The most important thing... FAITH?

I met someone today who says to me, "I read your blog...". My response to readers in real life is always awkward... Honestly, if you read my stuff, don't tell me. I'm better off not knowing. I mumbled something stupid in response... Anyway, he went on to say "I try to keep up on all the Christ Fellowship Blogs." My response once again, awkward, "oh, I'm not a Christ Fellowship Blog."

CF plays a very important - and increasing - role in my life. But please, understand that while I may spout crazy nonsense about how Apple will take over the world, or how "infrastructure" is the new buzz word... I never claim to have the answers about God. I try (and occasionally succeed) in helping to create an avenue to "Connect people to God." That doesn't mean that I'm an expert in GOD. I ask a lot of questions. My prayer life has become a Q&A session with God.

This post is about a question I do not know the answer to.

Republican President John McCain was recently quoted talking about his faith. Honestly, I have no idea as to the ethics or morals of McCain. It's not important to this blog. I do, however, want to look at two of his statements...

1) "The most important thing is that I am a Christian."

2) "It [My faith] plays a role in my life. By the way, I'm not Episcopalian. I'm Baptist. Do I advertise my faith? Do I talk about it all the time? No."

Let me walk you through my train of thought.

- McCain doesn't buy into the denominationalism that is literally tearing the body of Christ apart! Awesome. Really, I believe this is a good thing. Good for you, McCain. Way to make your faith real.

- McCain says being a Christian is the most important thing in his life, but he doesn't advertise it. Wait, I'm not sure I'm okay with that. The most important thing in your life, but you don't tell people? I'll be honest. In the grand scheme of things, Apple is like #7 in my priority list. But if you know me, you know I bleed AppleJuice. (Sorry for the pun). How can one be a Christian and not have the grace of God radiating through their skin to the point where they ache to tell others about the change that Christ has brought into their lives. McCain is talking political crap here. Move on.

- Wait. So McCain is not an evangelical beast... so he's not witnessing to people like crazy and hasn't started a church yet... He's in politics, and therefore in the business of not offending people. And we know that our faith is offensive to people... maybe he's missional in sharing his faith. Should it be a requisite that all Presidents need to recite the Romans Road by memory? I don't think so...

- Honestly, I struggle with this. As a Christian, do I want to vote for a President that is a Christian just because he's a Christian. My gut says yes, but then I read Romans 13, where Paul implies that God has established all governing authorities. Wow, even the democrats and liberals? Sure. Maybe He can use the left-wing to some extent... Wait, all governing bodies? Even Hussein? Stalin? Hitler?

All of a sudden I don't like where my questions take me. All this because McCain doesn't advertise his faith. Stupid McCain...

What do you think. My readers are predominately Chrisitans, although I've heard from some spiritual skeptics along the way... How important is Faith in context of leadership, especially in Government?

Comments

[Daniel]

I think any Christian raised in the evangelical world struggles with those questions. I also think they're the wrong things to be struggling with.

Being passionate for something doesn't mean that you generally have a license to be offensive or that if somehow people don't find you offensive then you're not doing your job. It just means that in certain situations people are not going to see eye to eye with you and it will create friction.

Seems fairly obvious though. I'm an Apple addict. I'll talk Apple to anyone who is interested in it. But I don't keep "apple cue cards" on me to go off of. I also don't talk about Apple at family gatherings (where half of them haven't figured out email) or at work in the IT department (where they are Apple haters). It's not a question of priority or passion.... it's an issue of not intentionally making an ass of myself for no reason.

On the other hand.. when I am in circles where people are engaging in activity I disagree with, and want me to join... I don't. And that creates some serious friction at times. Thus making me an offense.

I think a politician has a job to do. And his job is to please people to some extent, but only when it lines up with what he also believes. ( I know some would argue what politicians believe is up for the highest bidder ;-) ) But you can't fault him for not preaching at people. That's not his job.

And to be honest even if he's really living it out... I doubt you would hear about it much because walking out living like Jesus (in my experience) involves a lot less public display, and lot more change in personal interaction. And even when it does create a line in the sand... I think a Christian should be able to do it with such grace, that it doesn't come across as an attack.

my thoughts, anyway.

[Oscar Roque]

Well Jeff you really did it this time. You have started an engaging and practical discussion on faith and politics. What we should or could do and what we really do. I like yourself have a belief that may be considered a little off center, some have even called me a "radical". I guess in a way thats okay, but I must say that is a "big" title to carry.

You see we live in the world and are surrounded by people of the world, yet we feel in our hearts and minds that we know the truth. So what to do with a political individual who claims to be a man of faith, but is in a very strange position (politician). Do you know I was once told by a pastor that I could not be a "christian" because I am a police officer. That if I were truly a believer I could not be a law enforcement officer. Some peoples kids...

The community had a funeral service on Tuesday for an officer who gave his life in order to protect ours. I never met him, but I worked the scene and tried to help in any way I could, yet I did not go to the funeral. In 23 years of law enforcement I have been to 2 police officers funerals. I guess I'll go to mine cause I have no choice, but I really don't want people to come because they think they have to, I want them to come because they want to. One thing that did make that day a little brighter was the show of geniue care and concern of my church family, who called to make sure I was ok. Thats is where I see who the body really works.

I wonder if that morning when he kissed his wife and children, if he was "right" with God. I wonder if he had an opportunity before those bullets pierced his body, if he had the peace of knowing his Saviour. Thats what I thought about. His faith, not his funeral service.

Faith and politics go hand in hand, just like "peas and carrots".

[Carlos]

The real gangsta thing about this particular blog is that you didn't even know that I am a Political Science student that contemplated getting into politics for a while. I even had some opportunities.Talk about coincidence, or rather, providence.

I think I used your blog as an icebreaker. Honestly, I too felt foolish about my comment about keeping up with the CF blogs, its not even what I do or why I read blogs.

By the way, I think blogging creates community in different spheres. I think even though you are not a CF blog, you are part of its community and I think it helps create a forum for interaction of ideas, thoughts, etc within the body and I think that's very important.So when I put my blog up I'll still let you know when I read yours :-)

I can't wait for the West Kendall campus. That screen is Huge!

[scott fraser]

jeff, i think you should realize, that politicians are designed to tell us what they think we want to hear... thats the nature of the beast(s)

ive found a great book that deals with that very subject actually... in your store...

The Myth of a Christian Nation, i forget the authors name... but its really good

plus, i have a blog now...