jesus for president.

an article from relevant.
LEADING THE CHARGE
by: Cameron Strang

"Let's get this out of the way up front: I'm not a politically motivated person. Which is why I felt a tad out of place meeting with Barack Obama this summer. And talking to John McCain. And doing countless interviews about the faith and shifting political views of our generation.

Yet I have unwittingly found myself thrust into the political arena, a place where people are vehemently passionate about their ideologies and platforms. It's an entire industry built around being right and proving your opponent wrong, and winning at any cost. It's a continual power struggle and - from my humble vantage point - seems a bit flawed.

I'm someone who tries to think independently and objectively, rather than simply follow what the pundits tell me to think. Because of that, I've realized I cannot fully embrace either political party. Both sides of the aisle have some great ideas and goals. But both also have areas where they simply get it wrong.

I know the power of politics and the importance of the process in our world. But I also know that, historically, real, lasting change has started first at the grassroots level long before it was ever legislated. Cultural mindshifts influence Washington, not the other way around.

Many Christians traditionally have voted Republican because of their justifiable conviction to protect the lives of the unborn. Now, many younger Christians are voting Democrat because of their justifiable desire to see our nation, the most prosperous in the world, address the issues of poverty, global aid and the environment.

The problem is, many Christians vote these convictions, but that's largely where their personal involvement in the issues stops. Are the government leaders we vote for meant to do our job for us?

If God has given you a heart for the poor, or to see a reduction in the number of abortions, or to promote peace, or to help the sick, or to stand for strong moral values, or to be a better steward for the environment, then your personal focus needs to be on that - whether or not the President shares your same values.

The Bible reminds us to pray for our leaders, but it also talks about praying for those who persecute us. Though I can't forsee and situation where this would be the case, what if one day every value Christians stand for, even religious freedom itself, was legislatively removed? Christians in China and many other parts of the world face this reality every day. Would it change us?

Dare I say, it might actually spur the Body of Christ here into greater action. Could it be that the loss of religious freedoms would ultimately be the best thing for American Christians because it would cause us to stand on our own feet rather than relying on the government to legislate our faith and values for us?

I've heard that only 5 percent of people who attend church regularly actually serve in any way. I've read that if every Christian in America actually tithed 10 percent of their income, we would have enough financial resources to wipe out global poverty.

There's more power lying dormant in pews around the nation than any government could hope to provide, and that's where our focus should be.

Many Christians want to overturn Roe v. Wade, but I don't hear nearly as many leading the charge on a national adoption movement. If Roe v. Wade is overturned, where are all of those babies going to end up? Christians should be focused on personal action regardless of legislation, not just waiting for the right number of Supreme Court justices to come along.

I'm not saying don't vote. Do. Vote your convictions and let your voice be heard - that's one of the perks of living in a democracy. But don't let politics breed division, or make you see people in a different light.

If you have passion for an issue, rather than judging someone who doesn't share that passion or viewpoint, just go do something about it. Give your life to it. Be the change you want to see.

We need to pray for our leaders and our country, but always remember that our leaders and country do not define us. We are the generation that will shape the direction culture, government and social action will take in the next 50 years. It's not up to Washington, it's up to us - and I say it's time we step up and lead the charge.

But that means with our lives, our finances and our actions every day. Not just November 4."

all of this being said. i am frustrated with the fact that christians are standing so firmly and supporting john mccain OR barack obama. obviously, as humans, both of them will make mistakes during their presidency. they will both make negative decisions. anyone would. but the thing that bothers me: neither one of them are standing for jesus christ. and that is who i want to be like and who i want to know and love and live for. i would feel wrong for supporting either one of them. neither one of them are my hope or my strength. they will make decisions for the nation that i live in, but i cannot, with a clear conscious, vote for either one of them knowing that i will face my god someday for every decision that i make. there are fundamental issues that i am bothered by both of their responses to. they both crack on each other all the time. they don't convey love. they both lie quite often. it's ridiculous.

but if i believe that god is real and he's as big as he says he is, then i believe he will take care of me and he will not let me burn away. i just wouldn't feel okay with putting my name alongside either one of the choices for presidential candidate unless they were representing jesus and their views on world issues conveyed that representation.

today i just drove on the highway fast and cried and asked god what in the heck i can do to know his heart... and how he feels about all this. i wanted so badly to move far away and get away from this place that has skewed my vision of this god that i want to know. when i lived in africa it seemed easier to know him. it seems there was less in the way and there wasn't anyone telling me what to believe. it was just me and him and the sky with clouds bigger than i'd ever seen.