:: In.a.Mirror.Dimly ::

I grew up among conservative Christians, and between the radio and various things I heard from others, I developed a sense that the world is somehow full of dangerous liberals, both religious and political liberals, who wanted to somehow destroy our nation and my religion. That fear was followed by anger and a kind of hostility where I just wanted “those people” to leave us alone.

Life was simple. I knew who the “dangerous” people were. I feared their agenda, and listened to people who acted as watchmen, protecting me, my country, and my faith.

Yesterday I realized that the tables have turned quite a bit in my mind.

Today I think I fear extreme conservative Christianity and politics a lot more. Why do I fear them? Because I believe they’re dangerous, though for a different reason. I have fallen into the same exact trap as before: developing an irrational fear that a whole segment of America is “out to get me.”

I’ve been thinking a lot about who is actually out to get us and whether everyone around us is really all that dangerous.

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UPDATE (4:30 pm): The title of this post may be causing confusion with some readers. This is not a pro-Democrat post. I am not advocating for Christians to rely on the government to solve all of our problems. I’m trying, perhaps unsuccessfully, to stir some discussion about the absurdity of a government that would ask the poor to make sacrifices and not those who are wealthy. I apologize if I misled some readers about my main point.

I used to work in Vermont where a lot of people from New York City retired. They had nice homes and many of them were kind and generous people. However, whether or not they were nice people, I often caught myself behaving differently with people who had more money.

Sometimes this could be chalked up to a haughty air or something about their manner that I couldn’t quite process. However, I think I was naturally inclined to be more respectful if I perceived someone had more cash in his bank account.

It’s really the most ludicrous thing ever.

It also explains, in part, why wealth is such a deceptive force in our lives—promising us security and respect. Such a promise works because it’s true in part, even if it’s based on flawed logic. We naturally want to make people who have money happy.

James rebuked the readers of his epistle for showing more respect to the wealthy than the poor. Those with money represent industry and respectability, the very things we want for ourselves. It’s as if we’ve stopped seeing God in others and only see monetary value and the qualities associated with earning money.

Instead of seeing a fellow bearer of God’s image we see a price tag.

A lot of this starts in our own hearts, but I think this matter of seeing people in terms of dollar amounts is on display in our nation right now. In fact, both political parties are doing it.

As our nation debates how to cut our spending, something that I support in principle, we have immediately looked to the programs that impact the poor among us such as heating assistance.

Just a few months ago we heard that we couldn’t let tax breaks for the wealthiest Americans expire. Today we’re hearing that politicians wouldn’t dare touch Medicare or social security. So we need to let thousands of families go cold for the good of the nation.

This isn’t a partisan issue. Both parties are missing this completely, and it needs to be said: This is immoral.

We haven’t touched the Pentagon’s budget. Nuclear weapons sit comfortably in their silos, warm and well provided for while the poorest among us will go hungry and cold.

How many of us have ever been hungry and unable to do anything about it? How many of us have ever shivered uncontrollably?

So here’s my solution. I want the politicians to cut into my future social security payments. I want the politicians to raise my taxes. Cut away at defense spending and put my safety at risk. Don’t cut funding to the poorest people in America.

I want to lose. The poorest people should not have to take this hit.

If our politicians aren’t brave enough to cut away at our defense spending, tax the wealthy, and cut services to the middle class, then their only solution is to chop away at the poor. That’s unacceptable.

As a follower of Jesus, I don’t really care whether we cut spending, raise taxes, or do a mix of both. However, I must speak up when I see injustice against the poor. It’s easy to cut funding to the poor because we don’t really care what they think of us.

We should not try to win the future by stepping on the backs of the poor. If that’s the plan, then we all lose.

Over the past weekend I had a chance to hear a variety of Christians speak about writing and our call to be ambassadors for Christ. For the most part I was encouraged by the sincerity, kindness, and insight shared among these believers.

However, at certain key points I heard speakers, some who spoke to large crowds, sharing a kind of counterfeit version of the Gospel that almost left me in tears. I’d like to address this matter, but I want to avoid words like “danger” or “threat” that just inject venom and anger into these discussions. I’d rather just say that I heard some sincere followers of Jesus clouding and possibly distorting the Gospel and particularly our motivations for sharing it.

I’ll spend the majority of my time focusing on my understanding of the biblical witness concerning what the Gospel does and why we should share it. I’ll end with a few words of caution about ways Christians have distorted these ideas.

What Does the Gospel Do?

The Gospel reconciles us with God. I think we can all agree on that. As we join others who share the same Spirit and relationship with God, we form the people known as the church. We have all been saved and sustained in the same way.

The Gospel makes us citizens of God’s Kingdom, which is the other worldly and this worldly place where his will is done. When we pray, “Your will be done, your Kingdom come,” we are asking God’s Kingdom to expand on earth as his will is done.

Why Should We Share It?

We share the Gospel because Jesus asked us to do so, because it is the way others can be saved, and because God intensely loves his creation and longs that all would come to know him. We don’t share the Gospel to preserve our churches, to ease our egos, or to give a soul fire insurance. We want others to know the joy and freedom that comes from knowing Jesus today, sharing in his sufferings, and moving toward eternal life with him.

What’s at Stake

In getting back to our problem of a distorted Gospel. I heard several speakers challenge the Christians present to preach the Gospel in order to preserve America’s Christian character and to prevent God’s judgment from falling upon us. One speaker made it clear that Democrats were to blame. Such teachings cloud the real reasons why we should share the Gospel and what it accomplishes.

I used to think that America was a Christian nation, so when I speak of Christians who operate from this assumption, I can identify as a former insider. The trouble is that the Kingdom of God cannot be affiliated with the agenda of any one nation since the Gospel is Good News for “all people” and “all nations” are blessed through Abraham.

In addition, classifying America as Christian at its founding raises serious historical questions since many founders were deists, slave owners, and generally greedy and corrupt. While some may have resembled evangelicals today, crediting good fortune to Providence—a common practice among the founders—did not make someone a Christian.

Christian sociologist Bradley Wright has also found that there is a much higher proportion of Christians in America today than during the Revolution. We could point at some places where Christianity impacted the founding of America, but calling America a Christian or godly nation from the start is a mistake that only white Americans could make. Our African American friends have much to teach us in this regard. America’s history is not a fall from grace spurred on by Democratic politicians. It’s more realistically a mix of high and low points.

Having said that, we should not ignore the possibility of God’s judgment. The Old Testament shows that time and time again God will judge a nation that neglects the poor, allows corruption, attacks its enemies without mercy, and concentrates wealth among the few to the detriment of the many. These are real, bi-partisan problems to consider in America.

Nevertheless, we should seek righteousness and preach the Gospel not as a means to preserve America or to keep America as a Christian nation. That turns the Gospel into a self-serving, political tool that unintentionally brands unbelievers and sometimes Democrats into religious terrorists who are calling down God’s judgment on America and only the true patriots will hold off destruction through their preaching.

In a sense, this kind of thinking turns the objects of God’s desire, those who do not know him, into enemies who are ruining our country and our place as the keepers of our country. Christians are servants who are called to follow Jesus and Jesus alone. Even allegiance to one’s country cannot be allowed to cloud the goals and motivations behind our calling.

I won’t say that such teachers are ruining Christianity or America, but they are distorting their Christian practice with political agendas and suspect history. As I stated in Coffeehouse Theology, an unexamined context can influence our theology and fool us into thinking that we are free from its influence.

Sadly, there are still some evangelicals who are failing to consider how American culture and particularly conservative politics are skewing their understanding of the Gospel and our mission as believers. They can be Christians who happen to be American patriots. That’s a different conversation. Our problems come when they create a Christian patriotism that uses the Gospel as a means of preserving America.

America is not the light on a hill. The light is Jesus shining through his people—a people that is not limited to those found in America.

We’ve seen Christians latch on to enough movie stars, beauty queens, and politicians to realize that we are in the midst of legitimacy crisis. This is rooted in wanting to be viewed as legitimate, powerful, and influential in both our government and in popular culture.

Our situation speaks to not only an identity crisis, but a legitimacy crisis. Are we truly making ourselves and the Gospel we preach more legitimate by leeching on to celebrities?

You can probably guess what my answer is going to be…

When Jesus said that all authority on heaven and earth have been given to him, he was locating the source of influence and power in the world in himself. A crucified Messiah who overcame the world through his death and resurrection leads us down a path that helps us fulfill the Beatitudes today: blessed are the poor, blessed are those who mourn, blessed are the peacemakers, blessed are the meek.

In such a Savior and in such actions are where we find our identity and legitimacy.

The Messiah did not establish his Kingdom by fighting for influence on the top. He did not recruit “role models” to his cause. He initiated a mustard-seed style Kingdom that makes a mockery of our celebrities and politicians.

How can Christians find legitimacy and influence in the world today?

To quote a wise man: Sell everything you have, give the money to the poor, start following Jesus, and claim your treasure in heaven. To be perfectly blunt: we need to lose.

We can’t beat the world at its game because Jesus never intended to play that game. The more I consider what it looks like to follow Jesus, to pick up my own cross, and to die to myself so he can live in me, the more I’m beginning to realize that Jesus peals away all that we value so that we can trust in him more perfectly.

What do we want more than Jesus?

Judging by the way some Christians fawn over supposedly Christian celebrities as their standard bearers and fight for political power and influence, I think we can ID a few things pretty easily. However, bloggers such as myself treasure influence and readership, theologians crave being right, and the list goes on because we all have our idols to identify.

Once we identify those things that we want, disciples of Jesus need to give them up. Stop worrying about them. Stop fighting for them. Lose.

It is only in losing the fading things of this world that we experience not only the intimacy of Christ, but are enabled to speak to our world with true influence and power: the influence and power of Christ. We can’t speak with the authority and power of Christ fighting for influence, recognition, and power at the top. 

Paul reminds us that we are seated with Christ in heavenly places—not earthly places. Let us throw aside all that we crave, all that overshadows Christ so that we can claim our true identity and influence as loving servants of God’s Kingdom who are poor, meek, and peaceful.

Christians, especially evangelicals, should be concerned about Sarah Palin’s book that releases on November 17th. It’s not quite on par with the coming of the apocalypse or government-sponsored death panels, but I think we have real problem on our hands.

It doesn’t have to do with Sarah Palin the author.

I don’t begrudge Sarah Palin writing a best-selling book. Good for her. I hope it pays the college bills for her kids and helps her grandkid. I know I was really excited about the release of my book, and I’m sure Sarah Palin is too.

It doesn’t have to do with Sarah Palin the politician.

Folks who drink up politics will certainly find it an interesting read, and I have no issue with the book as a political work. Does Palin want to lambaste the McCain campaign staff? Go for it. Does she want to raise her profile before running for President in 2012? Huckabee may not be happy about that, but don’t worry about me.

Go for it Sarah. I have no qualms with that. It’s a free country made up of mavericky, real Americans who will love her book. Some don’t think she should run for public office, but I’m not going to debate that because I know as little about politics as she knows about the Sunnis and Shiites.

We should be concerned because Sarah Palin knows her only shot in an election is mobilizing the conservative evangelical base. If we think Christianity has been overly-politicized now, we should shudder at the thought of what Palin can do.

In addition, as Palin stakes her claim as a “Christian” politician, Christianity and evangelicals in particular will continue to be painted as right-wing political affinity groups. Lost in the mix is the Gospel, Jesus, and the Great Commission. Will those on the left, who need to hear the Gospel, believe that Jesus comes with a Palin 2012 bumper sticker?

Read Palin’s book. Campaign for her. Vote for her. That’s fine with me.

But we should be concerned that the effectiveness of the Gospel message will be blunted because it is being associated with the Republican party, and Palin may need to do that all the more to solidify her place. Christians may play right into this by holding her up as a model Christian, a standard bearer for evangelicals.

Let’s remember that some could hold up President Obama up as an ideal Christian as well. For those on the right, such a notion should help communicate the polarizing effect of upholding Palin as an evangelical leader.

A Suggested Way Forward

Whatever we think of Palin, Obama, and their Christian beliefs, let’s resolve to carefully select spokesmen and spokeswomen who aren’t politically polarizing and who are best known for their faithfulness to Jesus, the Messiah and Prince of Peace. We could pick those who have passed from this world or we could pick those still among us.

We could talk about Dorothy Day, Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Wendell Berry, C. S. Lewis, Billy Graham, or any other model Christian who has a solid record of preaching the Gospel, serving others, and gracefully representing the cause of Christ. Christians cannot afford to let a politician represent us because politicians have to take sides. For those called to reach the whole world with the Gospel, that is a mistake we cannot afford to make.

Glenn Beck and Jon Stewart have something in common. They thrive on their audiences believing in their goodness and sincerity, coat their beliefs in the palatable pill of humor, and command a loyal following.

They also are heavily merchandised, make a boat load of money from their shows, and rake in a bunch more through publishing deals. We can argue whether one is right, more sincere, or whatever. But we cannot deny that they have these things in common. And the moment anyone doubts they aren’t sincerely looking out for their best interests or their jokes fall flat, they lose.

The money stops.

In a perfect world these funny analysts would have our best interests in mind. Perhaps they do. I can’t judge for sure.

However, where there is a lot of money and power at stake for those on the right or left, the public should be suspicious. Before we lap up the comedy-laced analysis, the pouncing on sound bites, and the vilifying of political opponents, it’s worth asking what these entertainers (and we can’t forget they are entertainers first and foremost) have at stake. Will anyone listen to Glen Beck if he looks for the best with Obama? Will Jon Stewart manage to keep the jokes coming if he softens up on Republicans? And of course Beck is finding out right now that fear sells.

I wrestle to find a place in today’s political debate as a Christian. I’m so sick of either party “reaching out” to evangelicals hoping to swing an election by pandering to this issue or that. While I’m not convinced that government shouldn’t always be the first place we turn to help people, I also don’t believe it should be the last.

I’ll admit I love the idea of a society that allocates funds to ensure all people have basic health care. Medicare works well enough for senior citizens, and I’m proud that our nation provides it. I’d like to see that kind of care extended to the rest of those who need it. We sure need it more than we need two wars or bonuses for bank executives.

However, I don’t want to become a political proxy for a political party and alienate myself from others unnecessarily. Perhaps there’s no other way to do it, but I simply don’t know how exactly to engage this issue without becoming someone’s pawn. I have no interest in waving Beck’s or Stewart’s banners. I’m not sure if waving the banner of the Gospel, of loving my neighbor, or of becoming poor for the sake of others as Christ did means I need to toss my hat in the ring one way or the other.

After seeing the Republicans toy with Christians for so long, and after I have personally failed to think through what exactly I was getting myself into, I’m wary of political fights and the war of words streaming from both sides.

What does it look like to follow Jesus today in a politically divided America? Should the disciples of Jesus fight their way through the system or step away from it? If we do jump in, how far do we go? How do we define failure or victory?

As you can tell, I’m short on answers at this point.

The recent hullabaloo surrounding certain members of Obama’s cabinet reminds me of a blog post I wrote back in September or so. It was at the peak of Sarah Palin’s popularity, and man, was I freaking out.

In a moment of sanity, I realized that, to a certain extent, it doesn’t matter who becomes president. With Obama, we have a brilliant man with an unmatched sense of humor and what appears to be the best of intentions paired up with terrible tools, limited options, and a culture of corruption.

It’s nearly impossible to change a culture shaped by lobbying and bribery. I think Obama will do some good things, but at the end of the day, the priorities of America do not match the agenda driving the Kingdom of God.

The church needs to get our Resident Aliens A-Game on, taking on the challenge of Hauerwas and Willimon to live as if everything begins and ends with Jesus. Our political parties are not the answer. We shouldn’t be surprised when politicians let us down. What should surprise us is when the Spirit-filled people of God surrender God’s Kingdom vision for the shabby visions shaped by political parties.

Back in 1996 and then in 1999 This America Life broadcasted a show about the lack of inspiration and hope in America’s political scene. Here is the intro to the story:

“As we head into another Presidential primary season filled with candidates that few people find very inspiring, This American Life broadcasts stories of political idealists, stories designed to provide some small sense of hope about American politics.”

How times have changed. It’s hard to be certain about anything in politics, but if Barack Obama can keep up the momentum through November and win this election, we may see a new kind of politics and a chance to realize some of the foolish idealism and empty dreams that send us into the voting booths every four years for a Republicrat who will most likely bring us more of the same.

Whether or not you think Obama is the real deal, you have to admit that part of the wave he’s riding is our nation’s frustration with politicians and the attack or be attacked nature of Washington. According to This American Life, we’ve had this coming for a long time–at least since 1996. I think that helps put the election of 2008 into a sharper focus.