Politics & Religion

…two of the three subjects that we have been told polite people don’t discuss at parties (the third is either money or sex depending on who you ask.) There are a myriad of reasons why we were taught to avoid such discussions in social settings. I have always had a healthy skepticism about such rules.

So, as we begin this journey, rather than set any rules, I will set forth a few hopes and expectations.

First, for the purpose of the discussion as we lead up to the election, when I talk about religion, I will primarily be addressing faith from the Judeo-Christian perspective. It is the perspective with which I am most familiar and about which I can speak most credibly. This is not to minimize nor marginalize those of other faiths or no faith (in fact, we will spend time analyzing the First Amendment to the United States Constitution which inevitably leads to discussions about “freedom to and freedom from.” Spoiler alert, the words “Separation of Church and State” are NOT found in the US Constitution!)

I suspect that one of the primary reason folks in the past have avoided such discussions is because some people have a very difficult time doing so and remaining civil. This behavior has further deteriorated in the age of social media. My hope is that we can model what it looks like to disagree with dignity, respect and grace. For me, this does not mean discussions will not be intense or passionate. What it does mean is that we will seek to avoid personal attacks on each other or those who are being discussed (including political figures).

Jesus teaches us to lead with love. That being said, Jesus was not timid. He regularly challenged and disrupted the status quo!

For me, this is first and foremost a spiritual journey. This is about reminding myself that my faith in Christ is what should guide my behavior and my decisions. My faith is in Christ – not in any political system, party or candidate. Regardless of the outcome of any election at any level, God will still have very specific expectations for me. I will still be called to love my neighbor. I will still be called to care for those in need. I will still be called to be a good steward of all of God’s resources.

May the words of our mouths and the meditations of our hearts be pleasing and acceptable to you, O Lord, our rock and our redeemer. Psalm 19:14