Faith and Politics

[Peter Debelak]

I'm sorry to dredge this thread up and I've held my tongue on it for a long time. But really, this goes to some things that frustrate me most - even after the hard won battle of loosing onesself from the psychology of the LC and all the humilty that took, we seem fine with a "know-it-all-ness" derived from the modern Chritian faith...

Do we actually think that our Christian perspective is clear and "direct from God" enough to think its appropriate to engage neck deep in politics to affect the direction of the whole country?

I have engaged numerous groups since leaving, some for considerable periods. Private Christians - those that engage from interaction to interaction - are really quite beautiful. Public Christianity, is obnoxious. Since when is Christianity a political interest group, and we, as individuals, apologists for "political Chrisitanity"? (P.S. Lest you think I'm talking about repulicans, I include the apoligist for leftists interpreters of the Bible on contemporary issues).

What happend to "render unto Ceasar"?

"Vote your conscience," I get that. I do that based on my faith.

But "preach a policy"??? I don't see Biblical support for that. To be sure, I personally advocate for policies I think are good - but I don't presume it's the "Christian perspective" or the "Biblical view" - and I it would be silly of me to add as one of my arguments for that policy that "God says so."

For example, American exceptionalism does not comport with the Bible. Period. An Iraqi life is just as valuable as an American one, even if the Iraqi hates America and aims to fight against it. This does not mean that, as a human American I don't root for success in American endeavors. I actually do. I just don't pretend my "rooting" is the "Christian thing to do." I'm flawed in that way.

I don't know what to say when two armed soldiers are facing each other. But when a robot kills civilians, regardless of who's interests are who's, my conscience says "WRONG!!!". And if you're trying to glean my politics, that's a pox on BOTH houses.

When did Christians become lacky conduits for politics? Or rather, when did the Bible become fodder?

What the HELL is our faith doing enmeshed in human politics?

In Angst,

Peter

P.S. If you can't tell, I'm angsty... Think Kierkegaard, not mohawks. Thanks for indulging.