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Alan Creech
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aaron klinefelter
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October 26, 2008
> 12:09 PM
politico Don't get too excited, this won't be long. I don't very often at all write about politics except to say here and there that I and my informed conscience cannot, do not participate. I've talked about some of the reasons why in the past on this blog. It always illicits very interesting responses. These responses, for me, often tend to add very solid blocks to my building of reason for not taking part. You never see - almost never - the kind of emotional rancor tossed around by those on either side of the political divide, in any other Christian arena (wait, maybe theology - there are ways to and not to do that too - be careful). I know, I know, you all have very good, morally sound reasons for all that. And don't get me saying that all debate is bad and rancorous - it is not. It need not be. But what we have generally is not any kind of healthy debate. It's just hatred disguised as... well, not disguised very well as anything. And all hatred need not be full-on, total hatred. A little hatred here, a little hatred there - it all adds up to a much bigger, collective pile of... you know, hatred. And that's not Love > and that's not God > at all > don't even try it. Our American political system is not the only one in the world. Shocker. It doesn't even encompass within its systemic bounds the greatest number of people in the world, not by a long shot. Capitalism is not God's chosen economic vehicle to bring His Kingdom to fullness on the earth - holy crap, I just said that! And neither is the governmental system of a Republic or a Democracy, and no, neither is Communism, Socialism or Totalitarianism. The only system of government I remember having any reliable record of God being involved in directly was Monarchy, and yeah, those Judges and all that. Here's the deal on all those systems: They are imperfect ways to deal with a broken, heard-hearted, sinful and stiff-necked people > US. None of them are ideal. None of them was or is God's ideal plan for mankind. Israel for a time and the Church now are what we have as the closest thing to what God wants for us - and even these things would not have been necessary if we had not fallen into darkness. OK, this is getting too long. I know I'm supposed to be some kind of disobedient, ignorant, uninformed whatever by saying this, but I cannot, with any semblance of a good conscience, step into the political arena, by voting or mostly otherwise. I feel I'm stepping into a battle that is not mine - into a land of deep division and hatred - into taking sides among God's people. I say this of myself and of my conscience. I will not fully universalize these convictions and spread them around to all my friends and to those I don't know who choose to participate in the system. I do not believe it is somehow inherently evil or bad to do this. I just know I can't, and I know I have come to this position in a very informed and educated way. I am not apathetic. If you don't vote, etc. because you just don't care - that's not a good reason for anything - figure yourself out. Study, think, pray, read, inform yourself and be informed. I will pray for the election. I will pray for whomever is elected. I will pay my taxes and obey the law (pretty much, you know, speeding and all that). Mostly, though, I hope I can focus my energy on doing work, some kind of work, for and in the Kingdom of God, in the Church and around the Church (to and with everyone as an ambassador of Christ). That's all for now. And if you're going to comment, you don't have to agree with me (honestly) but please be respectful. Don't preach or assume that I'm stupid - please. Pax vobiscum. Labels: church, personal, politics 0 Comments:| permalink | e-mail me | 
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