I am not that interested in politics. However, I am interested in the implications of politics. These implications are personal and far-reaching. Politics itself is a great deal like religion so much as religion is a framework for a relationship with God, while Politics is a framework for enacting public policy, and I am passionate about how changes in policy affect my freedoms and my faith.
Should I be? Among Christians there is some debate over whether Christians should be concerned with politics at all. I believe the answer lays in a parable Jesus shared with his disciples. This parable is about a man who entrusted his household to his servants or managers. Upon the master’s return these managers are rewarded and disciplined for what they did and didn’t do. Jesus further states, “From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked.” Luke 12:48b
God has made us managers of the earth. Furthermore, as Americans, we are managers of this country, managers of the freedom that we have been entrusted with. We are accountable to God for how we manage this freedom.
Recently we celebrated Veteran’s Day, and we honored brave men and women who fought and died to establish the representative republic that we now enjoy. As beneficiaries of this republic “We the People” are the ones in charge. We elect congressmen, senators, and other officials to negotiate and act on our behalf. This also means that we are responsible for the decisions our representatives make, the corruption that exists, and the ignorance we maintain, if we choose not to get involved.
It seems that laziness has crept into our society and our Christianity, a laziness that I don’t think Christ ever intended. This attitude turns a blind eye to the successes and failures of individuals in public office as well as the policies they trumpet. I understand the disinterest and the disgust, I have even been party to it, but this apathy is a sign of bad management.
Even so, it is tempting to focus on my family and isolate our little home from the rest of the world, but there is more that God has called me to do, and part of that lay in keeping those who represent me accountable to the laws of the land, and ultimately the law of God. For this seemingly distant political world does affect me, my community, and my little home.
As a people, we have been far too trusting and quite frankly lazy as we have separated ourselves from our law makers. We cannot continue like this. The stakes are much too high. We must pay attention. We must become informed, and we must speak up.
The suggestion that we speak up on policy from a biblical standpoint is not contrary to the foundations of our republic nor is out of line with the teachings of the Bible. Some from a secular standpoint would say that the Bible has no place in government, while others from a Christian perspective might agree that Christians should stay out of the political arena. But secularists cannot deny that our country’s foundations are built on godly principles, nor can we Christians live with our head in the clouds.
Some are concerned that awaking to politics and paying attention to conservative public policy will excuse us from taking care of the least of these. But it will not. In fact it requires that we do more, and more need not be daunting. We must respond in word and deed to the call of Jesus. That call, in part, is to use that which we have at our disposal to take care of our families, the poor and the helpless. This should begin in our own communities, but more and more is being required of us on a national stage by the Federal government.
These requirements, some of which are unconstitutional, inhibit our freedom to maintain our own property, make decisions about our own health, and harness our own resources. If this continues we will have nothing left to give. The government cannot dictate generosity. This will only breed contempt and promote a loss of moral.
With this in mind we need to educate ourselves. It is important to know what the U.S. Constitution has to say and learn about current policies that threaten our basic freedoms. I have listed a few of those policies below with helpful links. I welcome reasonable discussion and encourage you to do some research on your own. During my research I have found it helpful to measure what I’ve read against the Constitution, the Bible and my gut.
*Healthcare Bill– http://docs.house.gov/rules/health/111_ahcaa.pdf
This link provides very helpful excerpts from the Healthcare Bill which helps in wading through all of the legalese. http://freedomtorch.com/blog.php?user=3323&blogentry_id=702
Healthcare for everyone sounds great on the surface – I mean, who wants to deny anyone health coverage (apart from evil, money-hungry insurance companies)? But, this is possibly the most dangerous piece of legislation we face because it hands so much control over to the government and threatens to bankrupt both the country and small businesses.
I’ve read large portions of the bill and have learned that it creates a new bureaucracy between the patient and the medical provider. It raises the cost of insurance per household significantly and necessitates large tax increases. It imposes stiff penalties on businesses and individuals who don’t purchase insurance that complies with standards set by the new bureaucracy (including jail time). And no matter what bureaucrats say rationing is one of the ramifications of enacting HR 3962. This is a reality when you look at the market as a whole and consider that each action the bill proposes will precipitate an equal and opposite reaction in the marketplace. These are just a few of the disturbing items.
But, don’t trust me. Read it for yourself.
*Net Neutrality and The Fairness Doctrine – Suggest we need equal time on the airwaves for opposing viewpoints. Regulation is a scary word which means less freedom and more government bureaucracy. http://www.heritage.org/research/regulation/em368.cfm
*Cap and Trade – The bill proposes, “To create clean energy jobs, achieve energy independence, reduce global warming pollution and transition to a clean energy economy.” http://www.heritage.org/News/Cap-and-Trade-Global-Warming-Bill.cfm
But the implications of the bill will do much more harm than good. What this legislation means is higher taxes, higher utility bills, and crippling of American industry. Why? Because some businesses will be altogether banned while others will be too expensive to operate resulting in more layoffs and increased joblessness. All of this is unnecessary. Read up on global warming. It is a flawed science.
*Climate Change Treaty–
http://wattsupwiththat.files.wordpress.com/2009/10/un-fccc-copenhagen-2009.pdf
In an effort to reduce CO2 emissions this treaty threatens to put us at the mercy of a ruling body outside of our own government that will impose its own standards and regulations on American industry. Additionally the treaty requires that the U.S. pay reparations for “climate debt” to third-world countries. That simply means a redistribution of wealth that robs Peter to pay Paul.
*Eminent Domain –is the inherent power of the state to seize a citizen’s private property, expropriate property, or seize a citizen’s rights in property with due monetary compensation, but without the owner’s consent. The property is taken either for government use or by delegation to third parties who will devote it to public or civic use or, in some cases, economic development. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eminent_domain)
http://www.fff.org/freedom/fd0412a.asp
We cannot claim ignorance any longer. We have access, and we must find the time.