Now that the campaigns are over I wanted to share a few thoughts about politics and Christians. Just how involved should we be in the political process?
Here in Middle Tennessee, the dominant view 100 years ago was that the Christian should refrain from participation, even from voting. David Lipscomb was the champion of this view, which he based on the belief that the governments of the world were under the sway of the evil one, and that we should not associate ourselves with such evil. His beliefs drew heavily on the picture of Satanic control of the earthly powers in Revelation 13.
I do not believe Lipscomb's analysis was correct. Clearly the Roman Empire as a tool of persecution was an instrument of Satan. But I believe it was a mistake to extrapolate from that to argue that all civil government in principle is devilish, especially in light of Romans 13.
A century later it seems to me that the Christians I know have swung to the other end of the spectrum, in which great emphasis is placed on involvement in the political process. I heard a teacher at FC give a chapel talk one time in which he said it was a sin NOT to vote! Frankly I think that view is just as erroneous as Lipscomb's.
Since we are a democracy, the will of the people determines our political future. And if the majority of the people of the country lack values informed by the Bible, then no amount of political activism is going to change things. This was brought home to me in 1998 when Bill Clinton was impeached and the overwhelming percentage of Americans thought he was the good guy and Ken Starr was the villain.
The gospel of Christ is the only thing that can change peoples hearts. If enough people are convicted by the word about right and wrong, issues like abortion and gay marriage will take care of themselves. But absent this conviction, no amount of politicking is going to change America.
Another major difference in the last 100 years is the party affiliation of most Christians. A century ago I doubt 1 in 100 southern Christians were Republicans. In fact, as recently as 1976 Jimmy Carter overwhelmingly carried the evangelical vote. Today, based on the bumper stickers I see, most people I go to church with (or preach meetings for) are overwhelmingly Republican.
There are lots of factors for this change. Most Christians used to be Democrats because of the agrarian nature of the south, the War Between the States, and the Depression. Republicans were seen to be in the hip-pocket of the immoral financiers taking advantage of the poor. Today, because of social issues like abortion and gay rights, most Christians are in the GOP.
What concerns me is when Christians allow partisanship to skew objectivity. My grandfather was what we call in KY a "yellow dog Democrat," meaning he would vote for a yellow dog before he would vote Republican. In 1984 I asked him about a series of specific issues, and he took the same views as Ronald Reagan on all of them, but still voted a straight Democrat ticket.
Recently, I have noticed that many Christians become hostile when I criticize George Bush and the current Republican regime. Once again, partisanship can distort objectivity.
What is worse is when Christians allow themselves to be manipulated by the political parties. That clearly happened in the case of my Pop, who could never shake the images of the Depression and what he perceived to be the loving and charitable policies of the Democrats. I believe much the same happened in 2004. The Republicans made sure gay marriage amendments were on the ballots of key swing states like OH. Bush campaigned very hard on that issue. This spiked the turn-out of evangelicals, and even garnered support by black churches. But once Bush won, how much have you heard him say about the issue? It was the classic bait and switch.
So, I encourage all believers to be involved as much as your conscience allows. But I also encourage all believers to remember that your citizenship is in heaven (Phil. 3:20), and that the true battleground is not the electoral map but the hearts of people who need to surrender to King Jesus.
I agree with most of your thoughts (even anti-Bush sentiment - I used to be a Republican, but today, regarding that word, I'll quote a spaniard "I do not think it means what he think it means"). The one point I'm not sure about is the "bait and switch" accusation. Homosexual marriage was a topic of much discussion, but - as with most things - there is a limited amount a president can do to change the law - because of our constitution.
Would I have been happy if more attention were given the subject? Sure! But I'd have been just as happy if the ridiculous spending plans (I can't call it a budget) had never seen the light of day.
I am getting quite close to the no participation view, less regarding Romans 13 and more for the general welfare of the Kingdom. From what I saw of the election cycle this time around, regardless of who won, the Kingdom lost. And I don't mean because of the result.
Ryan had a discussion with someone at our congregation that I think is a lot like your pop. Ryan went down the line and asked him his take on every issue he could think of. In every instance the guy was more "conservative" than Ryan. But he said he would never vote for a republican unless he became rich. Ryan laughed and told him he was a conservative he just didn't know it. :) I like your thoughts above. I'm pretty much soured on both major parties for those exact reasons!
good thoughts shane. Some Christians buy hook line & sinker Oprah, others buy hook line & sinker Rush, we all buy hook line & sinker 'Country First', we ought to buy the truth & sell it not, it is only the Word who truly sets us free.
something ive been sort of thinking about lately is this idea of "spreading the wealth" that people love to bash. i guess i know where some people are coming from when they bash that idea, but another part of me thinks we ought to be careful about criticizing it so much. in some ways, it seems the bible teaches that we ought to give to others even when they "don't deserve it" or have "gotten themselves into that situation." isn't that sort of what "spreading the wealth" accomplishes?
Thank you for the speedy lesson in US politics. Being Canadian, I have heard much over the past few years regarding the views of the US political parties and I wondered how any christian could vote Democrat, but hearing of the history of the parties and their views helps me to understand that it isn't quite as cut-&-dried as it appears.
kind of a side note, but i find it humorous when young people criticize conservative church folk for thinking the gospel and GOP go hand in hand. How many of them know what you mentioned that one or two generations ago many Christians voted DEM.
politicians and their parties can change very drastically and so those of us trying to live by core values are always in a state of flux in our feeling of representation and willingness to participate in the political process.
I am preaching this week in Valrico, FL, and I am staying with some FC classmates - John and Stephanie Haley. They have five sons, awesome young men. The youngest is named Hendon, age 7. Today in school he had to write about "the most interesting person I've ever met." Here is what he wrote-
The most interesting person I've ever met is Mr. Shane Scot.
is a preacher.
He is fune.
He is my numar wun psin.
He liks to resll Chas.
He wus a preeckr at a nuvr crc.
He is good.
He gis funee a lot.
I like him a lot.
Do they homeschool their boys? I remember them from when I attended at Valrico. They didn't have Hendon then. I doubt they would remember Ryan and I but I was always so impressed with their family.
Before I start this little trip down memory lane, just a reminder to my Shaniacs that I will be preaching Sunday-Wednesday at the Valrico church in Brandon, FL.
Last night my quartet performed in Athens, AL. Before our last song I usually say a few thank yous and set up our closer, which is a hoppin gospel number. During the intermission, I heard the name of Lowell Alexander called out for a door prize. Lowell was the song leader in my home town church when I was a little kid. His brother, Gilbert, used to come and preach and teach singing classes, and it was during one of those classes (the summer of my 6th grade year) that I first heard what tenor sounded like. I even remember the song- "Hand in Hand with Jesus."
So, last night to set up our closer I mentioned Lowell and his brother and told the story. To my great delight, Lowell pointed across the hall, and there sat Gilbert! So I got to thank him in front of everyone.
Singing is such a joy, and singing about the Lord is an awesome privilege. I am so thankful for the people who have fostered this love in me, and glad I had the chance to say so.
Everyone is better for knowing you, Shane. God has blessed you with a speaking voice and a singing voice. May He give you strength for both for many years.
I'm always thankful to see your passion for singing, man. It's cool to have seen God blessing you and opening the doors to sing with such a good quartet. Praise God!
Those little old ladies were adorable!
And let me just add...you have wayyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy to mch time on your hands! :) But it does make the rest of us laugh!
