Let The Christians Of The World Agree That They Will Not Kill Rob Bell

The following was supposed to be published in the May edition of the Philadelphia Biblical University student newspaper “The Scroll.” However, time was short, and the edition did not get published. I have posted it here as my last reflection on Rob Bell’s book Love Wins.

A Modest Proposal for Peace

A Modest Proposal for Peace

A favorite theologian of mine tells a story about a poster he has on his office door of two people embracing and the statement, “A Modest Proposal For Peace: Let The Christians Of The World Agree That They Will Not Kill Each Other.” Every once in awhile, someone will drop by his office and dispute the sign that Christians shouldn’t kill anyone. This theologian will chuckle and wittingly respond, “Well, we have to start somewhere.”

At one point in Mark’s Gospel, Jesus is preaching and finds himself in a peculiar situation—his family thinks he is crazy and attempts to save him from himself. Someone tells him that his mother and brothers are outside and want to speak with him. Jesus’ responds,

“Who are my mother and my brothers?” he asked.
Then he looked at those seated in a circle around him and said, “Here are my mother and my brothers! Whoever does God’s will is my brother and sister and mother” (Mk. 3:33-35 NIV; emphasis added).

Jesus, inaugurating God’s kingdom, redefines what it means to be “family.” When I follow Jesus, loyalty to my biological family takes a back seat to my familial obligation to other Christians.

Now, if you are like me, the people in my biological family are some of the most aggravating people I know. I don’t always enjoy their company. I argue with them. I may even yell at them. But, in the end, my brother is my brother; my sister, my sister. They are not my enemies. Something deeper connects us—blood.

When you decide to follow Jesus, you have a familial obligation to anyone who is also doing his or her best to follow Jesus. Paul consistently rebukes division because we are a family. Something deeper connects us—Christ.

Love Wins

Love Wins

Rob Bell’s Love Wins: A Book About Heaven, Hell, and the Fate of Every Person Who Ever Lived has been the source of much debate and controversy within the evangelical world. Bell’s basic argument (essentially, repackaging what others like C.S. Lewis have said) is as follows:

  • (a) God through Christ loves everyone.
  • (b) Because of A, he will not encroach on human freedom.
  • (c) Because of A and B, if one resists God through embodying a hellish life, he or she will be allowed hell in the next. If one accepts God through embodying heavenly attributes, he or she will be allowed heaven after death.
  • (d) After death, God, in his love, gives individuals chances to be redeemed.
  • (e) In the end, “love wins” because God through Christ loves us so much he give us what we want—if hell, then hell; if heaven, then heaven.
Rob Bell

Rob Bell

I don’t know Rob Bell personally, but I have been following him for about 6 years now. Bell makes following Jesus his passion, and I respect that. I struggle with some of his views, but I take what is good, keep it, and filter out the rest.

But you know what? Rob Bell’s my brother, and, because he’s my brother, I have a familial obligation to him. If I have a familial obligation to Rob Bell, even if I disagree with him, I won’t kill him by labeling him a “false teacher” or a “heretic,” or by condemning him to hell or writing him off. Something deeper connects us.

He
is
my
brother.

So, let the Christians of the world agree that they will not kill Rob Bell.

How Should Christians Celebrate the 4th of July?

 Someone once asked me, “If such American holidays are part of the ‘empire,’ what should we [Christians] do? Ignore it?” I think that’s a great question. I don’t want to be too critical of American holidays because there are many good reminders in them, and that’s what I’d like to focus on here.

Let’s look at it this way—the 4th of July is on Saturday, and so it will likely be that many Christians will celebrate this event on Sunday the 5th. A general question is, should we celebrate an American holiday on Sundays, waving flags, putting our PowerPoints in red, white, and blue font, etc.? The answer simply is, such things are unnecessary for our gatherings. However, I do think there is value in partaking in an Independence Day celebration. Here’s a few things I think we should focus on this weekend:

1. Freedom. I’m not talking about surfacey, “Lord, thank you that we live in a country where we are free to worship you,” or things like that. Those things are often true, but they’ve become cliché. Christians must promote freedom in Christ. Christ most certainly came to bring freedom to the captives. This doesn’t mean that America is Christ’s right arm. It means that on Independence Day let’s be sure to remember the freedom Christ gave us.
2. Prayer. We must pray for those who serve our country, that is, our leaders. Pray for Obama, pray for your Governor, your representatives, and so on. They need prayer.
3. Joy. Be joyful in the friends and family the Lord has provided you with. Be joyful in the creation since many of us will be playing wiffle ball or chasing fireflies. These things cherish God’s creation.
4. Beauty. One of my favorite Independence Day traditions is going to see fireworks. I think we are attracted to their beauty. You will be part of many beautiful things this weekend so appreciate them.
5. Interdependence. See Shane’s article below. But the fact is, holidays remind us how dependent we are on one another. As someone makes you a burger, or invites you to play volleyball, or turns on your fire hydrant for the kids in the neighborhood, remember we are all in this together.

Those are just a few thoughts. What about you? What should Christians celebrate this weekend?

For a few more thoughts, go see Shane Claiborne’s post on Sojourners called: “40 Ways to Celebrate Interdependence Day on July 4

Why Every Christian should read “Jesus for President” – II

Wow, politics again. What is this?

 

Today, I would like to address “value voting” (I’ve seen/heard a lot of this growing up but one example of what I’m talking about here). I do believe that “value voters” are wonderful people who mean well. Mostly, these voters are composed of conservative, evangelical Christians (because we all know we evangelicals have all the right values, right?). But the more I hear about what the Christian “values” are that I should be voting on, I’m not sure what’s so “Christian” about them.

 

When did border control become a Christian issue? When did school choice become Christian? When did tax increase become Christian? When did individual property ownership become Christian? When did who become the next Judicial appointees become Christian? When did fighting against social healthcare become Christian? When did capitalism, democracy, and disarming other countries of nuclear arms (and, interestingly, not ourselves) become Christian values? 

 

In all honesty, they sound more like American values (particularly, Republican) than anything else, don’t they?

 

I do believe there are certain Christian responses to certain issues. However, the answers I’ve heard from many Christians to the above issues don’t always sound that Christian. Plus, many of those seem morally neutral when it comes to our faith. 

Remember: “Christian” is essentially another way of saying “little Christs,” as the early followers were called in Antioch. It seems that we “little Christs” in America have become more like “little [Uncle] Sams” [who ironically wants/chooses you like Jesus chooses us (John 15v16)].

 

I think if we “little Christs” took seriously (I’m not using this lightly) the words of Jesus, many of these “values” for which I should be voting on would wash away. For instance, if we really believed “blessed are the peacemakers,” would we support blowing all the terrorists away to “in the name of the Lord.” We would try to be creative in order to choose peace. If we really believed Jesus when he said, “The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me, to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor” (Luke 4v18-19), would we still be collecting debt from third-world countries who can’t afford it? If we really believed Jesus that “all authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me” (Matthew 28v17), then wouldn’t we stop being so paranoid (yes, Americans can be the most paranoid of people) about who has what nuclear arms and just rest in Jesus? If we took seriously God’s concern for the poor and foreigners amongst us – “When you reap the harvest of your land, do not reap to the very edges of your field or gather the gleanings of your harvest. Leave them for the poor and the alien. I am the LORD your God” (Leviticus 23v22) – or “love your neighbor as yourself” – would we care so much about individual property ownership?

I’m not sure what all the answers are to political issues, but I know that we don’t normally think about these things. We tend to be lazy in our responses.

 

What are our values?

 

Figure it out (feel free to comment). But let’s put Christ above the American flag. We’re are little Christs.

 

Let Paul’s words resonate within you when choosing what our values are  - we must think differently than the world – “Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.” (Romans 12v2). 

Why Every Christian should read “Jesus for President” – II

Wow, politics again. What is this?

 

Today, I would like to address “value voting” (I’ve seen/heard a lot of this growing up but one example of what I’m talking about here). I do believe that “value voters” are wonderful people who mean well. Mostly, these voters are composed of conservative, evangelical Christians (because we all know we evangelicals have all the right values, right?). But the more I hear about what the Christian “values” are that I should be voting on, I’m not sure what’s so “Christian” about them.

 

When did border control become a Christian issue? When did school choice become Christian? When did tax increase become Christian? When did individual property ownership become Christian? When did who become the next Judicial appointees become Christian? When did fighting against social healthcare become Christian? When did capitalism, democracy, and disarming other countries of nuclear arms (and, interestingly, not ourselves) become Christian values? 

 

In all honesty, they sound more like American values (particularly, Republican) than anything else, don’t they?

 

I do believe there are certain Christian responses to certain issues. However, the answers I’ve heard from many Christians to the above issues don’t always sound that Christian. Plus, many of those seem morally neutral when it comes to our faith. 

Remember: “Christian” is essentially another way of saying “little Christs,” as the early followers were called in Antioch. It seems that we “little Christs” in America have become more like “little [Uncle] Sams” [who ironically wants/chooses you like Jesus chooses us (John 15v16)].

 

I think if we “little Christs” took seriously (I’m not using this lightly) the words of Jesus, many of these “values” for which I should be voting on would wash away. For instance, if we really believed “blessed are the peacemakers,” would we support blowing all the terrorists away to “in the name of the Lord.” We would try to be creative in order to choose peace. If we really believed Jesus when he said, “The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me, to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor” (Luke 4v18-19), would we still be collecting debt from third-world countries who can’t afford it? If we really believed Jesus that “all authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me” (Matthew 28v17), then wouldn’t we stop being so paranoid (yes, Americans can be the most paranoid of people) about who has what nuclear arms and just rest in Jesus? If we took seriously God’s concern for the poor and foreigners amongst us – “When you reap the harvest of your land, do not reap to the very edges of your field or gather the gleanings of your harvest. Leave them for the poor and the alien. I am the LORD your God” (Leviticus 23v22) – or “love your neighbor as yourself” – would we care so much about individual property ownership?

I’m not sure what all the answers are to political issues, but I know that we don’t normally think about these things. We tend to be lazy in our responses.

 

What are our values?

 

Figure it out (feel free to comment). But let’s put Christ above the American flag. We’re are little Christs.

 

Let Paul’s words resonate within you when choosing what our values are  - we must think differently than the world – “Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.” (Romans 12v2). 

Why Every Christian should read “Jesus for President” – II

Wow, politics again. What is this?

 

Today, I would like to address “value voting” (I’ve seen/heard a lot of this growing up but one example of what I’m talking about here). I do believe that “value voters” are wonderful people who mean well. Mostly, these voters are composed of conservative, evangelical Christians (because we all know we evangelicals have all the right values, right?). But the more I hear about what the Christian “values” are that I should be voting on, I’m not sure what’s so “Christian” about them.

 

When did border control become a Christian issue? When did school choice become Christian? When did tax increase become Christian? When did individual property ownership become Christian? When did who become the next Judicial appointees become Christian? When did fighting against social healthcare become Christian? When did capitalism, democracy, and disarming other countries of nuclear arms (and, interestingly, not ourselves) become Christian values? 

 

In all honesty, they sound more like American values (particularly, Republican) than anything else, don’t they?

 

I do believe there are certain Christian responses to certain issues. However, the answers I’ve heard from many Christians to the above issues don’t always sound that Christian. Plus, many of those seem morally neutral when it comes to our faith. 

Remember: “Christian” is essentially another way of saying “little Christs,” as the early followers were called in Antioch. It seems that we “little Christs” in America have become more like “little [Uncle] Sams” [who ironically wants/chooses you like Jesus chooses us (John 15v16)].

 

I think if we “little Christs” took seriously (I’m not using this lightly) the words of Jesus, many of these “values” for which I should be voting on would wash away. For instance, if we really believed “blessed are the peacemakers,” would we support blowing all the terrorists away to “in the name of the Lord.” We would try to be creative in order to choose peace. If we really believed Jesus when he said, “The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me, to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor” (Luke 4v18-19), would we still be collecting debt from third-world countries who can’t afford it? If we really believed Jesus that “all authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me” (Matthew 28v17), then wouldn’t we stop being so paranoid (yes, Americans can be the most paranoid of people) about who has what nuclear arms and just rest in Jesus? If we took seriously God’s concern for the poor and foreigners amongst us – “When you reap the harvest of your land, do not reap to the very edges of your field or gather the gleanings of your harvest. Leave them for the poor and the alien. I am the LORD your God” (Leviticus 23v22) – or “love your neighbor as yourself” – would we care so much about individual property ownership?

I’m not sure what all the answers are to political issues, but I know that we don’t normally think about these things. We tend to be lazy in our responses.

 

What are our values?

 

Figure it out (feel free to comment). But let’s put Christ above the American flag. We’re are little Christs.

 

Let Paul’s words resonate within you when choosing what our values are  - we must think differently than the world – “Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.” (Romans 12v2). 

Why Every Christian should read “Jesus for President” – II

Wow, politics again. What is this?

 

Today, I would like to address “value voting” (I’ve seen/heard a lot of this growing up but one example of what I’m talking about here). I do believe that “value voters” are wonderful people who mean well. Mostly, these voters are composed of conservative, evangelical Christians (because we all know we evangelicals have all the right values, right?). But the more I hear about what the Christian “values” are that I should be voting on, I’m not sure what’s so “Christian” about them.

 

When did border control become a Christian issue? When did school choice become Christian? When did tax increase become Christian? When did individual property ownership become Christian? When did who become the next Judicial appointees become Christian? When did fighting against social healthcare become Christian? When did capitalism, democracy, and disarming other countries of nuclear arms (and, interestingly, not ourselves) become Christian values? 

 

In all honesty, they sound more like American values (particularly, Republican) than anything else, don’t they?

 

I do believe there are certain Christian responses to certain issues. However, the answers I’ve heard from many Christians to the above issues don’t always sound that Christian. Plus, many of those seem morally neutral when it comes to our faith. 

Remember: “Christian” is essentially another way of saying “little Christs,” as the early followers were called in Antioch. It seems that we “little Christs” in America have become more like “little [Uncle] Sams” [who ironically wants/chooses you like Jesus chooses us (John 15v16)].

 

I think if we “little Christs” took seriously (I’m not using this lightly) the words of Jesus, many of these “values” for which I should be voting on would wash away. For instance, if we really believed “blessed are the peacemakers,” would we support blowing all the terrorists away to “in the name of the Lord.” We would try to be creative in order to choose peace. If we really believed Jesus when he said, “The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me, to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor” (Luke 4v18-19), would we still be collecting debt from third-world countries who can’t afford it? If we really believed Jesus that “all authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me” (Matthew 28v17), then wouldn’t we stop being so paranoid (yes, Americans can be the most paranoid of people) about who has what nuclear arms and just rest in Jesus? If we took seriously God’s concern for the poor and foreigners amongst us – “When you reap the harvest of your land, do not reap to the very edges of your field or gather the gleanings of your harvest. Leave them for the poor and the alien. I am the LORD your God” (Leviticus 23v22) – or “love your neighbor as yourself” – would we care so much about individual property ownership?

I’m not sure what all the answers are to political issues, but I know that we don’t normally think about these things. We tend to be lazy in our responses.

 

What are our values?

 

Figure it out (feel free to comment). But let’s put Christ above the American flag. We’re are little Christs.

 

Let Paul’s words resonate within you when choosing what our values are  - we must think differently than the world – “Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.” (Romans 12v2). 

Why Every Christian should read “Jesus for President” – II

Wow, politics again. What is this?

 

Today, I would like to address “value voting” (I’ve seen/heard a lot of this growing up but one example of what I’m talking about here). I do believe that “value voters” are wonderful people who mean well. Mostly, these voters are composed of conservative, evangelical Christians (because we all know we evangelicals have all the right values, right?). But the more I hear about what the Christian “values” are that I should be voting on, I’m not sure what’s so “Christian” about them.

 

When did border control become a Christian issue? When did school choice become Christian? When did tax increase become Christian? When did individual property ownership become Christian? When did who become the next Judicial appointees become Christian? When did fighting against social healthcare become Christian? When did capitalism, democracy, and disarming other countries of nuclear arms (and, interestingly, not ourselves) become Christian values? 

 

In all honesty, they sound more like American values (particularly, Republican) than anything else, don’t they?

 

I do believe there are certain Christian responses to certain issues. However, the answers I’ve heard from many Christians to the above issues don’t always sound that Christian. Plus, many of those seem morally neutral when it comes to our faith. 

Remember: “Christian” is essentially another way of saying “little Christs,” as the early followers were called in Antioch. It seems that we “little Christs” in America have become more like “little [Uncle] Sams” [who ironically wants/chooses you like Jesus chooses us (John 15v16)].

 

I think if we “little Christs” took seriously (I’m not using this lightly) the words of Jesus, many of these “values” for which I should be voting on would wash away. For instance, if we really believed “blessed are the peacemakers,” would we support blowing all the terrorists away to “in the name of the Lord.” We would try to be creative in order to choose peace. If we really believed Jesus when he said, “The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me, to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor” (Luke 4v18-19), would we still be collecting debt from third-world countries who can’t afford it? If we really believed Jesus that “all authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me” (Matthew 28v17), then wouldn’t we stop being so paranoid (yes, Americans can be the most paranoid of people) about who has what nuclear arms and just rest in Jesus? If we took seriously God’s concern for the poor and foreigners amongst us – “When you reap the harvest of your land, do not reap to the very edges of your field or gather the gleanings of your harvest. Leave them for the poor and the alien. I am the LORD your God” (Leviticus 23v22) – or “love your neighbor as yourself” – would we care so much about individual property ownership?

I’m not sure what all the answers are to political issues, but I know that we don’t normally think about these things. We tend to be lazy in our responses.

 

What are our values?

 

Figure it out (feel free to comment). But let’s put Christ above the American flag. We’re are little Christs.

 

Let Paul’s words resonate within you when choosing what our values are  - we must think differently than the world – “Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.” (Romans 12v2). 

Why Every Christian should read “Jesus for President” – II

Wow, politics again. What is this?

 

Today, I would like to address “value voting” (I’ve seen/heard a lot of this growing up but one example of what I’m talking about here). I do believe that “value voters” are wonderful people who mean well. Mostly, these voters are composed of conservative, evangelical Christians (because we all know we evangelicals have all the right values, right?). But the more I hear about what the Christian “values” are that I should be voting on, I’m not sure what’s so “Christian” about them.

 

When did border control become a Christian issue? When did school choice become Christian? When did tax increase become Christian? When did individual property ownership become Christian? When did who become the next Judicial appointees become Christian? When did fighting against social healthcare become Christian? When did capitalism, democracy, and disarming other countries of nuclear arms (and, interestingly, not ourselves) become Christian values? 

 

In all honesty, they sound more like American values (particularly, Republican) than anything else, don’t they?

 

I do believe there are certain Christian responses to certain issues. However, the answers I’ve heard from many Christians to the above issues don’t always sound that Christian. Plus, many of those seem morally neutral when it comes to our faith. 

Remember: “Christian” is essentially another way of saying “little Christs,” as the early followers were called in Antioch. It seems that we “little Christs” in America have become more like “little [Uncle] Sams” [who ironically wants/chooses you like Jesus chooses us (John 15v16)].

 

I think if we “little Christs” took seriously (I’m not using this lightly) the words of Jesus, many of these “values” for which I should be voting on would wash away. For instance, if we really believed “blessed are the peacemakers,” would we support blowing all the terrorists away to “in the name of the Lord.” We would try to be creative in order to choose peace. If we really believed Jesus when he said, “The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me, to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor” (Luke 4v18-19), would we still be collecting debt from third-world countries who can’t afford it? If we really believed Jesus that “all authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me” (Matthew 28v17), then wouldn’t we stop being so paranoid (yes, Americans can be the most paranoid of people) about who has what nuclear arms and just rest in Jesus? If we took seriously God’s concern for the poor and foreigners amongst us – “When you reap the harvest of your land, do not reap to the very edges of your field or gather the gleanings of your harvest. Leave them for the poor and the alien. I am the LORD your God” (Leviticus 23v22) – or “love your neighbor as yourself” – would we care so much about individual property ownership?

I’m not sure what all the answers are to political issues, but I know that we don’t normally think about these things. We tend to be lazy in our responses.

 

What are our values?

 

Figure it out (feel free to comment). But let’s put Christ above the American flag. We’re are little Christs.

 

Let Paul’s words resonate within you when choosing what our values are  - we must think differently than the world – “Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.” (Romans 12v2). 

Why every Christian should read “Jesus for President”

Seriously. Everyone should.

I swore I’d never write about politics on here. I’ve really come to despise politics. And I really like the book Jesus for President by Shane Claiborne and Chris Haw, but that’s actually not the point here. Thom Turner pointed out this photo to me…

 

…and I was pretty upset. 

 

Why was I upset? 

 

Well, I mean I’m against anyone who murders babies, but…

First, I’m upset because this is degrading to Obama (which I assume is who this man is against). He isn’t Muslim. He’s been Christian for at least 20 years. He isn’t for all abortion – he’s particularly against partial-birth abortion. Second, Christians pledge allegiance to Jesus Christ our Lord. We do not pledge allegiance to any particular candidate – McCain, Obama, Ron Paul, or Mickey Mouse. I’m not for or against Obama. I’m not for or against McCain. I’m for Jesus Christ. Third, I highly doubt that all Ohio Christians are against Obama so…yeah.

Fourth, what happened to love? Are we loving people by lying (yes, if I’m being honest, it is lying) about other people? [Please check out other false rumors that have been started about Obama and proven incorrect here (supportive of Obama, but I think for the most part it's fair) such as his views on abortion, raising taxes, and involvement with Islam.] 

 

Dear America, Dear World -

This is not my Jesus. My Jesus does not make false claims about reality. My Jesus does not support one candidate. My Jesus does not fit into one party. However…

 

My Jesus does claim to be King. My Jesus does claim to be the Son of God. My Jesus does claim to be greater than Caesar. My Jesus does have all authority on heaven and earth. 

[In fact, I think if Jesus ran for President, people (wherever they fall on the political spectrum) would want to crucify him again. For all I know, I may be one of those in the crowd though I sure hope not. People still don't like to hear what he has to say (I mean, that's why we spiritualize a lot of his sayings, right?).] 

 

Remember: Ohio Christians, “my kingdom is not of this world…my kingdom is from another place” (John 18v36). If that is true, let’s stop looking for the hope of the world in any candidate (even Obama said that America is the last great hope of the world). Let’s instead give our full allegiance to Jesus Christ alone and love others as we love ourselves. In other words, let’s believe the creed of Jesus, “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, Love your neighbor as yourself” (Luke 10v27). America, politicians, presidents, the United Nations, capitalism, communism, or any other human-created system is not our savior. That title belongs only to Jesus Christ.

Why every Christian should read “Jesus for President”

Seriously. Everyone should.

I swore I’d never write about politics on here. I’ve really come to despise politics. And I really like the book Jesus for President by Shane Claiborne and Chris Haw, but that’s actually not the point here. Thom Turner pointed out this photo to me…

 

…and I was pretty upset. 

 

Why was I upset? 

 

Well, I mean I’m against anyone who murders babies, but…

First, I’m upset because this is degrading to Obama (which I assume is who this man is against). He isn’t Muslim. He’s been Christian for at least 20 years. He isn’t for all abortion – he’s particularly against partial-birth abortion. Second, Christians pledge allegiance to Jesus Christ our Lord. We do not pledge allegiance to any particular candidate – McCain, Obama, Ron Paul, or Mickey Mouse. I’m not for or against Obama. I’m not for or against McCain. I’m for Jesus Christ. Third, I highly doubt that all Ohio Christians are against Obama so…yeah.

Fourth, what happened to love? Are we loving people by lying (yes, if I’m being honest, it is lying) about other people? [Please check out other false rumors that have been started about Obama and proven incorrect here (supportive of Obama, but I think for the most part it's fair) such as his views on abortion, raising taxes, and involvement with Islam.] 

 

Dear America, Dear World -

This is not my Jesus. My Jesus does not make false claims about reality. My Jesus does not support one candidate. My Jesus does not fit into one party. However…

 

My Jesus does claim to be King. My Jesus does claim to be the Son of God. My Jesus does claim to be greater than Caesar. My Jesus does have all authority on heaven and earth. 

[In fact, I think if Jesus ran for President, people (wherever they fall on the political spectrum) would want to crucify him again. For all I know, I may be one of those in the crowd though I sure hope not. People still don't like to hear what he has to say (I mean, that's why we spiritualize a lot of his sayings, right?).] 

 

Remember: Ohio Christians, “my kingdom is not of this world…my kingdom is from another place” (John 18v36). If that is true, let’s stop looking for the hope of the world in any candidate (even Obama said that America is the last great hope of the world). Let’s instead give our full allegiance to Jesus Christ alone and love others as we love ourselves. In other words, let’s believe the creed of Jesus, “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, Love your neighbor as yourself” (Luke 10v27). America, politicians, presidents, the United Nations, capitalism, communism, or any other human-created system is not our savior. That title belongs only to Jesus Christ.

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