One nation under God?

Recently, our group decided to start a study on the role Christians should (or should not) play in the political arena. What to do about voting, should they be in office, what should they do if they ARE in office, is America a Christian nation, are we a "nation under God," etc. Very interesting stuff to me, if I do say so myself. That was before I read this article.

Now, I am even more intrigued.

Hopefully, that is a good teaser to read the article, but if you don't have the time, "let me esplain....no, there is too much....let me sum up" (as Inigo Montoya once said).

A new book is coming out by Mr. David Kuo, former second-in-command of President Bush's Office of Faith-Based Initiatives, which provides an under-the-covers look at Bush's promises to faith-based programs, his attitude toward them and evangelicals, the ways they found loopholes to deceive them, and also ways they used them for votes. The article contains a portion of the book which chronicles one instance of meetings between Bush, advisor Karl Rove and prominent African-American ministers. The main point of these ministers coming: "Where is the $8 billion you promised faith-based organizations in 2000?" Bush's instructions to his advisors on how to answer this question: "It's coming, I promise."

The only problem was it never did.

Now, obviously, I don't know David Kuo, I don't know President Bush, I don't know his staff or the people who met with him at all. If you asked 1,000 people their opinions about Bush and how religion and powerful evangelicals play a role in his administration, you would get 1,000 different answers. His family would answer one way, his staff would answer in another, and his critics would provide yet another. I am not one of the many who know him, so I am not writing to judge Mr. Bush's ethics or his actions or even if he is sincere. I frequently read that he is a very devout and spiritual man.

What I do want to call to your attention, however, is the faith and hope many of us (including myself) put in politics and leaders, who so often promise one thing, but deliver another. Especially when it comes to religion and beliefs. In the past, I have found myself thinking something like "well, Candidate X seems to be more in line with the beliefs or convictions I have, so I think I will vote for him." I now have come to realize we tread on very shaky ground when we do this.

One thing I have read recently talks about how, no matter how great the moral conviction of the country or its leaders, a government or nation can not truly be "under God" because of the fundamental function that government must serve and the role it must play. Our great country has never had to worry about dictatorships or genocide or a loss of peronsal freedoms. Our country has a distinct moral fiber running through it and does not tolerate law-breakers, but this does not make it a "Christian" nation.

Whether peacefully or violently, governments seek to have control over a number of different things; its citizens, other hostile countries, the laws that are created or revoked, etc. This is in stark contrast to what Jesus implicitly and repeatedly taught when he said to turn the other cheek and to walk the extra mile or love your enemy. Governments can not afford to do it that way. Governments can not survive doing it that way.

So when you hear Christians or churches championing Bush or the Religious Right or you hear them insisting you must support one party or you must vote for a particular person, just be careful and think for yourself. In my opinion, at least, the goal of governments (no matter how moral they seem) is control, the goals of (most) politicians are votes and dollars. On the other hand, the goal of Jesus is love and sacrifice......two things governments and politicians just can't afford to give.

Ryan
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For some good viewing sometime on a related subject, see if you can find a copy of Paul Stekler's documentary Last Man Standing: Politics - Texas Style. It documents two state representative candidates in small-town Texas and the lengths they will go to to win their respective race and how the Texas political landscape is changing. It's interesting to see how each one of them in their debates or speeches start off with, "First of all, I'm a God-fearing, Christian man...," and then what they will do to win and what they have been accused of. Try www.realfilms.org for info about the movie.

Some good reads when you have the time

For all of you netziens out there like me, here is a list of some pretty good things to read from time to time if you ever have a free moment or want to kill some time. I enjoy reading all of these so I though I would give them a plug:

http://emergenthouston.blogspot.com - Bart Roberts and others run this web site and it is a great resource and inspiration to see some of the great conversations that are going around in our city right now.

http://harbourlight.blogspot.com - Michael Harbour's blog. I wish this one were updated more frequently, but Michael is always very insightful.

http://tscottallen.blogspot.com - Scott Allen's blog. The stuff on C.S. Lewis' The Great Divorce is especially good.

http://tysonkirksey.com - Tyson Kirksey's blog. Not only a great cousin, but really interesting posts on politics, music, theology, technology, etc.

http://gregtaylor.wordpress.com - Remember him? Our old youth minister has a good site with funny and informational posts and links to good books and other blogs.

http://meflippin.blogspot.com - I am sure she doesn't mind me giving this out, but Marla's Morris' blog is always funny and an easy read. And every once in a while she throws in some of her work that she does.

http://consumingfire424.blogspot.com - Matt Semanek's blog. Matt regularly updates on here with spiritually-based thought-provoking posts.

http://donmillerfans.net - Fan site for the author of Blue Like Jazz, Through Painted Deserts, Searching for God Knows What, and To Own a Dragon. You can send in questions, read Don's posts and chat with other users.

http://preachermike.com - Mike Cope's blog. Mike is the preacher at Highland Church of Christ in Abilene. A lot of spiritual stuff mixed in with some pop culture, sports and other items, but all tied into the message of Jesus.

http://blogs.chron.com/sportsjustice/ - Richard Justice's sports blog on the Chronicle website. If you are interested in local sports and a humorous, objective opinion of them, this is the blog for you.

So boost up these site's hit counts if you have a minute. Know of any other good ones we could all check out? Leave a comment and let us know.

Ryan