Christianity and Politics: A Savior on Capitol Hill?!

It is so easy to get caught up in all of the hype and spin that surrounds election time.  It can be an enticing thing to buy into the people and the promises that are being placed out before us.  Each trying to sell themselves as agents of "hope" and "change".  These claims at time become somewhat Messianic!  But as I said in a previous blog, Jesus Christ is not running for office in 2008.  Does this mean that Christians should have no care or have nothing to do with politics?  Not at all!  We definitely should.  But as Christians, our view of government should be shaped by something other than a popularity contest or personal political agendas.  It should be shaped by Christ through the Word of God (Matthew 22:15-21, John 18:33-37, Romans 13:1-7, 1 Peter 2:13-17).

In this segment from Issues, etc., Dr. Uwe Simeon-Netto lays out a great framework by which we Christians should govern and discern our political viewpoints. Enjoy!

"A Savior on Capitol Hill" - Derek Webb

*My name is Shon White, and I approve this message.  But more importantly, Jesus Christ does...

Soli Deo Gloria,

Shon

Jesus: Too Scary for Halloween?!

This is sad and hilarious at the same time...

I'm pretty sure that this kid never thought that he would end up winning the scariest outfit award by dressing up like Jesus Christ.  After all, on Halloween you have people dressed up as superheroes, monsters, killers, even demons; but Jesus had to go.  Why? Because he was there.  It's not even as though the kid was trying to make some sort of evangelical/religious statement (this is apparent from the description of the religious value in his home- talk about polar opposites!).  To him it was just a costume.  But to the watching world, it was a symbol.  It smacks of the same controversy that was brought on by Mel Gibson's Passion of the Christ, which was deemed to be 'too violent' by critics.  Did I forget mention that Saw V opened in the theatres last weekend...?  The outfit was deemed to be offensive because it was Jesus. That's all.  Nothing more.  Nothing Less.  The thing that makes this story hilarious is that same thing that makes it sad:  The fact that it's true!  But in the words of singer/songwriter Bob Dylan, "You don't have to be a weather man to know which way the wind blows." 

So what's the message that the discerning Christian takes away from a news story like this?  The more that one looks like Jesus (apparently physically or spiritually), the more offensive you are to the world (Matthew 5:11-12, Ephesians 2:2, 1 John 5:19-20).  And to the world, know that there is a day coming when getting rid of Jesus won't be as simple as sending him home for a "dress code violation" (Revelation 19:11-16).

Soli Deo Gloria,

Shon