We run our website the way we wished the whole internet worked: we provide high quality original content with no ads. We are funded by your direct support for ReKnew and our vision. Please consider supporting this project.

4501260114_4dd4c648f5_z

Christians Should…

The American Jesus blog recently posted a series of reflections from Christians arguing for different ways of voting including, Barack Obama, Mitt Romney, Jill Stein, as well as an argument for not voting. It’s a little bit disturbing that each post is titled “Why Christians Should…” as this reflects the way we confuse our mission in the world with our politics. But what we appreciate about this is the awareness that thoughtful and faithful Christians can disagree when it comes to politics and have very good reasons for doing so. This is why we refuse to weigh in on any particular political position. What we have in common is so much bigger than the places where we differ, and we need to distinguish between the political realm and the kingdom of this world. In the final wrap-up post, Zack Hunt pulls it all together with some really helpful thoughts.

From the wrap-up:

All that is not to say that as Christians we can’t or shouldn’t have political opinions or that we can’t or shouldn’t voice those opinions vigorously. There is great virtue in many of the political causes we champion. I would even go a step further and argue that it is our faith which, in many cases, is the source of those causes we are so passionate about. However, no matter how noble our cause may be, as Christians we are never excused from being humble or acting with civility towards those we disagree with.

Let’s all stay humble in this season and remember where our ultimate allegiance lies.

Image by Chris barker. Sourced via Flickr.

Category:
Tags:

Related Reading

Is Telling Christians to Avoid Politics Like Telling Them To Avoid Hospitals?

In this episode Greg clarifies how politics can be dangerous and why some people might want to avoid it. http://traffic.libsyn.com/askgregboyd/Episode_0045.mp3

Greg on Politics

I recently agreed to a written interview with a delightful Christian student of politics. Given the nature of her questions, I’m not sure my responses were quite what she expected. I thought some of you might find it interesting, if not a little amusing (or maybe a little aggravating) even though this last round of…

Kingdom Reconciliation is Not About Politics (But it is Political)

In the broader culture, the social and political discussions about racial reconciliation are usually focused on people’s rights and privileges as a means of making the world a fairer place. The criteria such efforts at reconciliation appeal to are common decency, fairness and reason. The enterprise is certainly necessary, and all decent, fair minded, rational…

Lighten Up: Who Does Jesus Support in This Election?

The Politics of Demonization

Jonathan Martin posted a blog this week that we wanted to share called the politics of demonization (demonic talk on immigration, & other things). Have you noticed the hateful ways that we characterize the “other” in public discourse? Jonathan suspects (and we agree) that there’s a powerful force driving this tendency in all of us. As he puts it…

Don’t Wilberforce’s achievements refute your stance on the separation of faith and politics?

Question: William Wilberforce was a Christian whose passionate involvement in politics almost single-handedly brought an end to the slave trade in 19th century England. Don’t his achievements show the importance of Christians being involved in politics, thus refuting your contention that Christian’s should keep their faith and values separate from politics? Answer: First, while I…