The Problem with Politics

For the record, I considered doing this inductively.

I don't vote. I'm not lazy about it, though. It's a conscious decision. I had a government teacher in college that used to say, "America is not a democracy; it's an apathocracy!" Nice. But that's not me. I'm not apathetic. I am however an idealist about many things. When it comes to politics - I'm not an idealist. When it comes to my faith, I am.

So, I don't vote. I am not one of those Christian Americans you see covering their yards, their cars, and themselves with presidential paraphernalia. I am, in the homiletical turn of phrase, an American Christian. That is, I'm a Christian who happens to live in America. The America thing is just, well, the America thing.

Already, I can sense some people squirming.

"But America is God's gift to the world! Democracy is a blessing. People have died so that you can have the right to vote!"

It is important to start with these basic presuppositions. God bless America becomes America is God's blessing. Sure, but then again, so is France. Or Canada. Or any country where God's people are not persecuted. No persecution is a blessing, sure. Is America really that much better than any other country? Some people might think, well it's better than China! Is it? One could at least argue, and legitimately so, that persecution has always been good for the church. It's grown the most and the strongest through times of persecution. Maybe China has been better for the church than America? Maybe? Uncomfortable yet? Might America be the new Constantine? Quite simply, America could be a blessing but America can also be a curse. It's most accurate to say that America is America.

Well, what about government. Surely democracy is a blessing? I'd say that it's probably about the same as our nation. Democracy can be, but then, I imagine there are good things about living under a monarchy. I do think it is better than living in a communist country, or in a country ruled by a tyrant, etc. But I'd say anyone who has tried and even just wanted to see something happen through government know the frustrations of democracy. Democracy
can be a blessing, but I'm not willing to say that it is God's government. We'll just leave it at that.

These two major presuppositions are the foundation for much of the politics that I hear supported by those in Christian circles. Quite frankly, I'm not coming to the table with the same presuppositions. America is not God's country and democracy is not God's government.

How do I know this? I know this because there are Christians in China. I know this because there were Christians in Soviet Russia. Christianity has never needed or required the support of any country or any government. Christianity exists in spite of it. It is theologically myopic, not politically, to assume that other countries need democracy. It is theologically myopic to get so caught up in the issues that weigh down our country in such a way that we neglect or forget God's agenda for our own. It lacks a certain global perspective.

So, I don't vote. I don't vote because I don't think that God intended to give His creation a country or a government. I think God intended to give His creation a church. I don't think He cares about politics as much, or at least not in the same way as many of us.

More to come...