American Christian Flashpoint: Politics!

So, I caught a portion of Sarah Palin's speech from last night, and read some commentaries. Truth be told, I didn't like it. Not one bit. I'll be surprised to see how the Grand Ol' Party continues on their attack lines of experience and celebrity status. Knowing what I know of politics, they'll find a way. I'm hoping that Joe Biden mops the floor with McCain's VP in the upcoming debate.

Okay, okay. Enough. Chances are, you either lean or vigorously define yourself to the right of where I stand as far as politics goes. There were some days not long ago I'd fight to the bitter end to define what right was, and how you're nowhere near that mark, but the sun seems to set on my era of clashing on the political battlefield.

It really began ending when Dr. James Dobson made some distinctively abrasive remarks about Senator Obama's speech of 2006 at some political religious conference symposium whatever, and only two years later does Dr. Dobson lash out. And let me tell you, he let Obama have it. He left nothing unclear on how much he disliked the speech, and how much Obama distorted the Bible, and how he would spell D-O-O-M to Christian life in America as we know it.

Only after I read Dr. Dobson's remarks did I read Obama's speech. And I liked it. Not all of it, mind you, but I thought there were some brilliant ideas, and some very respectable ways to approach running America as a Christian.

Perhaps later I'll explain precisely why the Christian Right gives me the spooks, but not now. After some long contemplation of the speech and the counter argument, and a counter-counter argument by someone at the Washington Post, I was deeply saddened by it all. I don't know Dr. Dobson, nor do I follow him closely. I couldn't even tell you any of the names of the books he may or may have not written. But I know he does God's work. That argument didn't seem much like God's work at all. It was sounding more like a clashing symbol, or a clanging gong.

And in reviewing my brooding thoughts about Sarah Palin and John McSame, I realized I had been smashing symbols around like a creepy smiling monkey for the past couple of months.

Romans 13. Read it. One part of it says authorities are to be respected and obeyed, because God put them there for a reason. The other part of the chapter talks about fufilling the Law through love.

Jesus had to deal with politics, but that wasn't his main concern. Not by a long shot. His concern was sinners, such as you and I. And His love did some amazing things, and actually changed people forever. It changed me--it tought me what love really was, and what life really meant when you understood that God, the God, was not mad at you in the least, and that He loved you so dearly He couldn't stand being apart from you, even if that's what you insisted upon.

That, right there, is more than enough reason to live. And it blows the heck out of trying to advance agendas and trying to spin stories and cutting down the ones you should love.

So, for the time being, I'm done with it. I'll still vote, and I'll still vote what I think is right for our country, but it's time for some out-of-the-box thinking on this political stuff. It has so little to do with why we claim salvation with Christ, and there's so many better things to do with my time and energy. Like listening to Dr. Dobson once in a while, and thanking God that He called that guy to His name. Like encouraging my brothers and sisters who vote against my celebrity of choice, or don't vote at all. Like loving other sinners even if they think I'm a nutcase. Like praising the one true God.