How does a
Christian stay calm, find some spiritual equilibrium, and make sense of it all?
God isn't delighted by politics in the United States - but then what does God
see in me? It's a bit of a test, a stiff challenge, to be a follower of Jesus
right now. You can withdraw - but Jesus clearly asks us to engage our world.
You can get drawn into this side or that side's spitting contest. You can get
surly in front of the TV and dash off a Facebook retort. You can say
"religion and politics don't mix" - but if we can't talk about God
and God's interest in these things that clearly matter so much, then maybe God
isn't relevant to anything at all. Perhaps, if we are humble and open, God can
show us "a more excellent way" (as Paul introduced his famous
"love" chapter, 1 Corinthians 13).
"For God so
loved the world..." (John 3:16) - and yes, that would be this world, the
one in which we find ourselves mired, annoyed, confused, and yet strangely
hopeful. I don't know many people who've just given up. We cling to some
glimmer of optimism deep inside that maybe, just maybe, things will get better,
that something good will somehow come out of it all. Maybe for the nation,
maybe locally - and maybe just in me.
Between now and
election day, I would like to talk about religion, politics, and the state of
the soul. How do Christians sort things out and interact with a raging culture
in a holy, constructive way? Does God care about the results of the election?
Are there genuinely Christian issues and positions? How would we know? Can you
read these emails and trust me without getting angry at me? J
Let's pray
together, for our world but also for our souls - and hope that these times
together, sharing these emails, might bring some healing, hope, and even holy
engagement with this world God created, and is more eager to save than we are
to have it saved.
