I find it disconcerting that the political candidates running on Judeo-Christian values and championing social conservatism/family values tend to be the angriest and most disrespectful toward their opponents.
Is anger by Christ-followers and other social conservatives at our political class, cultural decline, and religious discrimination in America justified? Sure! I’d be worried if there wasn’t angst about the moral decline we are experiencing.
But when running for public office you are running to represent ALL the people in your district and you usually need 50% plus 1 to win. From my experience, I believe you can be outraged at the circumstances you want to change as a public servant while running a respectful, effective campaign.
The angriest constituents will generally flock to the angriest candidate but the vast majority of constituents would prefer to support a candidate that seems to transcend negativity and who champions principled AND pragmatic ideas.
I find it interesting that Jesus knew his entire life that the authority to execute Him lay with the Roman authorities yet he didn’t disparage Cesar or the Roman government in his sermons or parables. He had plenty of harsh words for church leaders, though…
Is our faith in public policy or the sovereignty of God? Is our faith in getting evangelicals elected or in the transformational power of God to save individual lives? Are we patriotically participating in the American Republic or are we turning government into an alter we demand God to work upon?
Just my humble observation for the month…
Cross-posted at the Goranson Family Blog