Politically Homeless

I got the term from a talk given by Michael Wear through the Q platform. You can watch it here. His talk is excellent and gives a powerful framework for the current issues facing America. Below are a few quotes that resonated with me, with some commentary.

"Politics and religion are two topics we are not supposed to discuss at the dinner table...for opposing reasons. People don't want to talk about politics because they hold their views too tightly. Too much of their identity is staked in politics. People don't want to talk about religion because they are haunted by the idea that they do not stake their lives in spiritual things enough"

I totally agree. Perhaps if we discussed these more, we might learn and change more. I believe we would do better to allow these taboo subjects back to the dinner table. Yes, the conversations will be tough, heated and maybe a little damaging. Not talking about them is causing far greater damage, maybe even irreparable damage - to our society, to our families, to our churches and to our souls

"Politics is causing great spiritual harm in America"

One needs only to look at any comment feed on social media to see this harm. But, if that isn't enough look at what Elizabeth Baker has to say about the spiritual harm done to her and others through the recent political past. Read her comments here.

"Americans are going to politics to get their spiritual needs met"

Politics cannot fill those needs, but to get our vote, they will offer to fill them. And so we run to our political platforms quoting Scripture and justifications believing that the answers to our problems lie in the size of government, the programs of government and the opportunities of government. Churches fall into playing this same game. From churches that promote a specific party view, to churches that refuse to engage in politics at all, Americans are left with few choices to consider alternatives to what politics offers. We would do well to engage in discussion about other avenues to meet our spiritual needs and why politics isn't the answer. But to diagnose this problem and to treat it we realize the following truth

"The state of our politics reflects the state of our souls"

This is true because we allow politicians to manipulate our most intimate beliefs because we make them available to them to be manipulated.

"The problem is not that we take politics too seriously. It’s that we take politics seriously in all of the wrong ways."

Politics is not the spiritual home of our souls. It is not where we find deepest belonging, transcendence, and solutions to our personal and corporate ills among other things. Sure, they offer those things, but their offerings are insubstantial and elusive. In fact, those offerings will change for political expediency to fit the times, AND, our beliefs change "to fit the moment" as Wear says.

"Christians are obliged to work for the benefit and flourishing of all people, whether or not they see the world as we do, or agree with us in any way. A Christian's obligation is not to their tribe, but to their God, a God who cares deeply for all people."

If we truly believe we are in relationship with the God of the entire universe, seen and unseen. If we truly believe he has given us the mandate to care for this world, as reflected in Genesis, then this is true. Paul made this case to the Colossians: "Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving. Colossians 3:23-24 (NIV).

"If a Christian's political ideas and actions are not intended toward the good of their enemies, then their political witness is not Christian in its character. When it is, then everyone benefits."

This is probably one of the more provocative statements Wear makes. But, I cannot fault it. If we are only working for the good of believers, then we fail to understand the simplest concepts of the work of Jesus. "While we were still sinners, Christ died for us." Romans 5:8 (NIV). We weren't in his tribe, we were enemies (for lack of a better word), yet he worked for our good. Why would we do any less for others?

"Politics is an essential forum in which we can love our neighbor."

If it is an essential forum, then Christians need to engage in political action and discussion. I believe it is an essential forum. When our votes determine the health, wealth, safety, education, and general well being of our neighbor then it is an essential forum for love. We must talk about this more, not less.

"Am I politically homeless?"

Yes, I am!

"The crisis for Christians is not that we are politically homeless, the crisis is that we ever thought we could make our home in politics at all. Our home is with him who has made his home in us."

I may be politically homeless, but that's ok, my home is somewhere else. But, trust me, I will engage in politics, through discussion and action, through word and vote, because it is one way to love my neighbor. I will fail my neighbor in this, but I will do my level best.

For those interested, I am engaged in a group choosing to learn how to be more involved in healthy political discussion and action. The table includes a broad spectrum on the political divide, but not broad enough. The table is open for more people. If you want in, let me know.

If you want to discuss the Wear video, host a dinner with others, contact Q Forums for discussion questions, and start talking!

Sinking Sand

I recently had the privilege of listening to Andy Stanley speak about his new book Irresistible. The focus of the day was on the singular event that defines Christianity.

Andy spent the opening session highlighting how many people, myself included, work under a faulty assumption: that the Bible is the foundation of the Christian faith. The follow on from this is the following: as the Bible goes, so goes Christianity.

The image that comes to mind is of someone struggling in sinking sand, trying to find firm footing but sinking ever deeper and deeper. This is the state of Christianity today - an ongoing struggle to prove the veracity of the Bible, and a hidden fear that the Bible might be proven wrong and if so, then Christianity is false, Jesus is dead and our faith is misguided.

BUT...

The Bible isn't the foundation of the Christian faith. It is simply a collection of documents, detailing the history and law of Israel, and letters and eye-witness accounts of a very specific event: the resurrection of Jesus. That event is the foundation of the Christian faith.

For me, in that conference, I felt like someone who, was that person sinking deeper and deeper into the sand trap, but who suddenly found a firm footing. My firm footing of faith wasn't in the veracity, inerrancy or reliability of a title (The Bible), but in the EVENT the documents of the Bible, specifically the gospels talk about - the resurrection of Jesus.

Many people witnessed this resurrection and gave testimony to its truth: broken-hearted women, fearful fishermen, terrified followers and ashamed individuals. These nobodies, conquered people living in a dusty corner of the Roman empire, would testify to this event and in just 300 years, that Empire would make their faith the national faith of the empire. From a persecuted group of dozens, a movement of billions now exists.

Andy gave a clear clarion call that I am answering - let's testify to the resurrection of Jesus again and live the way he told us to - loving one another AS HE LOVED US.