Christianity and Politics

There is a huge dividing line in the church over how deep Christians should go in the political process. On one extreme there's the group of Christians that are hesitant to vote; and on the other side there are Christians who want to overwhelm the political landscape with Christian leaders and politicians. Which side is right? Is there a right side? What does the Bible say about it?

First, there are some major flaws in the "stay out of the world" approach to politics. If Christians don't get involved in politics then only the secular people will vote and influence our country - I don't think that's what God wants for us. Some of the people in this camp will misquote Jesus' quote when he says "give unto Caesar that which is Caesar's." Christ was talking about doing your duty as a citizen and paying your taxes, He wasn't stumping for His followers to withdraw from the political process!

When it comes to actually becoming a politician, the waters get a little murkier. To be a Christian politician is a very difficult task, for you must follow God's standards for Christian living while trying to win in a political system that encourages lying, cheating, humiliation and slander. If you want to look for a Christian politician who's been corrupted by our system, look no further than our President.

I'm seriously considering running for office of some kind, I'm just not sure what office or when. Do you have any thoughts to share on Christian politicians?

Peace Like a River

There are many ways the Holy Spirit communicates with us; one of His names is Comforter (N: "To soothe in time of affliction or distress"). My decision to move up our wedding date has drawn some negative opinions and worrisome inquiries; but through it all I've felt a strong peace; an unwavering comfort that this is what me and Kathy should be doing.

Proverbs 19:21 - "Many are the plans in a man's heart, but it is the LORD's purpose that prevails."

Temptation, or, "So you think you're good enough?"

I have been through the experience of thinking I'm a good person, that my Christianity (and in essence my deeds) are enough to warrant me the label of "Good Human Being". I was sadly mistaken. I think I fell into the same trap many other Christians do; thinking that our lack of "big" sins like sexual infidelity, drugs or the other notorious sins makes me a good Christian.

Reality sets in after we try to be good. Have you ever tried to put an end to a habitual sin, whether it be something "small" like lying or something "big" like sexual sin? It's hard; no, it's impossible to do under your own strength.

I'll end this short post with a quote from CS Lewis:
"No man knows how bad he is till he has tried very hard to be good. A silly idea is current that good people do not know what temptation means. This is an obvious lie. Only those who try to resist temptation know how strong it is. After all, you find out the strength of the German army by fighting against it, not by giving in. You find out the strength of a wind by trying to walk against it, not by lying down. A man who gives in to temptation after five minutes simply does not know what it would have been like an hour later. That is why bad people, in one sense, know very little about badness. They have lived a sheltered life by always giving in. We never find out the strength of the evil impulse inside us until we try to fight it: and Christ, because he was the only man who never yielded to temptation, is also the only man who knows to the full what temptation means--the only complete realist."