And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him—Colossians 3:17 (NIV)
Today is Super Tuesday, and all across America fired up (or not so fired up) voters are voicing their opinion as to who should get to go to the general election and vie for the presidency of the United States. Without a doubt, many people, especially those who call themselves Christians, will be casting their ballot based on their moral beliefs. These “values voters” are oft talked about in political circles, and entire campaign strategies are sometimes built around how to best reach this somewhat fragmented but voter rich group.
Many Christians, from the guy who sits in the pew next to you to perhaps even your pastor, will tell you that you need to vote for so and so because of his stance on abortion or the sanctity of marriage. They will tell you that you cannot be a true Christian if you do not cast your “values vote” for candidate X, Y, or Z. They say it is time for us to take back this country, and that we as voters must do our part to make it happen.
All this begs the question of exactly what the best way is to “take back” this great land of ours. We tend to carry on as if the political system somehow has wrestled from us every area of society, from the once sacred institution of marriage to what has become the cold, God-less classroom. We act as if this has happened while we were not looking, or perhaps as if some dirty secularists have played a series of cruel, power usurping tricks on us.
This could not be further from the truth. The answer to the problems that face American Christianity today is not a political one. As Phillip Johnson wrote in his book Defeating Darwinism: “I regard the idea of a Christian political party with a combination of horror and amusement, because Christian denominations are themselves so confused and internally divided”. He argues that the real answer to our problems is a spiritual and intellectual one. We have essentially given our country away through talking about values more than actually living them out.
Until we start living our values, dear reader, and until we start showing Jesus to our sons and daughters, friends, and co-workers, we are destined to repeat the same futile cycle of merely voting “our values” while no real change takes place in this country. So go ahead, friends, cast your “values vote” for the person whom you feel is the best moral crusader for this country. But do not expect real results until you, me, and every person who bears His name begin doing everything we do, in word or deed, for Christ Jesus.
2 comments:
Wow, you are absolutely right. I believe this is also the reason so many people are searching for Christ and not finding Him in the Church. The amazing thing about God is that "with (Him) all things are possible", but that only applies to those who are individually "with" Him.
We can't expect a politician to do for us that which we don't do ourselves. Right now, today, every person reading this can help begin the process of "reclaiming our Christian nation" by actually becoming, behaving, and believing as a Christian.
That is something personal that no one else can establish for you. What a positive thought, that God loves us enough to give us the power and ability without forcing Himself on us. We each matter equally to Him.
Amen to your call for us as Christians to start living our values. We should actually consider the example that Christ gave to us, and be people of action and faith. When the battle at home is won then the rest of the battles will be won easily.
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