Earlier this month, just a few weeks ago, the U.S. was focused on significant mid-term elections. With the country facing economic and international challenges these elections resulted in passionate engagement by a large number of our citizenry, including Christians.
I'm wary entering into the political fray on this blog. Nevertheless, as I reflect on the discourse and debates of the past several months I am very concerned how we as followers of Christ are responding to political realities around us. And, going a step further, I am more and more convinced that as holiness people we in the Church of God have not adequately applied our theology to our civic involvements. It is amazing to see how passionate many Church of God folk are about the political issues in our country. Often, it seems, many are more convinced that the solutions to our national woes are in political change than in the Good News of Jesus. Of course, we would all affirm the latter as being preeminent, but our practice often defies our stated beliefs.
The implications of a sound holiness doctrine should be profound, not only on our personal lives but on our social involvement as well. Unfortunately, however, we have understood this to mean that we should align with a particular political party (whatever it might me) and its policies in order to bring about God's intentions. Sadly, when politicians and their organizations fail us (as they inevitably do) our hopes are dashed, as is our witness in the world.
I certainly vote and have my own strong convictions about what needs to happen in our national, state, and local political arenas. I clearly recognize that as a citizen I must be engaged and involved in the issues around me. But, I have no illusions as to where my allegiance really is: citizenship in the Kingdom of God.
If we truly adhere to holiness then we must come to terms with what it means to be separate from the ways of the world, and at the same time allow the Holy Spirit to empower us for mission within the world. I pray that we can enter into this discussion and practice within the Church of God.
I'm wary entering into the political fray on this blog. Nevertheless, as I reflect on the discourse and debates of the past several months I am very concerned how we as followers of Christ are responding to political realities around us. And, going a step further, I am more and more convinced that as holiness people we in the Church of God have not adequately applied our theology to our civic involvements. It is amazing to see how passionate many Church of God folk are about the political issues in our country. Often, it seems, many are more convinced that the solutions to our national woes are in political change than in the Good News of Jesus. Of course, we would all affirm the latter as being preeminent, but our practice often defies our stated beliefs.
The implications of a sound holiness doctrine should be profound, not only on our personal lives but on our social involvement as well. Unfortunately, however, we have understood this to mean that we should align with a particular political party (whatever it might me) and its policies in order to bring about God's intentions. Sadly, when politicians and their organizations fail us (as they inevitably do) our hopes are dashed, as is our witness in the world.
I certainly vote and have my own strong convictions about what needs to happen in our national, state, and local political arenas. I clearly recognize that as a citizen I must be engaged and involved in the issues around me. But, I have no illusions as to where my allegiance really is: citizenship in the Kingdom of God.
If we truly adhere to holiness then we must come to terms with what it means to be separate from the ways of the world, and at the same time allow the Holy Spirit to empower us for mission within the world. I pray that we can enter into this discussion and practice within the Church of God.
2 comments:
Well said, Lloyd! I wholeheartedly agree with you.
I certainly support your position, Lloyd. We offer too many partisan opinions with too little core biblical theology. In the process, Jesus gets sidelined.
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