Posted by Chris on Jan 6, 2012 in
Church,
Culture 
Is there any reason to believe that Jesus would want you to vote?
This seems to be the critical question that American Christians have overlooked. The conversation has primarily been based on the belief that Jesus would vote, and he would either vote democratic or republican. But is this based in theology or patriotic tradition?
Jesus taught that his followers should subvert the military of their government by going above and beyond when the military enforced labor on them. His primary sparring partners were Pharisees, Sadducees and the Sanhedrin whose offices were often both religious and political. He referred to King Herod as a fox. He questioned the authority of Pilate, and thereby, the Roman government.
For the next ten month the news, air waves, and social media feeds are going to be focused on the Presidential election. Both sides will do everything they can to garner the affection of segments of the population, especially those with religious affiliation. Conversations will take place at work, at bars, coffee shops and on-line. People will expect you to pick a side.
The most important thing Christians can do this election year is decide what they trust in: is it the powers of government? Business? Media? Military? Themselves? Or is it in the kingdom of God?
And if the power is in the kingdom of God, how does that effect how we will live for the next 10 months?
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Tags: 2012, anabaptist, politics
Posted by Chris on Aug 8, 2011 in
Culture,
God 
When Rick Perry asked Texans to join him in prayer and fasting he added the words “like Jesus did.” The implication is “if Jesus were in our situation he would and pray and fast.”
Perhaps that is true. Jesus was a Jew and prayer and fasting was a historically accurate response to calamity.
The problem is that Perry claimed that his rally was to pray and fast like Jesus did.
So how did Jesus pray and fast? Well he doesn’t have much to say about it, except in Matthew:
“When you fast, do not look somber as the hypocrites do, for they disfigure their faces to show others they are fasting. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, so that it will not be obvious to others that you are fasting, but only to your Father, who is unseen; and your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.”
So, if Jesus didn’t want people to show off their religiousness by fasting, would he record a video about fasting and put it on Vimeo for the world to see?
Would Jesus rent out an arena for thousands to join in a fasting event?
What do you think Jesus would say to Rick Perry about this event?
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Tags: fasting, Jesus, politics, prayer, Rick Perry
Posted by Chris on Jul 26, 2009 in
Church,
Culture,
God In 1909 the U.S. began to involve themselves in the affairs of the Nicaraguan government. It started with diagreements over a canal that would have great dividends for the US. Since then the U.S. has propped up dictators, meddled in trade and backed guerillas in this country of about 6 million.
I don’t understand enough to make a statement as to whether or not our government’s actions have turned the jewel of Central America into the second poorest nation in the hemisphere. Plenty of blame can be assigned to Daniel Ortega and the other corrupt leaders who have siphoned foreign aid into their own pockets for decades.
Mission work in Nicaragua does not neccessarily mean “sharing the gospel” — at least not in the traditional evangelical “love-Jesus-so-you-can-go-to-heaven-when-you-die” sense. The church is actually growing like wildfire throughout Latin America. In a place where the average salary is 50 dollars a month and there seems to be no incentive to go to school after fourth grade, the church’s role is to prove that there is life before death.
The missionaries provide a YMCA analog that gives 100+ kids a safe place to spend their afternoons. I’ve seen the alternatives and they are quite dangerous. This is one way the church can aid in the development of Nicaragua.
Maybe we American Christians owe it to them.
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Tags: foreign policy, global journey, nicaragua, politics
