Voting Season vs. Egg in the Face

My Feeling Exactly.

I love discussing politics (especially with people in the church) about as much as I love being pelted in the face with an Egg

To be fair, any guy with hair that long is asking for an egg to the face...I hear egg yoke is a great natural moisturizer!

In all seriousness though, as we enter in to elections once again this November sometimes I feel barraged by cheezy television adds, political candidates with awful haircuts, and angry people who are not shy about spewing hatred for one party while worshipping another.

Here is my "Reader's Digest Version" guide to thinking about voting and politics

1. I dont think you can Biblically mandate voting.

Nowhere is scripture will you read "though shall vote, and vote Republican." Is voting wrong? Absolutely not! I have met tons of great people who care passionately about politics and exercise their civil right to vote. Politics are not my thing, but they may be yours and I think its great if that is the case. However, as I study the life of Christ it seems he was way more concerned about building the kingdom of God than the nation of Israel. In the same way, Paul was way more concerned about the church and what God was doing on earth than he was about Cesar. All of this to say, I think its important to check our hearts and make sure we are more excited about the Gospel and what God amongst his people than anything else we are passionate about.

2. If You Don't Vote, Don't Complain!

This is pretty self explanatory, but people who remove themselves from the voting process don't have the grounds to complain about the condition of our town/state/country. That would be like choosing not to take a test and complain about your bad grades!

3. We Should Love What God Loves.


When thinking about politics it is important that we remember passages like:

James 1:27: "Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction"

Luke 10:27: "Love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength, and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself."

Micah 6:8: "He has told you, O man, what is good; ad what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God"

This is one of many passages of scripture that needs to run through our framework when deciding what political candidate to support. We need to ask tough questions to ourselves about whether or not supporting a person or party is consistent with the Biblical principles we believe in. Just like any other aspect of our lives, we cannot separate politics with what God has called us to. We need to love what God loves and use the political arena to be a light to our communities.

Practically this has worked out in my life in that I am neither Republican or Democratic, but I cant justify voting for someone who supports the murdering of babies...take that for what you want.

4.Remember, God is in Supreme Control of the Outcome.

I will leave you with Proverbs 21:1: "The king's heart is a stream of water in the hand of the Lord; he turns it wherever he will."

Politics often causes us to lose the forest amongst the trees, Don't forget that God is in control of all things and is completely sovereign over all...including political races

You Are Loved!

Best video i have seen in a long time!

Check this out! Too much fun!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4_S0T7cma_U

Crazy Pastors and What I Wont Be Doing On 9/11

Well, simply put, today I am frustrated. The day started off well enough, work is going well, Mary is happy and healthy, we won a great soccer game last night, but the frustration began when I read an article titled "Pastor declares 9/11 International burn the Koran Day"

The picture above is of Dr. Terry Jones, the pastor mentioned in this article, now that picture may clue you in on the fact that he may not be the happiest man ever...that is actually him smiling! But upon reading the article this morning I decided to do a bit of research on what this guy was all about so I went to his "church's website (http://www.doveworld.org/) and here is what I found on their main page:

- A 10 minute video where Dr. Terry Jones blasts Obama, homosexuals, and Muslims. Nowhere in this video is the gospel presented, forgiveness offered, love displayed...only anger, violence, and hate

- A book authored by Dr. Terry Jones titled "Islam is of the Devil" - creative title!

- You could purchase coffee mugs, shirts, and hats all featuring "Islam is of the Devil" in bold lettering

- A blog...all of the posts speaking to why Islam is evil and why we need to burn the Koran to save America

- A sign stating "Islam is of the Devil"

- And don't forget...a way to give money to the ministry

The most enraging thing about their website was the video where he promotes his views on the Church, Islam, and culture. When watching this video it is impossible to see anything other than an angry man whose heart has not been penetrated by the gospel. He does not love Jesus, he does not desire to make disciples of Jesus, all he cares about is seeing conservative America unite, bear arms, and make actual war (i think) on Islam and our culture. He is using the fears that Christians and conservatives have to promote himself and he is walking an incredibly dangerous line. My fear this man is the living embodiment of Matthew 7:21-23. I understand the soberness of my previous statement, but this man is a wolf in sheep's clothing and after going to his website and seeing his own videos there is no other conclusion to make.

Here are quick reasons why i think making September 11 "Burn a Koran day is a bad idea"

1. It is offensive to those who lost people during the 9/11 attack to make that day a holiday to promote hatred

2. It is this crusader-like mentality that has brought the great harm to the Church and the name of Jesus

3. This plan has already caused riots in Kabul, Afghanistan and could have real bloody consequences

4. What does this accomplish other than angry people getting to throw a fit?

5. Stunts like this distance Americans from the gospel and make reaching people for Christ more difficult

6. It is extremely anti-gospel

7. Participating in this empowers a lunatic and gives him a platform to do more harm

8. This is the danger in tying too tightly the gospel and American politics.


Is Islam something that churches need to think about and consider? Absolutely!
Do we live in a dark world that is lost? Yes!
Does the church need to be active in the community? Of course!

Here is what I want you to get. The only source of change, hope and love that will penetrate not only the muslim community but any community is the gospel of Jesus Christ, not militaristic anger or hate. The reason I am so passionate about church planting because we need less churches like Dove World (great name for a church...Not) and more churches who are committed to lifting high the name of Christ and committed to penetrating their communities not with hate, but with the gospel of Jesus Christ! That is are call, our purpose, and our joy! Lets get after that calling and not this nonsense!

So needless to say, I will NOT be burning any Koran's this 9/11 and I hope you won't either.

as always, your thoughts and questions are welcomed.


~ cal