Though the media/headline/political commentary is focused intensely on the debt crisis/debt limit crisis in this country, followers of Christian faith know the challenges run deeper. The issues underneath, behind and above the debt/debt ceiling decisions are deeply spiritual and unaddressed (as far as I can tell) by most of the conversation.
These prime mover issues don't have an August 2 deadline. They are deeper than the Congress can solve because of their spiritual component. In the turmoil of political debate, the door is open for Christians to witness to fundamental teachings of biblical faith. This is our opportunity to love God and our country enough to bear witness to the light of God for the present age--and to apply Christian principles regardless of political affiliation.
At the heart of the debt issue facing our nation are fundamental issues of human greed, the seductive, spiritually treacherous temptations of weath and how we care for the poor and vulnerable. Capitalism adulates wealth and the acquisition of wealth. Some tout the importance of the unfettered, unregulated freedom to make as much money as possible. That's where the crossroads of capitalism and Christianity meet.
A baseline of Christian understanding of human nature is the importance of the accountability of all people and, quite specifically the particular, spiritual temptations of those who are wealthy and powerful. The Judeo-Christian heritage is saturated with teaching about the imperative of those who have resources to care for those less fortunate. When governance presses for unfettered pursuit of wealth and minimizes responsibility to the poor, both of those directions are counter to the consistent teaching of Scripture. These concerns of Scripture applies to Christians no matter what their political affiliation.
There are other Christian principles that also apply to what we are seeing unfold in our nation's political discourse. The first is a the steadfast, resolute, unwavering commitment of Christians to tell the truth. That cannot get lost no matter what the issue. Christians cannot be consistent with Christian faith and trade in misrepresentations, gossip, slander or outright lies. Again, political affiliation does not matter. All stand under God's call to truthfulness in all things.
The other primary theme of Christian teaching that is telling is the way Christians treat one another: loving others the way Christ loved us and treating others the way we want to be treated. The clear teaching of Scripture is that God created the world and Christ died for the sins of the whole world. We are all brothers and sisters. Does anyone think that changes for those who are of a different political party than your preference? Even when people, by their actions become enemies, the consistent teaching/example of Christ is that we should love our enemies. Christians should call all politicians and all leaders to these standards...and we should all live them in our political and personal conversations.
The spiritual sickness of human nature plays out in so many ways. I am praying -- not only that our leaders will find a solution to the debt/debt limit problem in our country. I am praying that Christians everywhere will not let the heat of political rhetoric obscure the underlying issues which remind us we are all in need of God's guidance, redemption and healing grace. Let's keep the spiritual issues before us no matter what legislation passes.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment