The Winds of Change

There are alot of happy people and alot of unhappy people this week. In fact, many of the happy people have traded places with the unhappy people. Yet, there are also alot of life goes on people who care little to none. What the heck am I talking about? Decision 2006, of course. I voted. Motivated hugely to get the politicians to stop bombarding me with commercials and phone calls. I hate elections. However, based on recent conversations, I have some thoughts.

It is time for change, and I am not talking about political change. I am talking about a change in how those who follow Christ engage the rest of society. There are places where the terms Republican and Christian are synonymous. There are also places (fewer but growing) where it is unbelievable that a Christian would not be a Democrat. I am pretty sure that the boat has been missed on both accounts. The Religious Right is an oxymoron, because the religious are rarely right (right applies more to Jesus than an establishment) and by definition, Christianity is not inclusive (yes, you have to make a radical decision to dedicate yourself to the values and agenda of One who makes the absolutes and there is no such thing as tolerance in that arena). I guess I frankly don't care how you vote, given, your decisions will have consequences, but holding a political platform up in one hand and a Bible in the other is a horrible idea. Why would I ever consider placing a sign in my front yard supporting a candidate that may close a door with a neighbor or a passerby? Guess what, both Republicans and Democrats (and anyone else for that matter) need Jesus. Funny how Jesus himself hung out with tax collectors (who were seen as having turned their backs on both Yahweh and Israel) and didn't make a big deal about politics.

I think its time the church stopped letting politicians "preach" in church on Sundays close to the election and I think that the church has to stop fulfilling its desire to have power by making political alliances. Things look similar to the Roman Catholic Church before the Reformation. I don't agree with the contemporary interpretation of separation of church and state. Kids have every right to say God and pray in schools. The problem is that the church is not affiliated with a political party, it is radically and completely devoted and sold out to Jesus Christ and I guarantee that Jesus Christ is not wearing a tee-shirt with a donkey or an elephant! If Jesus is wearing a tee-shirt, it probably has a sad face with a tear running down its cheek (perhaps similar to the sad Indian in the old anti-pollution commercial) because of how his bride parades herself around waiting to be wooed by whoever can use the right lingo. I guess I am at the point that if I hear one more person use Republican/Democrat as a foundational characteristic of someone who is going to heaven then I am going to pee on their bumper stickers.