The Politics of Me

Since the election of President Obama, I have some friends who think the world, government and the economic system we have may be over.  It may be!  But I'm not smart enough and I don't watch Fox enough to really offer an intelligent opinion on how things are going. I know it's not good for the government to fire the car guy, but the car guy wasn't doing that well.  Neither were any of his fellow car guys. And I don't want to be the car guy, so who knows? 

I can remember as a kid hearing the same kind of talk after President Kennedy was elected!  A Catholic President was almost more than people could handle.  My parents and every Baptist in the South thought the world was done and life would never be the same.  It strikes me that politics is an up and down subject.  If you are down on the government, wait awhile and it will change.  If you are up on the government, same thing.  You will be down.  I keep up with politics but it's not a passion of mine.

I guess I always think back to the Old Testament and remember how God worked through the evil kings of Israel.  It didn't stop His plan, no matter who was "in charge."  I think we forget that man is not "In charge" of what is happening in the nation today.  Man does what man does best - sin and struggle to do things in our own power.  That will never work.  Yet, over the 233 years of America, God has always protected this nation.  One day, he may decide it's not worth it and leave us to our own devices. Than we have more serious problems than who is President.

That's why I am much more passionate about the local church than politics.  We are the only hope.  We can cuss and discuss politics, but the true change we desire will happen when we decide to love our neighbor and care for those who have less than we do.  Jesus wasn't that big of a fan of military power and world dominance.  He wasn't all that thrilled with the Roman Empire, the Babylonian Empire,  the Persian Empire or any empire for that matter.  He was all about the remnant who really had no power but by the grace of God.

I enjoy the opinions of people who study and read about our society.  I am amazed at the intelligence and passion of those people.  So if I am sitting in a group of people and a political opinion breaks out into a heated discussion about the future of this country, I may not say a whole lot because hopefully a God smarter than me has it all under control. 

Comments

[Sonja DeSouza]

I am so glad to see someone speak out on NOT speaking out! Although I am an active voter and take the time to 'participate' in the polls, I know that change doesn't happen over night or even four years for that matter! Christ followers have to do what they do best - Grow in God and Walk the Walk. God will tell us what to do if it all comes crashing down!

[Ann]

Well said, as always.
I am one who tends to get wrapped up in current events, so this hits me right where I live (ouch!).
The church is indeed the only hope.
I have a white board in my cubicle, and I started a little fun thing a few months ago playing around with the word "change". I wrote the phrase "embrace the change", and every now and then I'll get inspired to switch out the verb. Today it reads "anticipate the change", last week it was "ignore the change" and "change the change". My coworkers seem to get a kick out of it.
Next to my change thing, I have written out "Be strong and take heart, all you who hope in the LORD." from Psalm 31 to be my constant reminder that no matter what change may come I can get thru it because I have Jesus Christ.