For me, my political views swung from indifference to one extreme and then to another until balancing out toward the middle. After watching and listening to talking heads on both sides I realized that political discourse is all but eroded. People don't really have real debates anymore. The issues facing our country, and most of our politics have been so polarized that most people can no longer voice an opinion without collapsing into name calling.Anyhow, I have friends both on the Right and on the Left who post political comments from time to time. I often times push back against both. Sometimes I will post things on my own wall as well. The issue that has been coming to my heart lately though is if such polarized conversation is edifying to God? It seems like more and more people are getting emotional about politics, so much so a lot of people are even deriving part of their identity from what they believe politically.
I want to be a person of peace to my friends, family, and to strangers. I think when we post things through the Internet and social media we often times are making pretty bold statements and not really inviting a conversation. I think we can all agree that it's really easy to be misunderstood through electronic communication no matter what the subject is . My concern is that when I make political statements online, reply to political posts, put stuff on my own wall, someone might really miss what my heart is on the matter.As a Christian I want to be more concerned about whether or not people know me as a person who demonstrates a supernatural amount of love and grace. Jesus said they would know us by how we love, not by how right we are on political matters.
Please don't take away from this that politics are bad or that we should not participate in our government. Discourse is great, but I would rather not create a barrier through political face book posts. I feel that when we put political bumper stickers on our cars, when we put signs on our yards, and bold articles or statements on our sites we are creating a dividing line between us and those on the other side of our opinions.
If you can't tell by now I have a huge man crush on Jon Acuff. So here is how he puts the issue I'm talking about. "It's impossible for me to love my neighbor when my need to be right, overwhelms my desire to be righteous"
I will still enjoy a true discussion that is respectful when it comes to politics, but I feel like social media is not the place for that. (For me.) What do you think?
Politics (Websters)
ReplyDeletea : the art or science of government.
b : the art or science concerned with guiding or influencing governmental policy.
c : the art or science concerned with winning and holding control over a government.
For me, it comes down to which of the above definitions we're referring to. If we're talking about mankind's ability to govern itself via control & coercion - I'm not interested. But I LOVE conversing about how God's Kingdom can break into a family, neighborhood, city, state, or nation via various leadership paradigms and political structures, bringing "shalom."
Perhaps politics, like religion, is another word worth redeeming. : )
I like the enitre concept of leaving political commentary to personal conversations.... As you mentioned Eric, Electronic communication has no way to convey a tone. Often, depending less on the content of the words and more on the interpretive mindset of the reader, the meaning is distanced drasticly from the original intention.
ReplyDeleteMy Pastor and our mens group at my church have had discussions in the past about interpreting the 8th Commandment. Bear no false witness. I spent time examining the simplest definitions of those words.... to apply it to me personaly, it took the following form.
Carry with you no assumptions.
That for me to actively carryout the 8th commandment means that everytime I encounter someone with a challenging opinon, that I must not assume they are motivated by hate,or anger, or lust, or envy, or greed, or even insecurities. but that I must see them in the same light that I would like to be seen in. As a person seeking anwsers in a mass of confusion. Thousands of people have thousands of different needs. I have a sick mother so figuring out health care laws matter to me. An 18 yr old boy who has been orphaned since he was 10 will never understand my perspective on dealing with a dieing mother at the age of 26. and I will never understand his of growing up with no parents at all. So to assume he his "Ignorant" or "intolerant" or "short sighted" (some of the popular "name calling") because he doesn't place the healthcare issue as high on his list as I may, doesn't mean he is wrong. He must be seen by me as a human first.... Passions of individuals flow from sources unseen. And in the electronic forum, those passions are nearly incomprehesible.
Davids sings in psalms a phrase.... Fearfully and wonderfully made...(my interpretaion) God... for a moment... looked at me when I was formed, made with care and expertise unfathomable by me, and being held in the hands of my maker, he saw a terrific and perfect soul. with hope and joy and peace bursting from me. and he made me wonderful. and now he fears for what happens to me. Fears for my mind body and soul. just as he feared for Jesus and the pain that befell him. and just as he fears for the pain that will befall any of his creations... which from Christian dogma means everyone. If I believe that God created me as an individual with talents and gifts and emotions unique to me... I must believe that he gave the bullys on the playground and the alcoholic fathers and tireless teachers and the loyal friends and the abusive mothers all the same consideration.
I believe whole-heartedly that we can not affect change in another person over a monitor. we need to engage them personally and not shy away from our differences. Learn alittle bit about where their passions flow from and walk with them as we both find our way. and we find that neither of us is the same after
James told me during our first conversation...
Living in community is messy.
stuff comes up between people. Differing ideas and agendas create rifts between people who otherwise may be friends. We often run away and hide from those confrontations and OUR community begins to fall apart. And those friendships are lost. it seems that through peaceful confrontation we can perserve both what is good for us as individuals and that which is good for the society as a whole.
No matter what side of the political or religious spectrum we may fall on... we need to stay close enough to the middle to see the other side for what they are... people looking for meaning.
Giving them the consideration that righteousness can be found in thier actions and thoughts as well inspite of a difference in motivation.
James, I hope you did not take what I said to mean I am against politics or the discussion of them. I agree with you when it comes to discussion and looking at how we can all experience God's in-breaking kingdom now. Thanks again for contribution to the conversation!
ReplyDeleteKeven, well said bro! I am amazed and encouraged by the insight you shared! What you wrote really drives deeper into the concept I was speaking of, it almost makes my argument look superficial in comparison. Thank you for your comment and even more for contributing in a meaningful way. Also, thanks for joining the conversation!
ReplyDeleteEric - Didn't read your post as anti-politics at all. I think definition of terms can be helpful, especially on this kind of topic. In my experience, the term "politics" has often had a very negative connotation - like the word "religion." I was just adding this to the conversation. Loved the post.
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed Keven's insights, as well!
Kevin! Sorry for misspelling your name, bro!
ReplyDelete