Spare Change

My Lone Political Blog Entry for the '08 Election*

Posted by Bryan

Four years ago, I was quite political here. I think I wrote approximately two hundred anti-John Kerry posts. In this cycle, I've been largely silent online about the drama unfolding that will result in the naming of our next president.

One thing that has not changed in that time is my perspective. I'm still oriented today the way I was four years ago. My "tent pole" ideologies remain firmly rooted, and I continue to be passionate about the matters that stir my heart, raise my ire, and compel me to serve.

That being said, a couple of other important factors have changed since the last election cycle.

First, my priorities have changed. Back then, I was more interested in attracting readers to Spare Change. I believed everything I wrote and stand by it, inasmuch as that's "where I was" when I wrote what I wrote. Today, though, I'm not so concerned with a spike on a graph that ultimately means very little. I still appreciate readers, but I'm not driven to write something provocative or polemic just to influence readership statistics.

Second, and more important, my perspective has changed.

My newfound silence regarding the political landscape and this exciting, history-making election cycle has nothing to do with George Bush, John McCain, Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama, oil, housing, economy, war, global warming, education, hope, change, corporate greed, or any other issue that may arise in the months ahead.

Since my final, fiery anti-Kerry screed written in the subtext of then-serving the denomination on a national level, I've returned to local church ministry where real people dwell and coexist. Here, I've witnessed the obvious reality that many in the emergent generations are moderate to liberal in their politics, while I'm more conservative. Back then, my community was much more homogeneous and such an environment was more conducive to political advocacy.

Now, though, the last thing I want to happen is for me to say or write something that unnecessarily divides me from others and hinders my ability to share the love of God with someone else. I don't want to alienate anyone from the gospel based on the artificial barrier of political differences. I'm heartsick at the notion that either side would think that God is exclusively on their side. Both sides have party stands that honor God, but both also have stands that dishonor him. My prayer is that every person regardless of party would seek to align themselves with God's platform rather than seek to reduce God to a endorser of one candidate over another.

When history is closed with the advent of eternity, don't be surprised if some of the leaders we deemed great are reclassified or dismissed altogether, and be prepared that leaders we have overlooked or dismissed are held in much higher regard than we could have ever imagined. Remember that God uses a far different standard than do we. Regardless, ever leader is appointed by God to accomplish the purpose that he set forth before time began. We cannot change it, but we somehow get to be involved in it.

Be active in democracy. We should vote our conscience (and I will). Stand up and speak out for the causes that, as my pastor says, make you lose sleep at night, weep over, and pound your fist to the table and say, "That's not right!"

Remember, though, that the prayer that Jesus modeled includes the line, "may your will be done on earth the way it is done in heaven."That petition begins with the individual submission and total obedience to God through faith in Jesus Christ, not in political advocacy. That was a mistake that was made by the first-century, Messiah-seeking citizens of Jerusalem. And it is a mistake made by people today who expect their politicians to act like gods and their God to prove their politics.

God is not Republican or Democrat. God has ordained that the next president will be our next president. We will get the president we deserve. May "God bless America" be our heart's cry for revival and renewal, and not merely a patriotic stamp of assumed approval for all we do as a nation claiming to seek God's favor.

* Future posts may violate the validity of this claim. No indemnity may be sought in such occurances.

June 4, 2008 5:23 AM | TrackBack