Monday, March 14, 2016

Christians and Politics

I was at a book signing last week for a book called "Weird Church" ( by Beth Ann Estock/Paul Nixon). Part of the event was a very interesting panel of folks who are doing unusual things with congregational growth and development.

One of the panelists, Alexis Eduardo Francisco, is a member of New Day United Methodist, a church in the Bronx that is committed to crossing boundaries and being radically inclusive. One of his comments filled me with both recognition and sorrow. He said, "I realized I was searching for God, and I knew I wouldn't find God in a church." 

Wow. Think about that for a minute. This is not a unique experience.  I have heard things like this from many people.   I felt so sad about how Christianity has been associated with hatred, exclusion, fear and narrow mindedness and how many people I know absolutely expect that they will not find love, acceptance, or God, in a Christian church.

I am a follower of Jesus. A broken and imperfect follower, to be sure, but as a Christian I feel Jesus should be my role model and that I should take seriously Jesus's commandments.

This brings me to the current political campaign.   I am absolutely outraged, offended and unspeakably sad when I hear that Evangelical CHRISTIANS are responsible for the success of Donald Trump and Ted Cruz who, as far as I can tell are saying absolutely nothing that coincides with the actual words and commandments of Jesus.   I am also wounded that these people are perceived as speaking for all Christians.

Here are just a handful of instructions from Jesus:
  • Love your enemies.  Do good to those who hate you
  • Blessed are the peacemakers, blessed are the merciful.
  • When someone in need asks you for something,  give more than they ask for. 
  • If someone hurts you, turn the other cheek -- (don't return violence with violence)
  • When you care for widows, orphans, prisoners,or the hungry, you are loving Jesus.  If you don't, you do not love Jesus and you will be thrown into the fire.  (seriously... that's what it says, Matthew 25)
  • Love your neighbor.  When asked "who is my neighbor", Jesus told a story about a hated foreigner who helped someone.   It would be like saying, "there was this Christian lying in a ditch.  A priest, a minister and a deacon walked by and ignored him.   Then a Muslim came by, patched him up, and paid for his care."
  • To inherit the Kingdom of Heaven, sell all your possessions and give the money to the poor.
  • Don't be all 'religious' in public, trying to show off.  Pray in private.  Also donate in private.
  • How will you know if someone is coming from Jesus? You will know them by their fruits.
So, what are these fruits?  The Apostle Paul says, "the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control." Galatians 5:22-23.

Hm...   Do you see any of those fruits on display by candidates shouting their Christian credentials from the rooftops?  

Me neither.

And, by the way, Jesus said exactly ZERO about abortion, birth control, and homosexuality.   These issues are not a litmus test for Christian faith.  People of faith may disagree about these issues but they are not, and shouldn't be, central.   Love trumps (you should excuse the expression) all!

Jesus also reserved his harshest words for religious hypocrites, calling them "whitewashed tombs".   I think that still sums it up.

I could go on and on, but then this blog would be as long as, well, the New Testament.  Which maybe a few politicians (and voters) should actually read.