Enough Already

Recently I received an e-mail forward written from the prospective of a political and religious conservative in 2012 after four years of an Obama presidency. I found the e-mail to be very troubling, but probably not in the way the author intended. (Apparently this e-mail has been circulated a lot as it received coverage in an AP article.)

What troubles me is when people mingle hatred and fear with religion and politics. That is at least an unhelpful and more likely a very harmful cocktail. I also wonder if the person who penned this fictional, futuristic letter quite realizes that a movement towards the left or at least towards the democratic party is in large part a response to the repeated failures of the current administration?

This letter raises a spectre of lost freedoms that Christians would be enduring. I doubt this. I am more apprehensive of losing my freedoms due to what could become a fearful and tyrannical department of homeland security (which of course was created under the current administration) than I am in losing them under an administration led by a former professor of constitutional law.

But it was not really the particular arguments of this letter that were so upsetting. It was the tone of fear and fatalism. I would also offer an idea to the conversation that God's redemptive movement in the world is not primarily channeled through a particular nation-state (America), political ideology (conservative) or party (Republican) but through the Church.

I simply do not believe the argument that they sky will fall and world will end if a particular politician or party is elected. Somehow we have survived eight years of the Bush administration. I'm pretty sure we would get through at least four years of an Obama administration. The more outlandish attacks I see on Obama coming from the religious right, the more inclined I am to actually vote for him.

But while we are talking about a Christian perspective on politics, I would like to share some more words of wisdom from Dallas Willard.

The revolution of Jesus is in the first place and continuously a revolution of the human heart and spirit. It did not and does not proceed by means of the formation of social institutions and laws, the outer forms of our existence, intending that these would then impose a good order of life upon people who come under their power. Rather, his is a revolution of character, which proceeds by changing people from the inside through ongoing personal relationship to God in Christ and to one another. It is one that changes their ideas, beliefs, feelings, and habits of choice, as well as their bodily tendencies and social relations. It penetrates to the deepest layers of their soul. External, social arrangements may be useful to this end, but they are not the end, nor are they a fundamental part of the means. - Dallas Willard, Renovation of the Heart

CNBC Fatigue

All day long at work the TV is on CNBC. I'm thinking of switching it to a nature show or something today. I mean really, work is bad enough right now. It doesn't help that every time I pick something up at the copier the Dow is down another 200 points. It looks like the Dow Jones is going to fall about 900 points today on "news" of a global recession. Exciting.

I know it hurts to be losing money every day, but seriously people, it's a recession, not the black plague. Get some perspective.

Resolve

Winston Churchill is far and away one of my favorite historical figures, and I am currently reading a lengthy biography of his. I have not yet got to the WWII years, but I was reminded today of something I learned in history class. My professor shared that at the end of his famous "We'll fight them on the beaches" speech that Winston, thinking the microphone had been turned off, quietly muttered "and we'll fight them with beer bottles because that's all we have left."

I love that. I love the inspiring courage and idealism of the speech coupled with the gritty realism of the situation they were in. It's a good reminder on bad days.

"I have, myself, full confidence that if all do their duty, if nothing is neglected, and if the best arrangements are made, as they are being made, we shall prove ourselves once again able to defend our Island home, to ride out the storm of war, and to outlive the menace of tyranny, if necessary for years, if necessary alone.

"At any rate, that is what we are going to try to do. That is the resolve of His Majesty's Government - every man of them. That is the will of Parliament and the nation.

"The British Empire and the French Republic, linked together in their cause and in their need, will defend to the death their native soil, aiding each other like good comrades to the utmost of their strength.

"Even though large tracts of Europe and many old and famous States have fallen or may fall into the grip of the Gestapo and all the odious apparatus of the Nazi rule, we shall not flag or fail.

"We shall go on to the end, we shall fight in France, we shall fight on the seas and the oceans, we shall fight with growing confidence and growing strength in the air, we shall defend our Island, whatever the cost may be, we shall fight on the beaches, we shall fight on the landing grounds, we shall fight in the fields and in the streets, we shall fight in the hills; we shall never surrender, and even if, which I do not for a moment believe, this Island or a large part of it were subjugated and starving, then our Empire beyond the seas, armed and guarded by the British fleet, would carry on the struggle, until, in God's good time, the New World, with all its power and might, steps forth to the rescue and the liberation of the old." - Winston Churchill, June 4, 1940

Palin & Clinton

I'm a little late on this one but thought it was quite funny.



"And I can see Russia from my house."