Politics

Whether it's espoused by liberals or conservatives from within the Church, I've always felt that political proclamations made by Christians ought to be, with rare exception, clearly labeled "just my opinion."

Clearly, Christians of all stripes can say that life is precious, irrespective of the specific ways in which they might think life should be safeguarded in the political realm.

Clearly, Christians of all stripes can agree that even if we may disagree with others' life styles, governmental authority ought not practice bias or allow it to be practiced.

But, it's essential that we Christians not subordinate keeping Christ as our Lord to any allegiance we may feel to a political philosophy, or even to our country, as much as we may love it.

Two days ago, I presented some critical comments of Dr. James Dobson, a man whose early work on family living, parenting, and marriage to be extremely valuable. But I feel that he has veered too far into the realm of identifying Christ with his own politics, thus alienating people who might otherwise be won to Christ.

In talking about politics here, it's been my aim to be fair to all sides and to discuss current political issues sometimes from the standpoint of as unbiased a Christian perspective as I could muster and at other times, from the vantage point of one who constantly reads history. (I was a Social Studies major at Ohio State also.)

But occasionally, I too have veered into overt politicizing. And, because presenting the love of Christ is my highest priority, that has been a misstep on my part. I don't want to ever convey the impression that Jesus can be bottled up or packaged in some political program. Like Aslan, the Christ figure in The Chronicles of Narnia, the God we know in Jesus Christ isn't tame, He's insusceptible to our attempts to subordinate Him to our own preferences. He's the Lion of Judah, after all. He's wild and great and powerful and in theologian Paul Tillich's phrase, "wholly other." And, as Mr. Beaver told the Pevensie kids in the first Narnian book, this wholly other Lord Who can't be tamed or made to dance to our tunes is also good. He's gracious, loving, patient, self-sacrificing.

So, I refuse to put Jesus Christ in a box. I choose to let Him have free reign in me, so that the words of my mouth and the meditations of my mind will be acceptable to God...and tell the world about this incredible God, Who accepts us we are and helps the surrendered become what He made us to be.

On this blog, I'll keep looking at the politics of politcs from time to time, often looking at the history behind what's going on today. I will try to ask people of all political stripes to be fair to those with whom they disagree. I will speak out on a few political issues when I think the will of God is crystal clear. And, when politics and faith intersect--on issues like the Ten Commandments in public places, for example--I may have some things to say.

But I don't want to be a Jim, Dobson or Wallis. I'm sorry if I've ever edged into such territory. Let me know if you think I do so in the future.

UPDATE: I will also talk about other stuff in life, things like music, baseball, movies, books, TV, Bob Dylan, Paul McCartney, U2, Coldplay, the Boys and Girls Club, and such. I'm interested in all of life!