Your political views

[Albion]

The German people were brainwashed and those who weren't brainwashed were bullied into following Hitler.

That doesn't really address my point, however, which was that it does matter how things go in the here and now, and that believing, correctly, that the next life is more important or that all of the world's kingdoms will come to an end someday does not mean that Christians ought to sit on their hands and let injustice gain, simply because there is a better day coming in the future.

So yes, Go vote and hope the party of your choice wins. But also understand that if they lose the Kingdom of God will still go on forever. And that ultimately, the eternal Kingdom of God will last forever and the temporal kingdoms of this world we be no more.

I see. But this ^ does have a different tone from what I read in the earlier post where you wrote:

"As I've gotten older I've cared less and less about politics. I still vote, but I haven't openly campaigned for any candidate in years...Also, the realization that in the end none of it will matter has made it less important to me. All the Kingdoms of the Earth will pass away, including the USA."

So, "thanks" for elaborating.

 

[Lanman87]

I see. But this ^ does have a different tone from what I read in the earlier post where you wrote:

I think it is a matter of perspective and priority. When I was in my 20's and 30's I was preoccupied with Politics. I grew up in a very Republican family. My dad was on a first name basis with the first Republican Governor of Alabama since reconstruction. I went campaigning with the Governor and My Dad for George H.W. Bush back in a 1988, which was the first election after I turned 18.

I later moved to Tennessee and joined the local Republican Party. I volunteered to man the county headquarters, handed out yard signs and bumper stickers, went to monthly meetings and so on.

Then I moved back to Alabama and have just never gotten back into it. I still keep up with it, find it fascinating, still vote and still have conversations with relatives and friends (and the occasional message board). But I don't spend near the time and effort in it as I used to.

Part of it is because I live in one of the Reddest states in the Union and it is a forgone conclusion who is going to win. All the drama is during the primary elections when it is republicans running against each other.

Part of it is because I have become disillusioned with Republican politicians in general. Republicans have picked some horrible candidates lately, both in the states and in national elections, going all the way back to McCain and Romney. There have been very few national candidates that I could get excited about supporting.

Part of it is because I have grown in my Faith and have placed more emphasis on Spiritual Matters. As I've spent more time reading the Bible, church history, and theology the less time I've spent paying attention to the news, editorials, and politics in general.

Part of it is, because of my seeking to grown in the faith, I've discovered that many look to politics as a functional savior. They believe that politics is the main way God spreads His Kingdom on earth. When in fact, the church, the people of God sharing and living out the gospel message is the main way God spreads His Kingdom on earth. It just kinda bothers me (and I was convicted about) when Christians spend more time and money trying to get people elected than they do in worship, evangelism, missions, and helping the poor and needy.

I've known way to many "Christians" who will give the maximum amount allowed to a political candidate or PAC but will not support the local Rescue Mission or Crisis Pregnancy Center.

So I'm not saying that politics isn't important, or that Christians should stay out of politics. I do, however, believe that we Christians need to keep politics in it's proper place and not allow it to be equal with or even surpass our "Kingdom Citizenship".

 

[Josiah]

I think it is a matter of perspective and priority. When I was in my 20's and 30's I was preoccupied with Politics. I grew up in a very Republican family. My dad was on a first name basis with the first Republican Governor of Alabama since reconstruction. I went campaigning with the Governor and My Dad for George H.W. Bush back in a 1988, which was the first election after I turned 18.

I later moved to Tennessee and joined the local Republican Party. I volunteered to man the county headquarters, handed out yard signs and bumper stickers, went to monthly meetings and so on.

Then I moved back to Alabama and have just never gotten back into it. I still keep up with it, find it fascinating, still vote and still have conversations with relatives and friends (and the occasional message board). But I don't spend near the time and effort in it as I used to.

Part of it is because I live in one of the Reddest states in the Union and it is a forgone conclusion who is going to win. All the drama is during the primary elections when it is republicans running against each other.

Part of it is because I have become disillusioned with Republican politicians in general. Republicans have picked some horrible candidates lately, both in the states and in national elections, going all the way back to McCain and Romney. There have been very few national candidates that I could get excited about supporting.

Part of it is because I have grown in my Faith and have placed more emphasis on Spiritual Matters. As I've spent more time reading the Bible, church history, and theology the less time I've spent paying attention to the news, editorials, and politics in general.

Part of it is, because of my seeking to grown in the faith, I've discovered that many look to politics as a functional savior. They believe that politics is the main way God spreads His Kingdom on earth. When in fact, the church, the people of God sharing and living out the gospel message is the main way God spreads His Kingdom on earth. It just kinda bothers me (and I was convicted about) when Christians spend more time and money trying to get people elected than they do in worship, evangelism, missions, and helping the poor and needy.

I've known way to many "Christians" who will give the maximum amount allowed to a political candidate or PAC but will not support the local Rescue Mission or Crisis Pregnancy Center.

So I'm not saying that politics isn't important, or that Christians should stay out of politics. I do, however, believe that we Christians need to keep politics in it's proper place and not allow it to be equal with or even surpass our "Kingdom Citizenship".

I largely agree.


On the one hand, behavior changes when hearts change. Usually, public/civil laws and policies follow the will of the people, not the other way around. If we want to change people's behavior, we need to change people. Christians are Called especially two things: LOVE and MORALITY. Both. Together. Inseparably. Constantly. We need to live and show those two things. And lead and call others to those two things. We need to be a light in the world, shining light in the darkness, the "salt of the earth." This is very concerning to me because as I see it, the church has largely lost its voice (especially Protestantism). Way too many Protestant churches are silent on moral issues of our day, silent on the abortion issue, silent on diverse and the absence of fathers and so many other things, more focused on making people feel good about themselves and get lots of butts in the seats and bucks in the plate. How many pastors NEVER clearly preach sermons on pro-life for example? We see it in Catholic and LDS churches but not much in Protestant ones. Or any other significant moral issue of our day. It seems to me, Christianity has largely lost its voice, or worse think it's better to echo the world. We need to speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves. We need to show love and morality. THIS is what changes hearts - and thus behavior (and eventually laws).

On the other hand, laws DO have an impact. The abortion rate in this country went up after Roe v Wade. In California, the use of Pot rose considerably after it was legalized (even over the most generous estimates of use before that). Conversely, good behavior can also improve when the law so dictates. I think we DO need to vote our morality!!! I DO think we need to work for laws and policies that protect children rather than welcome their murder. Government should be moral and work for good - and we should not welcome it doing otherwise.

It's not either/or but both/and. But I think changing hearts is primary. And it needs to start in the church and with Christians.




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