Faithful Christians and the state of the union...
Here are two pieces that wonderfully illustrate the blessings God pours out on this evil world through Christians who, from love for God and man, work for justice in civil society. The first is a short op-ed piece by Kathleen Parker that ran in today's Baltimore Sun. The second is this letter to the editor written by Chuck Colson that appeared in today's New York Times:
To the Editor:David Kuo cites the idea that evangelical Christians take a two-year fast from politics ("Putting Faith Before Politics," Op-Ed, Nov. 16).
Hmmm. What would have happened if Christians over the last two years had taken a leave of absence from politics? Here's what would not have happened:
The Bush administration would not have taken on the issue of slavery in Sudan, AIDS in Africa or global sexual trafficking. We wouldn't have seen Congress pass a ban on "partial birth" abortions or take on prison rape and prisoner rehabilitation, or highlight the horrors of persecution in North Korea.
And what about Christians in public office? Leaders like Sam Brownback and Frank Wolf, who have risked their lives to go to troubled spots of the world to protect human rights and human dignity, would have just stayed home.
Christians should be engaged in public life as instruments of justice and righteousness.
A two-year fast? No thanks.
Charles W. Colson
Lansdowne, Va., Nov. 22, 2006
The writer is the founder of Prison Fellowship.
(Thanks, Jim and Mark.)
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Comments
This is so true. We must not be so heavenly minded that we are no earthly good. We are here to be the lights of the world, we should not hide our light under a basket where it is of no use.
On the other hand, individually we all need to take time to recuperate from the battles, receive healing, and get energy and inspiration. But certainly not everyone at once.
M.
When Mr. Kuo made his recommendation at election time, just after writing a book excoriating Christians for supporting the President, his recommendation rings hollow at best, completely hypocritical at worst. I cannot ignore the timing here.
Nor can I ignore the fact that we cannot be salt and light in our homes, neighborhoods, workplaces, and churches without interacting with our government. Mr. Kuo's thinking is remarkably lax for someone who attained a portion in the halls of power, in my probably not humble enough opinion.
Not being up on Mr. Kuo's earlier comments limits my perspective on him. However, I fully agree with Chuck that we are to be in the world actively salting every aspect of it we encounter in our God directed lives just as we are to be in the Word learning to understand better how He would have us act on our own. Since informed participation in government is not only an American right, but a duty, we should relentlessly be fully involved in order to bring as many to the Lord as possible through example of His better way to live.
I agree with the letter by Colson- but I diagree with the commenter above who used the old standby quote, "don't be so heavenly minded that you're of no earthly good."
I "get" the point of it... but I think the only way to BE of earthly good is to BE heavenly minded. The more, the better. The more our views line up with Christ's, the more our view of this earth becomes more like HIS, the BETTER! Hope this isn't too off-topic- I just have an inward CRINGE whenever I see that quote, because while I "get" the point... I just completely disagree with it.
The only way Christians can EFFECTIVELY change perspectives in the Beltway is to have the perspective of the heavenlies. The only way Christians can be a part of politics and not get caught up in scandal is to be so caught up in God's glory that there's no thought of anything else.
Forgive me for my bluntness- but we could use more politicians- and more people, for that matter- who are entirely heavenly-minded.
Jess
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