How much involvment should Christians have in politics?
I'm thinking right now about the Chechnya situation. I personally feel that the Kremlin is refusing to give Chechnya up because of the oil in that region. The war is horrible for the Russian people and it makes life unsafe for people in the cities. Everyone is in danger of the terrorist attacks. If the country was given up then the terrorist attacks would stop ... for a little while. It would clue the terrorists into the fact that terrorism is effective. But, some compromise must be possible. Also, the Kremlin hasn't been very honest. I'm in the group of outsiders who think that Anna Politaskaya was murdered by the Kremlin for her views on the Chechnyan war.
So, as a Christian how do I respond? Do I keep quite on the issue and focus instead on saving souls? Do I present a more wholistic view of Christianity by fighting for peace and equal rights? Do I support the safety and comfort of the upper class (the group I want to work with) by supporting massive military efforts? It's a lot easier when it comes to American politics because any church worth it's salt tells you how to vote.(sarcasm) It's a lot more complicated when there aren't other Christians arguing the finer points.
The Chechnyan people want indpendence, the russian government wants the natural resources and the right to say that they have defeated terrorism, and the russian people want safety and security. Where would Christ stand on such an issue?
Would I still be presenting the Gospel if my political stance goes against a people group's right to self governance in favor of a corrupt government ruling for a foreign people? I believe that Jesus Christ brings freedom - and I think that the Chechnyan people deserve freedom. But, am I willing to be murdered for that?
I read some poems written by my great-great-grandmother's cousin, John Greenlief Whittier, this afternoon. One of them was about a woman who walked into a southern church in sack-cloth and ashes because it supported slavery. She was beaten with a whip in a public parade for her beliefs. It's great to stand up and say that you are willing to die for Christ, but what about the things that Christ would support that aren't very popular.
Slave owners had scripture to back up their right to own slaves. Would I have been able to go against scripture and stand against slavery? People who are opposed to gay marriage have a strong scriptural backing. I think that they twist the scripture, that wether it is a sin or not those sinners are still people - loved by God and legally they should be allowed to marry. Am I willing to die for that? Am I willing to fly against 2000 years of scripture and history to make a stand for what I think Christ would support? Would I have the courage of that woman in sack cloth and ashes with nothing but an unpopular cause and the knowledge that scripture is never intended as hate speech to hold onto - would I have the courage to do the things she did?
Or will I continue to wonder how much involvment Christians should have in politics?
I'm thinking right now about the Chechnya situation. I personally feel that the Kremlin is refusing to give Chechnya up because of the oil in that region. The war is horrible for the Russian people and it makes life unsafe for people in the cities. Everyone is in danger of the terrorist attacks. If the country was given up then the terrorist attacks would stop ... for a little while. It would clue the terrorists into the fact that terrorism is effective. But, some compromise must be possible. Also, the Kremlin hasn't been very honest. I'm in the group of outsiders who think that Anna Politaskaya was murdered by the Kremlin for her views on the Chechnyan war.
So, as a Christian how do I respond? Do I keep quite on the issue and focus instead on saving souls? Do I present a more wholistic view of Christianity by fighting for peace and equal rights? Do I support the safety and comfort of the upper class (the group I want to work with) by supporting massive military efforts? It's a lot easier when it comes to American politics because any church worth it's salt tells you how to vote.(sarcasm) It's a lot more complicated when there aren't other Christians arguing the finer points.
The Chechnyan people want indpendence, the russian government wants the natural resources and the right to say that they have defeated terrorism, and the russian people want safety and security. Where would Christ stand on such an issue?
Would I still be presenting the Gospel if my political stance goes against a people group's right to self governance in favor of a corrupt government ruling for a foreign people? I believe that Jesus Christ brings freedom - and I think that the Chechnyan people deserve freedom. But, am I willing to be murdered for that?
I read some poems written by my great-great-grandmother's cousin, John Greenlief Whittier, this afternoon. One of them was about a woman who walked into a southern church in sack-cloth and ashes because it supported slavery. She was beaten with a whip in a public parade for her beliefs. It's great to stand up and say that you are willing to die for Christ, but what about the things that Christ would support that aren't very popular.
Slave owners had scripture to back up their right to own slaves. Would I have been able to go against scripture and stand against slavery? People who are opposed to gay marriage have a strong scriptural backing. I think that they twist the scripture, that wether it is a sin or not those sinners are still people - loved by God and legally they should be allowed to marry. Am I willing to die for that? Am I willing to fly against 2000 years of scripture and history to make a stand for what I think Christ would support? Would I have the courage of that woman in sack cloth and ashes with nothing but an unpopular cause and the knowledge that scripture is never intended as hate speech to hold onto - would I have the courage to do the things she did?
Or will I continue to wonder how much involvment Christians should have in politics?
posted by Michael Airgood at 2:49 PM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home