I’ve gotten some feedback from my Chaplain’s Minute about the inauguration. I figured I’d write out more of my thoughts. This comes from an email I sent a listener who responded to me. I don’t suspect that my feelings will be completely accepted and agreed upon – however, I believe this issue is deeply important.
Christianity MUST think about their relation to government. I deeply believe that we have become innefective at communicating the gospel because we’ve forgotten the One Big Thing.
Every person and organization has the ONE BIG THING. The One over-riding thing that is super important that all other things take secondary position to.
You’re one thing may be a clean house; having friends; being organized; being spontaenous…. Your life lives out throught that paradigm.
What is the One Thing for God?
Very simply put – it’s lost people. The heart of God is passionate about YOU! His ONE thing is seeing humanity saved for eternity.
If I were an unbeliever looking in at Christians, I’d think that the One Thing for them was one of the following: The Republican Party; Being against Abortion; Being Against Homosexual Marriage – and for a few Christians right now – hating Obama.
What does this mean? It means that in our concern to protect our culture and way of life we’ve gone into a cultural war. And once we’re in a cultural war, we can no longer connect or communicate – we are simply fighting. And we’re NOT fighting for the ONE THING that is important to God.
It has been said that my spot made the impression that we are now to support and pray for him. And that is very true. The question may be, what does it mean to support Obama? Does it mean that I agree with everything he stands for? Absolutely not – I don’t agree with everything he’s said and has done. However, I should still stand behind the man, and be an encourager, not a distractor. Put it through this filter – would what I have say about his politics open the door for me to share my faith with him, or distract from it? Would Obama be more inclined to dialoge with me about faith or less likely? Because the BIG THING is the BIG THING no matter the person’s position – president or pauper.
The other part of this conversation that I differ with many is that I don’t see this world as our home; nor do I see this nation or government as the bastian of morality or the hope of the world.
This nation and culture are not the answer, nor are they our future. As that old song says, “This world is not my home, I’m just a passing through….” So, I should not be amazed when things happen in this government that I don’t agree with. I should not be THAT worried about making it home now – it’s just a temporary place.
I’d love to hear your thoughts… Join in the conversation below!