Chapter 5: Foreign Policy and War

I think it is safe to say that no one thought foreign policy would be an issue this election.  We are out of Iraq, the plan is being followed through to withdraw from Afghanistan, and outside of that, Americans just don't care about anything foreign at near the same level as we worry about the economy.

Then there was September 11 and Libya.

And suddenly, people were paying attention to a (not-so) little operation called Fast and The Furious as well.  Sure, it had been floating around for a while, but not really in the news.

It seemed the more the stories unfolded, the more questions arose.

So, now people are asking the question of which candidate is better than the other on foreign policy.

And I am asking the question of how does a Christian look at foreign policy?

It's hard to determine.

Foreign Policy
Arguably, the most "foreign policy" gets covered in the Bible is in the Old Testament.  That policy looks almost like a "scorched earth" approach that is not exactly copacetic with Jesus more recent teachings.  It's basically kill any nation that worships another god.  It sounds harsh to us today, but remember, God speaks to us where we are.  The people then equated the power of their god with the success of their army.  Your army wins, your god is bigger.  So, God spoke their language, as barbaric as it seems to us.

For we Christians today, I think that is a good policy for us, too.   Not the "scorched earth" thing, but the "speak their language" thing.  We need to try to understand cultures that differ from us.  Missionaries do it all the time- immersing in a culture to "Be all things to all people."  I argue for diplomacy, for talking things out with other nations.  For trying to understand where they are coming from by "walking in their shoes."

But as Christians, we can never compromise what we believe in Christ.  Notice I said, as Christians- for America is NOT a Christian nation.  Yes, there are many Christians.  Yes, historically we are founded on many Judeo-Christian themes.  But our government is atheistic- because it is not a theocracy.  America's government's god is freedom- as it should be.  Because it is a nation, not a human.

But the principle of "love your neighbor" still applies.  America should be concerned about taking care of other nations- we should shed tears at the genocide in Darfur, we should be concerned about nuclear proliferation, we should speak out against governments that seek to halt freedom.  But should we send tax-payer money to these nations?

It's not unlike welfare, except that these are nations that are often given to corruption, so the money probably never gets to those who need it.  So, if the government gives aid, I propose it goes to American organizations who are going over to help.

And I propose we as individuals adopt our own "foreign policy" and look for ways to help ourselves.

Now, when there are issues of commerce- for example China's sketchy economic practices- yes, the government should step in.

And heaven forbid the call rise for war- what should we as Christians do?

(And as far as Libya and the Fast and the Furious go- I feel (personally) that there is a need for answers.  I know there are investigations ongoing, but there needs to be answers as to why one narrative was clung to about a video for two weeks despite the mounting evidence that there was at the time abundant evidence to the contrary.  As for the Fast and the Furious, why are there roadblocks to getting all the information about a government action that lead to our guns being used to murder a border agent and dozens of teenagers at a party- just to name a few.)

War

³⁶ He said to them, “But now if you have a purse, take it, and also a bag; and if you don’t have a sword, sell your cloak and buy one. ³⁷ It is written: ‘And he was numbered with the transgressors’^[b]; and I tell you that this must be fulfilled in me. Yes, what is written about me is reaching its fulfillment.”

³⁸ The disciples said, “See, Lord, here are two swords.”

“That’s enough!” he replied.---Luke 22:36-38
If you read only the Old Testament, war is condoned.  If you read only the New Testament, you get this passage and "turn the other cheek."

So, are we for or against war?

Yes.

Yes, we are against war.  We want peace- swords into plowshares and all that jazz.  We want everyone to get along, we are called to be peacemakers.  To exhaust every effort to live at peace, as much as it is up to you.

But if war finds you, if it threatens your home, if it threatens the peace of others, I believe we are for fighting back.

We can never be war-mongers.  Never choose war as a first choice- it must be last.  And even then, it is a personal decision of whether you fight or not.  I must say, I think this verse can apply here:Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.-  John 15:13
Be prepared for, Jesus says about having a sword.  But don't proliferate.  As a Christian, I want a strong military- I want to be safe and I want to be a part of a nation that makes the whole world safer.  Having a potent military doesn't mean we are a bully- it means our threat holds weight.  It means if push comes to shove, we have our sword, and that may be all we need to rescue a nation.

Was it unholy that the Allies liberated Europe and especially the Jews from the Nazis by force?  Was it unholy that Dietrich Boenhoeffer- a follower of Christ- plotted to assassinate Hitler to save millions?

Or is it sometimes worth it to save lives?

I don't know exactly how God looks at war these days.  I definitely don't know what God thought of Boehoeffer's failed plot.

But I know God is a God of grace, and I know God wants people to be free.

Perhaps we can apply that here.

Chapter 4: Social Justice- Human Rights

If I could pick the three big human rights issues we get to vote on this year- and since I'm writing this, I do- I'd choose gay rights, immigration, and abortion.  There are thousands more, not the least of which things going on overseas in the Middle East and Africa, but I will touch on that in foreign policy.  These are the big three- and they happen to be some of the issues that Christians love to talk about.

Gay Rights
I am choosing not to call this "Gay Marriage" because to be honest, it is much more than one thing.  The homosexual population is growing, and they are encountering more and more barriers because they are wanting more and more rights.  There is discrimination against gays, often performed by Christians.  There is also growing kickback against Christians by the homosexual community.  Why?

Because Christians hate gays.

At least, that is what people say.  A few months back, the head of Chick Fil A made a statement that he supports 'traditional family values' and the 'traditional family unit.'  He was accused of a being a bigot, a homophobe, and individuals and even governments attempted to block Chick Fil A with boycotts.  This resulted in "Chick Fil A Appreciation Day" wherein thousands upon thousands ate chicken to show support.

And those people were told they hated gay people.

I'm getting ahead of myself.  As Christians, what should we think of gay people?  There are two verses we need to remember:

And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’-  Matthew 22:39

and

²⁵ They exchanged the truth about God for a lie,and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator—who is forever praised. Amen.

²⁶ Because of this, God gave them over to shameful lusts.Even their women exchanged natural sexual relations for unnatural ones. ²⁷ In the same way the men also abandoned natural relations with women and were inflamed with lust for one another. Men committed shameful acts with other men, and received in themselves the due penalty for their error. -Romans 1 :25-27

To sum up these verses, we are called to love gay people as we would love ourselves- I assume that means unconditionally.  At least as much as humans can love anyone unconditionally.  However, we are to recognize that the actions gay people partake in are not honoring to God.  I include verse 25 there to make this point- God does not like homosexual acts because they are- like any adultery- a form of idolatry.

And God hates idolatry.

But He loves and seeks to share His love with idolaters- and with homosexuals and liars and murderers and terrorists and rapists and gluttons and heretics and speeders.  God loves in spite of all of our actions.

So now should we love as God loves.

This is simple, but it is complicated by the fact that the homosexual community sees their acts as a part of their identity- an attack on their actions is an attack on them personally.  Their identity is wrapped tightly in their homosexuality-often to a greater degree than Christians wrap their identity in Christ.  

Homosexuals are far more passionate about their rights than Christians are about Christ.  They are willing to stand up for what they are passionate about- are we?

We should not, as Christians, stand in the way of any human beings rights.  Humans are humans.

But marriage is not a right.  Marriage is, when traced back to its roots, inherently spiritual- inherently religious.  And all world religions define marriage as a man and a woman.  Because the purpose of marriage is procreation- growing a family.  It is in Genesis- God creates man and woman to procreate- to be fruitful and multiply.  Homosexuality cannot fulfill that command.

But that does not mean that we deny them the same rights as a married couple has.  I am all for them getting the tax breaks, the rights of heir ship, property rights, and all that.  But marriage- as a name for it- I struggle with letting it go from its roots.  

I must be honest though- traditional marriage has been a greater disservice by heterosexuals than by homosexuals.

If we are going to passionate about traditional marriage, we need to fight to rescue it not from homosexuals, but from adultery and divorce.  That is what is destroying marriage today.

Immigration
Build a wall.  Militias.  Deportation.

How do we deal with immigration?

The same rubric applies here that applied to Gay Rights- they are humans and deserve our love and respect. Too often, we treat the undocumented like bugs and pests that need to be exorcised from our pristine home.  The truth is, there are many coming here to escape hardship.  They are coming here for hope.  And we must be careful  to not destroy the people because their actions are not legal.

Immigration is interesting, because it is social justice.  On one hand, we want to help people.  On the other is that there must be justice.  And justice is balance.

There are immigrants who are going through the due process of citizenship.  They are working and striving and keeping in line with the law.  They are, at the same time, watching others skip the process and claim benefits they are being denied.

This is not justice.

There are undocumented people who were brought here as children- this is their home and their parents are the ones who brought them here illegally.  Are we to judge them guilty, or give them amnesty?  Many of these people are enrolled in our schools and colleges- they are trying to make themselves productive citizens.  Should we hinder that?

As Christians, we need to find the right balance- the right social justice.  We must love them and seek their best- but we must also help them to get on the right side of the law.  These undocumented students need to achieve citizenship.

And we as Christians should seek to help them.

We want the best for people- and we need to take action to help them.  We also need to help them be accountable.  If we offer amnesty, we need to see to it that they are attempting to gain citizenship.  If the process is too hard or too expensive, we need to help.

We cannot, as Christians, fall into the role of callous treatment of undocumented people.  We cannot, as Christians, allow a flaunting of the laws that we are under.

We, as Christians, must seek to find that balance.

Abortion

All life is sacred.

I believe that the mother's life- emotional, mental, spiritual, and physical- is just as important as the baby's.  So, when the issue is you can only save one- is abortion acceptable?

I can't answer that.  Scripture doesn't speak to that.

What about in cases of rape?  Is it right to abort the baby for the mother's emotional well-being?  Is the abortion acceptable?

I can't answer that.  I don't know what I would do if it were me.  Perhaps with so many childless couples, I'd consider adoption.

But abortion because you didn't want to get pregnant- this is wrong.  It is selfish.

But it is also a human making the decision.  

In case you haven't caught the trend- when it comes to social justice, the answer is always to love your neighbor.  Disagree with their choices, dislike their actions, but always love them and respect them.

I believe that abortion is probably one of the hardest decisions a woman could make.  She does not need us piling on our judgment as well.

We cannot hate, we cannot condemn.  We must love, we must forgive.  And we must pray.

I like the movement "Pray to End Abortion."  But I think we also need to be prepared to "Love to Prevent Abortion."  In most cases- aside from the medical reasons- abortion may be an option because the woman thinks she is alone.  We need to be there for people.  Because I am not sure that making abortion illegal will stop it from happening.  I think it should be illegal, but that is not all we need to strive for.

That is the bottom line for all areas of social justice- we need to be there for people.

And we need to be there without the picket signs.

Chapter 3: Social Justice- Welfare and Social Security and Healthcare! Oh My!

³⁶ “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the law?”³⁷ Jesus said to him, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’³⁸ This is the first and great commandment. ³⁹ And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’⁴⁰ On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.”
                                                                      Matthew 22:36-40He has shown you, O mortal, what is good.
    And what does the Lord require of you?
To act justly and to love mercy
    and to walk humbly^[a] with your God.                                                                 Micah 6:8


“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”
                                                          -John 13:34-35

Point blank:  Christians are to love one another.  And I think that means all "one anothers," not just other Christians.

With that preface, it goes without saying that Christians should care about social justice and caring for other people.  And that has been used by all political parties to call Christians to action- or call them out for inaction.

For the purposes of this discussion, lets look at the social justice issues most commonly argued- welfare/medicaid and social security/medicare first, then human and civil rights, abortion, and freedom of religion.  For the first two, charity will be a key point we discuss.

Welfare and Medicaid
Nicknamed entitlement programs by some, these programs often get a bad rap among the conservatives, and by a lot of Christians.  Why?

Their argument is that it is not helping people out of a bind, it is making them dependent.  Perhaps that it is being abused or even that it is fiscally irresponsible to pursue this program as is.  These are, honestly, good questions to ask.

But are they questions Christians should ask?

Jesus told us this in Matthew 5:42 " Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you."
No caveats, nor addendums- Jesus says give. 

We are to want to give to those in need- widows and orphans are in abundance these days, and so are the poor, the lame, the imprisoned we are told to love in Matthew 25:31-46.  

And that is the key- we are to give to them in love.

Charity.

I pose this question- is it love that calls us to give money to welfare recipients, or the law?

Perhaps it is love, but it is certainly not the same as giving food to a hungry person, or paying for someones bus fare when they are stranded, or helping some stranger out with a little cash.  I refer to charity as something I give willingly, not because the law will fine or imprison me for failure to go along with.  Am I right, Wesley Snipes?  (OK< bad example.)

I do not have a problem with the government helping the poor out.  That used to be the church's job, but we seem to either have quit or been over-extended- not sure which.  I have a GIGANTIC problem with churches that spend millions on facilities and a fraction of that on the poor- and yes, they exist and you may know who they are.

But, and I pose this as a 'devil's advocate-' what if our welfare and medicaid end up doing more harm than good?  What if it DOES create hangers on and people who are enslaved to a government program?  Is that not against the freedom and the true hope Christ possesses?

Jesus had hangers on.  He had people who wanted to follow Him just because He healed and did miraculous signs.  In Mark 1, he heals someone, they tell people and suddenly EVERYONE wants a piece of the miracle man.  So Jesus has to withdraw.  He did not want people to just take His miracles, He wanted them to hear the message.  Because that was the true healing.

Jesus wanted people free and rescued.

So, what do we do?  Stop welfare entirely?  Let everyone just fend for themselves?

I believe- just me, this is not the gospel- that we need to, as Christians, help people get free from welfare.  We need to be in the business of setting people free and helping them, not demonizing them.

Yes, it is frustrating that people on welfare abuse it- but they are just broken people like you and me.  I would love for the church to take over welfare and even health care aid (see, that's how Medicaid fits in).  For that to happen, fewer people need to need it, so in the meantime, the church needs to step up with providing the healing people need- job fairs, job training, financial and family planning- FOR FREE.  It's a modern miracle.  Imagine, a million dollars spent on that and not a gym.  Which would have a greater lasting impact?

Politically speaking, should we advocate ending the programs outright?  I don't think so, because such advocacy would be perceived as unloving- and we must never let people feel our intentions to make things better are unloving.

But to change the way the church does things is not unlike trying to change the government- both act like and are often bureaucracies.  Change must happen on a personal level.

We need to start filling the gap.

Social Security
Widows and orphans.

Social Security takes care of our seniors, so it kinda covers the widows thing.  But the talk and political question for Christians is not that dissimilar than the one for welfare- or is it?

Unlike welfare, people (in theory) pay into their own social security as a kind of minuscule retirement.  My mom collects my deceased dad's, most folks grandparents collect it and my generation's parents are starting to reach that age.  We don't want them to be without this often needed money.  And, it is THEIR money.

That, I think becomes the issue for Christians- is Social Security an act of good stewardship?

Personally, I don't think it is for me.  I do not believe the money I am putting in will yield any return and in fact I doubt it will exist for me when I am of age.  Numerous studies support that fear.  It was big reason why, when as an ordained minister I had the option to opt out of SS, I did.  I chose to put that money into my own retirement and other funds that were, I believe a better use of God's money.

I believe that stewardship question must be answered on an individual basis, as it was for me.  Personally, I want SS to exist for current and soon to be recipients.  They paid in, they should get out.  But for those of us who are young, I like the idea of it being optional.  Personally, from my view of stewardship.

But, like so many other things, SS is complicated and not so easy to break down on an individual basis.  So, we as Christians need to pray about and seek wisdom for ourselves, and prepare that even though we currently pay in, we may not receive that back.  Because it is the law to pay (unless the opt out is available as it was for ministers and some government employees).  

I believe, heartily, that we should never treat or speak of those receiving their SS after years of labor as being people getting handouts.  And even those getting SS not of age, must be spoken of and treated with respect- even if we disagree with the manner in which they receive their benefits.

Chapter 2: Taxes and The Economy

Everyone hates taxes.

If you don't, well, I feel you should see a doctor.  Someone who can help you.  Because no one likes to have money taken away from them and used for all manner of things they have little to no say in.

It's also why a lot of Christians have trouble tithing.

Really, the two are similar, if you think about it.  A certain percentage of whatever you make is to be given to God/the government, and though you have a basic idea that it will be used for, there is tons you have no idea about.  The difference is that while everyone hates taxes- some people actually enjoy giving their offering to God.  Because offerings are given in worship to God, in reverence to Him.

But then, so are taxes.

I mentioned in the opening chapter that there is that command of Jesus to "give to Caesar what is Caesars."  But the Bible is not silent after that on our role in and with the government.  We find this in Romans 13:1-8:

Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established.The authorities that exist have been established by God.² Consequently, whoever rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves. ³ For rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but for those who do wrong. Do you want to be free from fear of the one in authority? Then do what is right and you will be commended. ⁴ For the one in authority is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for rulers do not bear the sword for no reason. They are God’s servants, agents of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer. ⁵ Therefore, it is necessary to submit to the authorities, not only because of possible punishment but also as a matter of conscience.

⁶ This is also why you pay taxes, for the authorities are God’s servants, who give their full time to governing. ⁷ Give to everyone what you owe them: If you owe taxes, pay taxes; if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor.

⁸ Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for whoever loves others has fulfilled the law.

I post this in it's entirety here for context, but I want to focus mainly on verses 6-8 (in bold) for this chapter.  (The rest we will deal with in a later chapter on when and if we are able to actively rebel against a government- aka was the American Revolution in violation of God's command.  Hint:  It is not an easy black and white answer.)


TAXES
We owe taxes.  Now, full disclosure, because of my relatively low paying job the last few years, and my ministry work before that and the deductions available to me- I usually got lots of tax returns.  Technically, I probably paid little to no taxes in income tax.  Many of you will dismiss me now because of that, but I also point out that I have not in any way attempted to not pay what was owed.  I still pay taxes on my home, my car, and my purchases.  Back then, deductions didn't exist.  Back then, tax collectors were corrupt.  It is why it was astonishing that Matthew, a disciple of Christ, was a tax collector.  Yet Jesus never said don't pay your taxes, he told the tax collectors to stop being corrupt.  If after you have taken your lawful deductions and you still owe taxes- Biblically speaking, you need to pay them.

Now, can we gripe about them?  Absolutely.  In a democracy/republic like ours, we are lawfully allowed to express our frustration when we feel we are over-taxed.  I do not believe this leads into conflict with the above passage because in the context we are told to honor the authorities over us- and the law is one of them.  And the law says we have free speech.

But, what if you feel that your taxes are being used to pay for things you feel are sinful, are wrong?  Say you oppose abortion or war, and there government agencies that get tax dollars to perform those actions.  Do you have a right to not pay them?  Isn't it morally compromising you?

When the taxes Jesus and later Paul (Romans, above) told us to pay went to governments that actively enslaved and killed Christians, was that not morally compromising?  I say no.  Because your money was given to the authority, the one set up by God, not those actions directly.  And yes, God does set up the corrupt and evil governments.  He set up Egypt.  He empowered and equipped and enriched Egypt.  Then He killed Egypt with ten plagues and a parted sea to demonstrate His glory.

There are things I don't want tax dollars to pay for.  But I can't stop them being funded by the government.  I can write a congressman, I talk to individuals who are directly involved- I could even run for office and try to change it if I was so called.  I cannot shirk my responsibility to pay taxes.  I shouldn't want to.  Because when I pay taxes, even if it is a little bit, I am honoring God by submitting to Caesar what is Caesar's.  I also don't vilify people who work and have taxes deducted from their paycheck and later get it all back from deductions.  I shouldn't vilify people who don't pay as much taxes as others because they are too poor or because they are rich enough to find the legal loopholes.  I shouldn't even vilify those who cheat on their taxes- I'm not a judge.  And that is between them and God.

I will add this aside.  I've heard some rich folks and celebrities saying they are wanting to be taxed more to help cut the deficit.  If they are being honest, I challenge them in this:  write the government a check for the amount you feel you owe, otherwise, please don't grandstand.

ECONOMY
As I write this, a new jobs report came out stating that unemployment is at 7.8%, the lowest in 44 months.  While this appears to be an improving sign, there are countless other issues that say the economy is still in the tank.  Gas prices are hitting near $6 in parts of California (and the National average is a little under $4) at the same time this report comes out.  Corn and grain prices are forecasted to skyrocket due to the Midwest drought this summer.  Milk is expensive.  Those same three things happened in 2008 to put us in the hole we are climbing (slowly) out of.  If this continues, we'll be right back in the hole.

And there is the $16 trillion dollar deficit elephant in the room.

How should a Christian deal with this?  Well, look at Romans 13:8 again:

Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for whoever loves others has fulfilled the law.

Yeah, we should be against debt.  But, just to cover our bases, lets look at this:

Proverbs 22:26
Saying "Do not be one who shakes hands in pledge or puts up security for debts;"

Deuteronomy 15:1:At the end of every seven years you must cancel debts.  (This was the year of Jubilee- slaves were freed and all debts were erased.  Supposedly.)

So, the Bible says avoid debt.  Our nation is in TREMENDOUS debt, and that cannot be denied by any party.  Christians are livid at this lack of stewardship by the government, to go into debt like that.

The same Christians that owe on their car, their home, their credit card, their boat, their...you get the picture. I'm guilty, too.  Except the credit card and boat thing.  My point is, we cannot be hypocritical.  Yeah, the level of debt the government is in (and by extension, we are in) is astronomically greater than most of our personal debt, but debt is debt.  Nowhere in the Bible does it say you can be in a little debt for a long time, just not a lot of debt.  Now, those readings, and a few others in Deuteronomy  15, 24, and 31 seem to acknowledge that debt happens, and the sin is in not paying it back.  And debts entered into with a plan to pay back seem acceptable in these verses.  But unhealthy, unrestrained piling up of debt is bad.  Bad for the Christian, bad for the government.

Because it is not good stewardship, not good management of resources.  Back then, too much debt would get you into slavery to someone who managed their money better.  Today, our government is doing this with China.

A good, sound, non-religious principle my parents applied to me:  don't spend money you don't have.  It is near impossible these days to not go into debt for a house, and often a car.  And college.  And mattresses.  And computers.  You know what, our governments continued debt growth is simply a reflection of our culture-at-large's motto:

Put it on my tab.

We should expect fiscal responsibility from our leaders- as long as we expect it from ourselves, first.  I'm not advocating you go out and buy every Dave Ramsey book you can- I've not read any in full because some of what I've read I disagree with.  But I am advocating that we take a good long look at our finances while we are scrutinizing the governments.

And I do think spending is out of control for them and us.

*****I'm not going to touch on government job creation here.  The reason being, I think it is a far too deep conversation to get into- regulations and whether more government or more private sector or blah, blah, blah- it's all technical.  Also, Biblically speaking, there just isn't much on that.  I will say to Christian entrepreneurs who can hire people- the above principle on debt applies:  don't hire people you can't afford.  You do them and yourselves a disservice.  Hiring is stewardship as well.******

Chapter One: A Christian's Role in Modern American Government

¹⁵ Then the Pharisees went out and laid plans to trap him in his words. ¹⁶ They sent their disciples to him along with the Herodians. “Teacher,” they said, “we know that you are a man of integrity and that you teach the way of God in accordance with the truth. You aren’t swayed by others, because you pay no attention to who they are. ¹⁷ Tell us then, what is your opinion? Is it right to pay the imperial tax^[a] to Caesar or not?”

¹⁸ But Jesus, knowing their evil intent, said, “You hypocrites, why are you trying to trap me? ¹⁹ Show me the coin used for paying the tax.” They brought him a denarius, ²⁰ and he asked them, “Whose image is this? And whose inscription?”

²¹ “Caesar’s,” they replied.

Then he said to them, “So give back to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s.”

²² When they heard this, they were amazed. So they left him and went away.

                                                                                          Matthew 22:15-22

"Pay your taxes."

That's the overt message here.  But there is more at the heart of it.  At the heart of this answer from Jesus we find a tiny nutshell of what forms the theology of how Christians interact with their government.  The taxes the government asks for belongs to them.  So pay them.

Simple enough.

But, what if those taxes go to things that are contrary to God?  What if you money is used to fund something that you abhor, something that you feel is a sin?  Is that an excuse to not pay them?

Pretty sure the taxes in Biblical times went to un-Godly things, like, you know, killing people who followed Jesus.

Here we are, in 2012, about to elect or re-elect a president.  It is being viewed by many as the most important election in a long time- perhaps in over a hundred years.  Why?  The economy, taxes, health care, free speech/freedoms in general, uprisings and unrest in the Middle East.  It's rough out there.

But what do we as Christians need to do about it?  Who do we support?  Republicans or Democrats or Libertarians or something else?  How do we decide what issues are our key issues?  And what do we do if the people we elect this November get it wrong?

This blook (blog book) came about because I was watching the elections with interest.  Actually, I was watching my friends on social media respond to the elections with interest.  I saw friends, both believers and non-believers on both sides grow more vocal, more committed, and in some cases more and more angry at the other side.  I began to realize that posting or saying things that leaned toward one political ideology or another would instantly alienate me to half my friends- and half the country.

There are things I think are vitally important, things that I feel our government must or must not do.  There are things that scare me, things that terrify me about what comes next.  I see a nation so angry, so politicized that no matter who wins November 6 there will fallout to come.  I believe all sides are so wired up, so committed to their views that a loss will drive some to do something violent.

I write this, because I hate that it has come to this.  That we have become so tied to our political views that we have lost sight of our theological views.

I don't want to talk about who I think should be president.  I don't think any candidate can save us from what we really need to be saved from.  I'm not going to tell you what party I think you should support.  Most political parties I know of have some great things and some things that brush up against evil- they are human institutions, after all.

No, I want to look at what the Bible says about our response to taxes, to charity, to healthcare, to war, to social justice (back then, just called justice) and even our response to unjust governing.  Because I have heard both liberals and conservatives complain of government leaders being unjust and therefore showing them no respect.

Respect is where I want to start- we need to have it for each other.  Repuklicans, Demorats, libtards, CONservatives- I see these and much more disrespectful terms on comments sections on all sorts of news sites.  Other than being childishly stupid- it shows we just don't care about people.

As Christians, our heart should be to love others.  It is the second greatest command:  

³⁶ “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the law?”
³⁷ Jesus said to him, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’³⁸ This is the first and great commandment. ³⁹ And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’⁴⁰ On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.”
                                                                      Matthew 22:36-40

Yeah, I know the "Law" here is the law of Moses.  Yet this is the law that many nations- including ours- uses as a foundation.  Respect and love for each other is where it hinges, where it hangs.

Well, actually, it hangs on loving each other, which in turn, is steadfastly bolted to loving God- with our everything.

As Christians, He is our ultimate end.  He is our focus.  He is who we go to for answers, for salvation, for truth.

In the end, our future is not in the hands of Obama, Romney, Paul, Johnson, Democrats, Republicans, Green Party, Socialists, Libertarians, Communists, Anarchists or the United Nations.  It is in God's.  Sure, these people and groups can do things that affect us- but it is God who holds our souls.

To my Christian friends reading this- remember that.  Let your allegiance to God be far greater than your allegiance to politics- or politicians.


Next:  TAXES