If you have read any of my posts from the past 4 years, I rarely delve into the world of politics as a subject. I gave up disusing politics in many areas of my life. I have my opinions, and will share them with a select few people whom I trust to hold me accountable to Christ and His Truth. As a whole though, I just don’t talk about politics as we know it today anymore. And the purpose of my writings have always been about growing in Faith, and being a disciple of Christ. Honestly this post will not be much different.
The first line in the Wiki entry: Politics is a process by which groups of people make collective decisions… See that COLLECTIVE decisions. I would also have to think that this means collective amongst people who may not have the same positions on any given topic, but there is a element of unity to make a collective decision on the issue at hand.
If you watch the news, does not matter the station, politics is divided into two camps that oppose each other so much that they can not make a collective decision. They seem to have forgotten there is a common bond, and idealize their positions as truth while polarizing the other. I am not going to delve into the nature of the division based on any certain topic, you can determine those divisions for yourself if you pay attention. There is another matter that I want to bring up.
Some Christians would say: “You have to belong to a certain side of the political debate to be a moral Christian. “ This goes for both sides. Where is the collective agreement in that? Where is the unity in pushing Christ and His Truth to one side of the political arena or the other?
The honest truth, Christ is opposed to anything the divides us from community and unity. I can not help but think of Paul imploring the Churches to unite under the common bond of Christ. To stand up and say enough of this world and the politics that split up and divide Christ’s Church. Paul implores the Phillipian’s to find unity in Christ and instructs them in the words of Christ how to interact with others.
Phil 2:1-4 If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, 2then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose. 3Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. 4Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.
I just have to wonder how we got to the point where politics on either side became a matter of identity (in some extremes salvation) to a Christian? My guess is when the common bond was forgotten, and selfish gain replaced.
Barbara
/ July 9, 2010Just yesterday, I had a discussion with a friend about the diminished understanding of the word “politics.” Referring to someone as a “politic” person should be a compliment. It means that they deal with other tactfully and diplomatically when approaching a common problem. Most media pundits are biased and invested in their own points of view, but they are not politic and that’s too bad.
On a similar note, the popular media notion of what it means “to argue” and “debate” is out of whack, emphasizing as you so rightly point out, division over community. The first thing we put on the table in my argument classes is that argument is not the yelling and posturing that dominates the meeting. It’s an activity that comes after inquiry and truth-seeking.
The funny thing is that real argument, conducted in a politic spirit, really can bring about community. I can’t count the number of hours I spent in rooms arguing with my colleagues about how to create a new curriculum for our college. But the argument is over now have a new curriculum.
Politics and argument don’t have to lead to permanent division. I do think, as you say, that the division comes when debaters are more interested in personal gain than solutions that benefit as many as possible.
xo Brother
ckroboth
/ July 9, 2010Barbara,
The world as a whole is out of whack with it’s priorities… Thanks for the comment, and I agree with you completely.
Peace and love Sis
Swanny
/ July 9, 2010The same goes for people gathering in different denominations and even non-denominations that push their doctrines as truth instead of gathering under Christ, who IS truth.
ckroboth
/ July 9, 2010Amen Brian.. Peace Bro
Swanny
/ July 13, 2010Question for you… Do you think someone not under the authority of an elder board is an “outsider” or not part of The Body of Christ?
Swanny
/ July 13, 2010no right or wrong… just your thinking
ckroboth
/ July 13, 2010No, I do not believe that nor do I see where it would be taught otherwise in Scripture.
If I did.. Then which churches elder board is correct in Scripture and which is wrong?
I believe the Body of Christ transcends all denominations and divisions that man has established in this world. I believe there is room for structured church elder’s and for home churches that you attend. Christ meets people where they are doesn’t matter where they attend or do church.
The key for me is unity in Christ, and moving people towards discipleship. Which can be done in both environments.
It is up to the Body of Christ to seek that unity beyond the divisions though .
Swanny
/ July 13, 2010Thanks for the quick response.
My other questions regarding this post is … Why “church” membership? Doesn’t membership of a local church break you apart from others and forms something like a political party?
Swanny
ckroboth
/ July 13, 2010I think the question to be rhetorical… Could be asked, Why not church membership?
When a person decides where or how they are going to do church they create a division in the body. Me deciding to goto SECC and you in the home church has put a division between us. (in many ways no different than a person who leaves a church because they don’t like the music) Divsion is division.
BUT, those are our decisions not the lessons of Christ. Even Paul writing to the churches saw the divisions based on proximity, but urged the chruches to be like minded in Christ’s spirit even though they did not meet together. My guess is Galatia did church different than the Ephesians or Philippians. Does not mean they were not united in the message of Christ.
Unity in Christ is not about where and how we do church, it is a Body of Believers that transcends the walls man made, and does not condemn or hold in contempt the other brother/sister for how they do or do not do church. It is about that same body working in God’s Kingdom now to make disciples of all nations.
Another angle altogether on your question?
Are you asking.. Why require church membership?
Swanny
/ July 13, 2010Yes, why require it or even have it. To me it divides.
I was a “member” of SECC for 10 years and served with other brothers and sisters from SECC in prison, but now I can no longer serve with my brothers together in prison because I am not a “member” of that local body anymore… even though I beleive in Christ. Why can’t we go in together unified under Christ?
I see membership of a local church (like SECC or others) separate from being part of the Body of Christ.
People are “members” of SECC by submitting to that specific statement of faith, but it does not mean they are part of the Body of Christ.
So why require it and divide?
Swanny
ckroboth
/ July 13, 2010I agree Membership does not constitute being part of Christ’s Church… But membership also does not exclude a person from being part of Christ’s Church.
That is why I say it is up to the Body of Christ to reach beyond the division of membership or man made divisions.
Swanny
/ July 13, 2010I do not think it excludes either.
I can see people being a “member” and being part of the Body of Christ = you
and people who are not members anywhere and is also part of the Body of Christ = me
Just do not understand why it is there in the first place. It is not biblical by any means.
Thanks for the answers… just a subject I am currently contemplating. Still does not answer why require it?
It is a tough one for me to answer and understand.