Partisan Politics & The Evengelical Right Wing: Urgent Matters
The evangelicals have always insisted that it is important for Christians to uphold the dignity of all human life, including the right of the unborn baby to live. In political terms, it is called pro-life. They also insist on the Biblical pattern of marriage as being between one woman and one man. I fully agree with them on these two issues. Why? Because I am a Christian who shares those same beliefs based on the teachings of Jesus Christ. But only thus far do I agree with American evangelicals.
During 2004 presidential elections, I paid close attention and watched as Christian evangelicals became immensely political as they supported President Bush because they felt he shared their conviction on those two issues. So, for that year, it was about pro-life, sanctity of marriage and national security. Many innocent Christians were told that if they were really Christians, then they ought to vote for Bush (although it wasn't quite as direct, but usually, the message was clear). I heard a lot of Christian leaders ( that is those who were in what I call the Christian political movement) suggest that if you voted for any person who does not share those three issues in a political way, then you are either not a committed Christian or you have somehow backslidden.
I was troubled by this trend because I know that even Jesus Christ, who is our Lord and Savior, never fought his spiritual battles on the political arena. His kingdom was heavenly, and above all that is earthly. So, he was not partisan at all. In one breath he could rebuke Pilate, but in another he could speak against Herod or even the religious rulers in the temple. He took no sides with any politician. His side was heaven's side. He spent time praying and healing the society of its vice. He encouraged his disciples to pay tax, and obey those in authority. In short, Jesus encouraged participation of the church in civil matters (and that includes electing good leaders), but he never organized his church around a political movement, no matter the moral issues at stake. He knew the hearts of all men too well to entrust divine principles or kingdom matters to any politician.
When I shared some of these thoughts with a few of my close friends, I remember them looking at me as if I had gone crazy. It was almost as though if you cautioned against the evangelicals’ romance with the Republican Party, you were seen either as a democrat or as an unfaithful Christian. Some of us, humbled and frustrated, left it all in the hands of God.
But that was 2004. In 2008, things appear to be a bit different. Although it is early to conclude, it appears that a good number of evangelicals are no more consistent on the issues they raised just a few years ago. Then, it was pro-life and sanctity of marriage. Now, they are not so sure. It is either the economy or national security. In November 2007, Pat Robinson endorsed Rudy Giuliani. Wait a minute, I thought Christians are committed to pro-life and sanctity of marriage? I thought those were the deciding factors in 2004? But the last time I checked, Rudy does not stand for any of those two. What happened to our Christian integrity? What happened to holding on to what the Bible teaches? Pat Robinson says that, this time, national security is more important than pro-life and sanctity of marriage. I shudder at how easily we can change grounds.
And before you tell me that Pat Robinson does not speak for all of us evangelicals, let me double cross you for a moment and remind you that I know that already. Yet you can not deny that when certain of our own leaders have shifting positions on these kinds of issues, we do not only embarrass ourselves we also ridicule our faith in the face of a sneering world. Can God not protect United States if in deed there is a national security threat? Dare any of us try to help God to do that, at the detriment of moral principles we supposedly fought so hard to uphold in the last few years? Since when did Rudy Giuliani become God's choice in protecting America? By the way, as at January 16, 2008, the republicans have already conducted their primaries in about four states, how is it that the candidates whose stand for pro-life and marriage (such as Mike Huckabee and Fred Thompson) are not winning full support of the so called evangelicals? Yes, in Iowa, Mike Huckabee won his victory based on that evangelical base, but where are those evangelical leaders who spoke up so well in 2004? Why are they not routing for him or Fred Thompson? Because they are not sure he could win? Since when does moral or christian conviction hinge on the electability of a politician? Why are the evangelical leaders playing politics with moral issues? If you are going to be a leader, why not go all the way and be consistent in your position on these issues?
You see how absurd it is for the church as a body to become involved in PARTISAN POLITICS? I am not suggesting that we get into partisan politics now and support those with pro-life values in politics. I am saying quite the contrary. I am saying that the shifting sand of partisan politics is not fit to hold the everlasting principles that we are called to uphold as Christians. We ought to pray for our government, participate in our civil duties including electing public officials we feel comfortable with, but we ought not to get mired with dirty partisan politics. The church ought to be an umpire in these matters - praying with an unbiased attitude for God's will to be done in our nation. The church ought to be in a position that it can honestly speak against the actions of any government (democratic or republican) without feeling the pangs of guilt or shame. We ought to carry the religious zeal we brought to politics to the doorstep of our own local churches, and teach our people what the Bible says about abortion and gay lifestyle. Why are we more zealous in carrying placards on the street than in teaching it from our pulpit? Why do our leaders spend more time attending political rallies and felicitating with certain politicians than they do with preaching against sin right from their own pulpit?
Something has gone wrong with our priorities. Someone, somewhere, had misled the American church into thinking that they can best 'fight' God's battles by carrying placards, joining the republican party, and getting all bitter and worked up about social issues. Jesus Christ our master did not achieve spiritual change that way, neither did apostle Paul and all the early church fathers when it was said of them that 'they turned the world upside down'. Brothers, sisters, we need to acknowledge our mistakes and repent. Let's fight sin (yes, abortion, homosexuality, crime and racism) in our churches. Let us encourage our members to go out and vote with their conscience, but let us not get so involved with any politician that we loose sight of the Savior.
I do not write as one who is better off or as an enemy in my own house, but as a brother. I also share in the mistakes of the church. After all, I am a part of the body of Christ. I share the values of life and marriage between one man and one woman. I am not in any way a 'liberal'. Like you, I also believe we should get involved in voting. But we went too far during the last two elections. May be, God is giving us an opportunity during this election season to retrace our steps from the bitter arena of partisan politics, and return to being the 'salt' of the earth, and the 'light' of the world. May God bless America.
Wednesday, January 16, 2008
Between Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton: A Different Kind of Politics
As far back as February 2007, I had suggested on this blog that "the next wave of change the world will know, spiritually a well as politically, may well be led by women and people of minority." Read this article here. Almost a year later, the democratic race has gradually narrowed down to Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton and John Edwards. While it is never wise to rule out any one in politics (after all, a year ago, Hillary was the top runner nation-wide, but today she shares that position with Obama), yet most people believe that the democratic race is coming down to a choice between Hillary and Obama. And that is what is interesting to me.
We are living in changing times. There is a power shift in the air. Obama and Hillary are proof of that shift. Obama may not even be aware of the import of his 'change' theme, but he is reiterating something that is already in motion. There is a huge change in the political terrain taking place across the globe.
It is interesting that the democrats may present either a woman or black man as their presidential nominee during the next presidential elections. I am glad to be alive to witness a time like this. We ought to be celebrating this time. I am sure that Martin Luther King Jr. would have also rejoiced at this prospect. While it can not be said that we have achieved all that the civil rights movement fought for, it can certainly be said that we are making significant progress. Obama and Hillary are proof of that progress. Hillary may be a white woman and a former first lady, but she is a woman. Obama may have had a white mother, but he is a black man.
The choice between Obama and Hillary is a choice we should make with pride as a nation. Yes, there is race and minority written all over this democratic primaries. But it is not race and minority in a negative sense. Instead, it is a celebration of what is good and great in all of us irrespective of race or gender. As a nation, we are forced to step back and take a good look at these two contestants, and admit that whether you are black or white, male or female, it is the stuff the individual is made of that is more important than their gender or skin color. Hillary and Obama challenges us as a nation to look beyond individual bias or prejudice, and respond to a higher call: that of exercising our democratic rights from a standpoint f dignity and mutual respect for one another. And before you write me off as a left wing, let me remind you that I am neither a democrat nor a republican. I am simply a neutral observer.
Just take a good look at the dynamics of this race and you will appreciate my joy. Hillary Clinton is a white lady, but she and her husband have enjoyed tremendous support among a majority of the black population in this country. In fact, the issue for the Clintons now is how to keep that support base from switching to Obama. On the other hand, Obama is a black man who has had more support among white people than he had had among black people. Look at his victory in Iowa, a traditionally white state, or his strong second-place finish in New Hampshire, if you want proof. Even among women, the support is split between Clinton and Obama almost equally. More women voted for Obama in Iowa, but in New Hampshire, more women voted for Hillary. This is interesting. It seems that the everyday people of this country recognize something that the established institutions may not have come to terms with yet: it is time for positive change. People are reaching across the isle to embrace candidates based on their integrity, policy and ability, in spite of race or gender.
I am not a politician, but I sense like most people, the 'game' of politics is going to be a lot different from now on. The established institutions in both parties had better be ware, otherwise they will lose touch with a majority of American people; and may pay dearly for that. The world is set for change. I guess as a Christian, it is in place to suggest that some of these political changes we see may possibly herald major spiritual and social changes that are coming our way in the near future. Like Morris Cerullo always says, 'every truth is parallel'. Is it possible that our world is in a sort of birth pangs, crying for a new kind of order based on justice and equity? Who are the ones chosen to lead in this hour, politically as well as spiritually? Usually, such people may not always come from the established class. Remember, Jesus Christ our Lord was born of a virgin, in a manger. Abraham Lincoln had a very humble beginning too. After all, it is written that ‘the stone the builders rejected has become a chief corner stone’.
The next time you see Obama and Hillary either on TV or on a campaign trail, celebrate the change they both represent. We should not allow ourselves to be drawn by the media or fanatical supporters of these two into losing sight of the amazing transformation taking place before our eyes. It doesn't matter who you support, Hillary or Obama ( or a republican candidate), we ought to celebrate the emerging change they both represent. It is certainly not going to be politics as usual.
As far back as February 2007, I had suggested on this blog that "the next wave of change the world will know, spiritually a well as politically, may well be led by women and people of minority." Read this article here. Almost a year later, the democratic race has gradually narrowed down to Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton and John Edwards. While it is never wise to rule out any one in politics (after all, a year ago, Hillary was the top runner nation-wide, but today she shares that position with Obama), yet most people believe that the democratic race is coming down to a choice between Hillary and Obama. And that is what is interesting to me.
We are living in changing times. There is a power shift in the air. Obama and Hillary are proof of that shift. Obama may not even be aware of the import of his 'change' theme, but he is reiterating something that is already in motion. There is a huge change in the political terrain taking place across the globe.
It is interesting that the democrats may present either a woman or black man as their presidential nominee during the next presidential elections. I am glad to be alive to witness a time like this. We ought to be celebrating this time. I am sure that Martin Luther King Jr. would have also rejoiced at this prospect. While it can not be said that we have achieved all that the civil rights movement fought for, it can certainly be said that we are making significant progress. Obama and Hillary are proof of that progress. Hillary may be a white woman and a former first lady, but she is a woman. Obama may have had a white mother, but he is a black man.
The choice between Obama and Hillary is a choice we should make with pride as a nation. Yes, there is race and minority written all over this democratic primaries. But it is not race and minority in a negative sense. Instead, it is a celebration of what is good and great in all of us irrespective of race or gender. As a nation, we are forced to step back and take a good look at these two contestants, and admit that whether you are black or white, male or female, it is the stuff the individual is made of that is more important than their gender or skin color. Hillary and Obama challenges us as a nation to look beyond individual bias or prejudice, and respond to a higher call: that of exercising our democratic rights from a standpoint f dignity and mutual respect for one another. And before you write me off as a left wing, let me remind you that I am neither a democrat nor a republican. I am simply a neutral observer.
Just take a good look at the dynamics of this race and you will appreciate my joy. Hillary Clinton is a white lady, but she and her husband have enjoyed tremendous support among a majority of the black population in this country. In fact, the issue for the Clintons now is how to keep that support base from switching to Obama. On the other hand, Obama is a black man who has had more support among white people than he had had among black people. Look at his victory in Iowa, a traditionally white state, or his strong second-place finish in New Hampshire, if you want proof. Even among women, the support is split between Clinton and Obama almost equally. More women voted for Obama in Iowa, but in New Hampshire, more women voted for Hillary. This is interesting. It seems that the everyday people of this country recognize something that the established institutions may not have come to terms with yet: it is time for positive change. People are reaching across the isle to embrace candidates based on their integrity, policy and ability, in spite of race or gender.
I am not a politician, but I sense like most people, the 'game' of politics is going to be a lot different from now on. The established institutions in both parties had better be ware, otherwise they will lose touch with a majority of American people; and may pay dearly for that. The world is set for change. I guess as a Christian, it is in place to suggest that some of these political changes we see may possibly herald major spiritual and social changes that are coming our way in the near future. Like Morris Cerullo always says, 'every truth is parallel'. Is it possible that our world is in a sort of birth pangs, crying for a new kind of order based on justice and equity? Who are the ones chosen to lead in this hour, politically as well as spiritually? Usually, such people may not always come from the established class. Remember, Jesus Christ our Lord was born of a virgin, in a manger. Abraham Lincoln had a very humble beginning too. After all, it is written that ‘the stone the builders rejected has become a chief corner stone’.
The next time you see Obama and Hillary either on TV or on a campaign trail, celebrate the change they both represent. We should not allow ourselves to be drawn by the media or fanatical supporters of these two into losing sight of the amazing transformation taking place before our eyes. It doesn't matter who you support, Hillary or Obama ( or a republican candidate), we ought to celebrate the emerging change they both represent. It is certainly not going to be politics as usual.
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