Devotional 3-16-09

Religion and Politics
One of three subjects which should be avoided in normal day-to-day social conversation, so why have I chosen this as a subject for my devotional? Hardly proper some of you might say, so let me explain. I got my inspiration for this piece after seeing a bumper sticker with the words “God is neither a Republican nor a Democrat.” I like that idea, because it suggests that Christians have higher principles by which we should be measured and by which we should measure others in our judgment of those who might hold elective public office. We should choose candidates based on these principles and not on political party loyalty. There are several Biblical references, including the lectionary reading for today, that support this. John 3: 20-21 says: “For all who do evil hate the light and do not come to the light, so that their deeds may not be exposed. But those who do what is true come to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that their deeds have been done in God.”

The word “true” in this context means honest, virtuous, faithful, and loyal; a true believer of Jesus Christ is a dedicated and faithful disciple of our Lord. So is this not a greater standard to follow in choosing a potential candidate for state or federal office than simply what party that person belongs? Has that person conducted his or her life in such a way that God’s blessings can be clearly seen in that individual’s actions?

The words “political” or “politicians” are often used in a derogatory sense to mean “those who seek personal or partisan gain; scheming, opportunism; or factional scheming for power.” This hardly meets Jesus’ admonition as to what is “true” and what will come to the light and be seen in the light by the deeds that are done. A word we often do not hear when referring to any state or federal representative unless that person has been dead for over 100 years is “statesman.” Such a person is defined as “showing wisdom, character (moral strength, self-discipline, fortitude) skill, and vision in conducting state affairs.” Technically speaking, a person does not become a statesman until that individual assumes a leadership position in conducting state affairs. However, individuals who have such qualities are certainly closer to being a “true” person as described by Jesus and at the same time on the road to being a statesman-like candidate for whom we can cast our ballot.

How then do we distinguish between the party politician who may have his or her own personal career and interests at heart and the potential statesman with visions and goals as to what is best for our nation? We of course can look at our own history in this regard, but Biblical passages provide us with some more reliable standards to follow. One of the central messages of both the old and new testaments is that men and women from all walks of life should by both their words and their deeds conduct themselves in a manner that is consistent with God’s teachings. Hypocrisy is consistently condemned by God throughout the Bible. The prophet Nathan told King David the parable about the poor peasant who had his only lamb taken from him by a rich man because the rich man did not want to use any of his own herd as a meal for the rich man’s traveling guest. King David was outraged at such an act of selfishness. Yet, as Nathan soon informed David, it was the king himself who had done the same thing when he took one of his soldier’s wives (Bathsheba) and then arranged to have her husband killed in battle so he could hide his evil deed and take her for his own wife (2 Samuel 12:1-15). Psalm 26:4 (written by David himself) states that “I do not sit with deceitful men, nor do I consort with hypocrites.”

One of the central themes of Jesus’ teachings and the focus of his criticism in many of his parables was hypocrisy, particularly when it was demonstrated by those who were in a position of power such as the rich, the rabbis or priests, the scribes, and the Pharisees. Examples of such included receiving forgiveness or mercy for a debt, but then being unmerciful toward another with a similar debt (Matt. 18:21-35); giving offerings and sacrifices to God, but ignoring the poor peasant on the street begging for food or refusing to allow that same beggar to enter the temple because of his or her position in life (Matt. 23; Luke 10: 25-37); and condemning such acts as healing on the Sabbath (Luke 13:10-17). Jesus’ words of rebuke to such acts are best found in Matthew 23: 23-28: “Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You give a tenth of your spices--mint, dill and cumin. But you have neglected the more important matters of the law--justice, mercy and faithfulness. You should have practiced the latter, without neglecting the former...You are like whitewashed tombs, which look beautiful on the outside but on the inside are full of dead men’s bones and everything unclean. In the same way, on the outside you appear to people as righteous but on the inside you are full of hypocrisy and wickedness” (Matt. 23:25-28). To avoid such acts of hypocrisy, Jesus taught us to consistently demonstrate acts of love, kindness and forgiveness to our neighbors.

So whether I am looking to vote for the President of the United States, a federal or local representative in Congress, or simply a local dog catcher, the issue I should look to before deciding how to caste my ballot is how consistently has the individual who is running for public office matched that individual’s promises with his or her acts or deeds performed at home, on the job, among friends, and in the community at large. To see not just a pretty face or eloquent speaker when I vote, but an individual who has consistently demonstrated a life that imitates as far as possible the examples and teachings of Jesus. Thus, I find it to be somewhat hypocritical for a person running for public office to advocate massive amounts of spending from the taxpayers wallets to help alleviate the plight of the poor, but then discover that this same individual gave a miniscule amount of money for charities or failed altogether to pay his or her own taxes. Or, someone who claims to be a pillar of the community when running for public office, but upon further inquiry one finds instances of adultery, bribery, and outright theft. Unfortunately, too many of us will excuse such acts if we believe that the policies advocated are for the ultimate good of the community or of the country at large. In addition, often times the hypocrisy is excused, ignored or even encouraged by fellow party members who want to regain their position or retain their power. Worse yet, the hypocrisy may be inflated by a news media which has so often in recent years been an advocate for one particular party or point of view to the point that it will level criticism at one individual or group for a particular action, yet remain silent if by chance a similar or even more serious misdeed is done by the “opposition.” Thus, hypocrisy breeds hypocrisy.

In conclusion, it is correct to say that God is neither a Republican nor a Democrat, but before casting our ballots for either the big R or the big D, we must look more deeply into whether that person’s words and deeds closely follow the teachings of Jesus Christ or are those of a hypocrite, "full of sound and fury, signifying nothing." By doing so, perhaps we can choose our candidates more wisely and elect a statesman rather than a politician.

Dan Kemper

Mission Prayer and Response Focus:
March 16: Did you use deodorant today? Give a penny if you did (and five cents if you didn't!)