Insane. Crazy. Out there, unrated, off-the-charts love. Even for political opponents.

It's not bad to know about politics. In fact, it's good that Christians are involved; how else will the maximum amount of Godly influence reach the world, if the leaders aren't God-loving and God-fearing men? Politics become an issue when we allow them to outshine God in our lives. Are you more known for your passion towards Christ and His glory, or the GOP and its glory?

I mirror Paul in his plea: pray for our leaders. Pray for the president. Pray for the vice president. Pray for the Senate, the House, the Supreme Court, the military, the president's Cabinet, the mayor of your town, and even the local school superintendant. Our world's leaders cannot do their jobs to the best possible way if they don't have God's guidance. Let us as a group not be known as hardcore politicans, and instead for a group known for being on our knees, praying that God guides our leaders.