Something I’m Thinking About

From the latest issue of Christianity Today:

Evangelicals, knowing that turning candidates into verbal punching bags will never create real community, are called to talk about political figures in ways starkly different from the pundits and hate-marketers.

To be honest, I’m ashamed that it’s even necessary that we Evangelicals need to say this out loud. Isn’t that a given? Shouldn’t part of our call to be like Christ and follow Christ just automatically mean that we are not OF THE WORLD?

As Christians enter politics–right, left or libertarian–I think we should strive to change the nature of politics for the better. Our first mission here is ALWAYS to grow in Christ, to demand less of God’s grace even as we reflect that grace to the world at large. Things like presidential terms, Senate seats and Justices on the bench are all temporary. They are the withering grass and falling flowers. What good does it serve our ultimate goal to become like the filth in which they grow instead of the light?

Much is made of Evangelicals and how we vote. What our priorities are. Frankly, that should be obvious. The fact is that the closer we come to the halls of power the more foul we become and the more we crucify Christ anew with our actions. No wonder the rest of the world can’t discern our priorities.

We ourselves have forgotten them.