I was thinking/talking briefly about a Christian approach to politics with my pastor last night. I guess it’s along the lines of this article.
I guess as one matures, there can be a shift from idealism to realism.
I think there is a tendency to lose heart and passion as this happens, but, as this article suggests, it doesn’t need to be so.
I – as you also were, Matthew – was once involved in the now-defunct CHNZ. At the time of my initial involvement, I was an idealist, and possibly quite naive. After a couple of elections I lost some of that idealism and I’m currently trying to keep my head above cynicism.
As I’m getting older, more cynical, and more real, it seems that the strident, bellowing, marching, placard-waving Christian makes me cringe more and more.
By no means do I think that Christians should withdraw from things political (in fact, I desire their involvement now, more-than-ever), but I think it does us more harm than good to be idealistic about things.
We need to be calm, rational, gentle-but-firm, and above all of these, we need to be loving.
If we stand up on a soapbox and proclaim our ideals; if we get all up in their (‘their’ being anyone, really – our neighbour(s)) faces, we expose ourselves to being measured against the perfect standard that we proclaim, and since we’re all sinners, we will, of course, fall short – and fall hard. I’m thinking in general terms, but we’re all painfully aware of a particular Christian party leader to who this may apply.
But if we’re open, real, personal, and loving, then I feel we’ll be in a much better position to effect change. I do believe we can bring/live/be the powerful gospel to political New Zealand, while still retaining some dignity and perhaps even garnering a little respect.
I am still naive, and I’m a web developer, not an Arts/Politics graduate. I have a sphere of influence/effect that doesn’t directly meet politics, but in which there are still bountiful opportunities to advance the Kingdom of Christ.
And as Garber says,
“To keep on keeping on in our callings is the hard thing. Crucial to that ability is a theological vision shaped by Scripture, one that gives us the cast of heart and mind to understand the frailties of our own selves, as well as those of our societies. And, still, to hope for the reality and meaning of the way things ought to be in every area of life, from painting to play to politics, and on and on and on.”
I’m not sure that I’m entirely on-topic, here, so please pardon my thought-provoked brain-dump.
I was thinking/talking briefly about a Christian approach to politics with my pastor last night. I guess it’s along the lines of this article.
I guess as one matures, there can be a shift from idealism to realism.
I think there is a tendency to lose heart and passion as this happens, but, as this article suggests, it doesn’t need to be so.
I – as you also were, Matthew – was once involved in the now-defunct CHNZ. At the time of my initial involvement, I was an idealist, and possibly quite naive. After a couple of elections I lost some of that idealism and I’m currently trying to keep my head above cynicism.
As I’m getting older, more cynical, and more real, it seems that the strident, bellowing, marching, placard-waving Christian makes me cringe more and more.
By no means do I think that Christians should withdraw from things political (in fact, I desire their involvement now, more-than-ever), but I think it does us more harm than good to be idealistic about things.
We need to be calm, rational, gentle-but-firm, and above all of these, we need to be loving.
If we stand up on a soapbox and proclaim our ideals; if we get all up in their (‘their’ being anyone, really – our neighbour(s)) faces, we expose ourselves to being measured against the perfect standard that we proclaim, and since we’re all sinners, we will, of course, fall short – and fall hard. I’m thinking in general terms, but we’re all painfully aware of a particular Christian party leader to who this may apply.
But if we’re open, real, personal, and loving, then I feel we’ll be in a much better position to effect change. I do believe we can bring/live/be the powerful gospel to political New Zealand, while still retaining some dignity and perhaps even garnering a little respect.
I am still naive, and I’m a web developer, not an Arts/Politics graduate. I have a sphere of influence/effect that doesn’t directly meet politics, but in which there are still bountiful opportunities to advance the Kingdom of Christ.
And as Garber says,
“To keep on keeping on in our callings is the hard thing. Crucial to that ability is a theological vision shaped by Scripture, one that gives us the cast of heart and mind to understand the frailties of our own selves, as well as those of our societies. And, still, to hope for the reality and meaning of the way things ought to be in every area of life, from painting to play to politics, and on and on and on.”
I’m not sure that I’m entirely on-topic, here, so please pardon my thought-provoked brain-dump.