Politics and the Faithful

Who doesn't like a challenge?

A worldly wise and insightful friend asked for my thoughts on Christians and politics. Being both a struggling believer and registered to vote, I clearly have all the makings of a sought after pundit. The request leaves me flushed, suffering vapors and the fresh blush of unsolicited flattery,  but since I am the world's foremost authority on my own opinion, I consider myself eminently qualified and will prepare the necessary amount of 8x10 glossies.

The tossed gauntlet is acknowledged.

People seem fascinated by politics and political theater. Whole networks are dedicated to it as are publishing empires, periodicals, newspaper sections, careers, university departments, think tanks and web sites. I confess I don't get it anymore than I get channels dedicated to food preparation or shopping. With a nod to full disclosure, C-Span is lumped in with QVC because neither are of great personal interest to me. That surely colors my feeble opinions, but you asked for it Tom, so here goes.

Lots of emotional energies surround political views. That's why the old maxim forbidding its discussion in polite society. Too raw, too visceral, too personal, potentially too emotional. Folks are politically passionate as a result of their heavy investment in it - emotional and financial.  Add to that the tremendous talent investment of journalists and analysts who make the mere observation of political life a career choice. Factor in the otherworldly cash investments in campaigns, lobbying, messaging, branding and legislating along with the multi-layered personal and family investments made by those who get in the arena of what some label a bloodsport. Tally it up and you are talking a really big deal. People are attracted to politics and invest so heavily in it because it's the biggest thing they know.

But it's not the biggest Thing there is.

Notice the capital "T"? That's a clumsy pivot toward Deity. Things Eternal, Himself, God Stuff. Maybe you don't believe in God. That is and should always remain your choice, but just remember that unbelief isn't an unbargained for occurrence like a social disease or dry mouth that unexpectedly comes upon you. Unbelief is a choice, just like its crazy other-side-of-the-metaphysical coin, fraternal twin named belief is a choice. Okay by me if you choose to opt out of faith, just observe the basics and don't covet or steal my stuff or stab people I like.

The assignment though is Christians and politics and that's why I bring up God as the biggest thing. Christians believe that. For what it's worth, my take is that too many believers get too immersed in politics for the same reason non-believers do: because it's the biggest thing they know.

In the unbelievers' understanding of reality, choices are all your own and while some choices may potentially result in bad consequences, not even terrible results are really permanent.  All things come to an end. The unbeliever is free to make doll collecting, soap operas, sports, clock repair, bird watching, hopscotch,  even politics the biggest thing there is. That option is not open to the believer.  The Christian signs on to the proposition that only One is worthy of all that heart, soul, mind or strength can offer.

To this mildly interested by-stander, when Christians engage in politics with a do-or-die gusto, it seems like an inconsistency. Amounts of money, emotional energies and time are always measures of first allegiances for anyone and Christians too immersed in politics run the same risk that comes with captivation to any and every other lesser pursuit.  Excessive dependence on the political process betrays the tacit admission also betrayed by excessive dependence on money or possessions: In spite of what I say, God is not the biggest thing there is. No sweat to the unbeliever, but for the bifurcated believer the Revelator's charge of  "having left your first love" might just stick. Forever. No small failing in the household of faith.

Money, energy and time devoted to politics may be a good gauge of proper treasure and heart alignment, but the acid test is surely a Christian's behavior - inside and out -  when faced with political opposition. Hit the calculator multiplication key when opposition is determined, sustained or perceived as underhanded. It goes exponential when there's a political defeat. Still got that peace that passes understanding after November, brother?


The dollars, rhetoric, volume, emotional intensity, and last drop of blood, take no prisoners mentality is to be expected of those who, sans God, really believe it is the biggest game in town. It's a wholly inappropriate approach for those who claim to be "looking for a city whose builder and maker is God."

Are the issues floating in today's political ether substantial, important and worthy of debate? Some are. Some really are big deals. Do Christians have the right to be involved in political discourse and decision making? As much as anybody else and all should play by the same rules of inclusion. However, for the Christian and for the Christian view of what's it all about Alfie, not even collectively do the big issues of politics approach the ultimate Big Deal.

That's about as high toned as I get, but on a personal, practical level, current political machinations get what a Nigerian friend describes as a "corner-of-the-eye" glance from me because of what's offered up. It's usually not anything fresh. Originality and boldness - requisites for effective problem solving - seem oddly yet typically lacking in much that passes for political discourse. After many meetings,  idea sessions, discussions, city and county council meetings, task force participation, and encounters with elected representatives on various levels, my conclusion is that most political solutions are predictably drawn from the same stagnant pool of ideas.

For that reason, it's tough for me to maintain a high and sustained level of genuine, activist interest in current political discourse. You can do what you want, but I'll probably sit this one out. Next one too. And the one after that.

I'm not an analyst nor the son of an analyst, and maybe my borderline apathy informs my placing the giant world of politics in a subordinate role. I'm just stuck on the notion that even such a formidable behemoth as politics should take a back seat to what I assume most Christians would consider bigger and more enduring things. While I'm willing to man this lonely outpost, the Apostle may have my back on this one: "for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things that are not seen are eternal."