I'm an aspiring idealist

This was an email response I had sent to someone a few days ago. I realized a lot of these things have been weighing heavily on me the past few years of my life and writing this email finally gave me a chance to make those thoughts more concrete. So here are some of my views regarding the relationship between faith and politics:

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I continue to read and delve into the world of religion and politics. In Old Testament II we are studying how prophets were calling judgements on Israel and Judah for their treatment of the poor (more than any other issue). I have read books by Jim Wallis and Shane Claiborne, prophets in our own day for how religion should relate to politics. Believe me, I have been torn on this issue the past few years of my life. And I must say, I find it harder and harder to separate the worlds of religion and politics.

We are Christians first. This means our values as Christians should shape how we live our lives in this world. We have the unique ability as Christians to not only show how God has impacted our lives through actions of love, but to actively work to promote this love in the world we live in. How in the hell can we see injustice and things that are blatantly against the rule of Christian love and not say/do anything. Obviously there are no concrete answers to these issues, but still we live as Christians in the coming kingdom of God, and thus our actions should always reflect what Christ would have us do.

I am not saying our religion should stand behind a specific candidate, subscribing to all that they stand for. Rather, our politics should stand behind our religious beliefs, which shape every aspect of our lives. George Bush did this, although I would disagree with a lot of his theology. Evangelicals radically stand behind Bush and other candidates for promoting religious pro-life and anti-gay agendas. This is fundamentally wrong. However, supporting a candidate because their policies are most in line with your personal views regarding the truly inclusive love of God is a different issue altogether.

As Christians, if we see children of God being oppressed or subdued by the governing authority, we have every right to make a statement, as it is not only affecting the world we live in, but our religious system of beliefs. The prophets of the Old Testament spoke out in the same way at the oppression going on in their day. Read some Amos.

There are no concrete answers to what our religion says about how we should live in this world, but that doesn't mean we should remain silent. We should be actively discussing these matters.

For example, I believe that war is an extremely unfortunate and inevitable part of life. But instinctively militarily invading a country in order to oust a dictator, no matter how bad he was, and for reasons unclear, is simply not the Christian action to do. Hell, if we were following Christ literally, what ever happened to turning the other cheek? Denying two males the right to visit each other in the hospital or get tax breaks due to their love for each other, based on religious reasons, is simply discrimination. Giving tax breaks to the most wealthy of Americans, continuing to spend millions on the military, and ignoring the plights of poverty and education in our country are frightening examples of what the prophets were speaking out against in their day. How can we be active Christians to stand up and say these things are simply not how Christ calls us to be?

I'll also be honest to say that my faith was losing energy through college. I was sick of this comfort Christianity. Christianity that is socially active is not only completely Biblical, but extremely important for our "faith with action." I have found a REFRESHING new way to energize and use my faith.

I am not calling people to be democrat. I am not calling people to be republican. As a minister, I will call people to search for injustice in the world and learn to speak out against it as a Christian. I fully recognize the importance of NEVER alienating your congregation. And don't worry, a gift of mine is bringing people together (like obama!). I fully believe I can love people and develop relationships with them, despite my beliefs. The ministry should not be about constantly walking around on eggshells that would "close minds to Christianity." You honestly can not please everyone, and I recognize this. But if you are forced to minister to a congregation in fear of being yourself, of having to constantly appease without challenging anyone, then what's the point?! There is a loving approach to this issue and it resides in loving conversation without coersion towards a specific platform.

Yeah so maybe I'm just a crazy idealist now. But hey, wasn't Christ?

I recognize boundaries of being a minister. Boundaries that mean we should not promote any political agenda in order to not aleinate or turn off parishoners. But for now, as I am still a student, I have no shame in encouraging my close friends and family to make any decision I feel is most in line with my religious faith and political activism.