The dangers of politics: You cannot serve God and Money

Every few years America enters the ritual of politics: mudslinging, lies, destruction of lives, and false promises.   Billions of dollars are spent every political cycle, not to get information out to people so that they can make informed decisions, but rather so that they might hate one of the candidates enough to vote for the other guy (that they really don’t like either).   It’s a fascinating time to be an American.   And it’s potentially one of the hardest times to be a Christian.

I say that because at no other time in American life are Christians more divided than during the political cycle.   Part of the problem is just the nature of our democratic system.   Christians, like other groups, are exploited during election seasons so they can vote for democrats, republicans, the left, the right, the tea party or the green party (I’m personally leaning toward the green-tea party).  We are exploited by 24 hour news, mass media, talk radio, and grassroots campaigns.   A lot of money is used to enrage, to anger, to manipulate, to bear false witness, to cause hatred – which ultimately only serves to inflame our passions not for the love of God, but for the fear of man.

What are Christians to do then during this season?   Not vote?  Whether or not you vote is up to you.   Who you vote for is up to you.  There are Christians on the left, right, the center, democratic, republican and in a variety of other political affiliations.   However as a Christian, whatever you do and whoever you vote for, you have the responsibility during the political season to love your fellow Christian no matter how they cast their vote.    Talk about who you like, pray about who you should vote for, pray for your country, and vote your conscience, but do not forget that your ultimate allegiance is to Our Father in heaven.

So when you talk about the tea party don’t call them names, when you talk about the President don’t bare false witness, when you disagree with the democrats don’t belittle them, and when you argue against republicans … argue against ideas not their humanity.   If Christians during this time, at the Advent and around America, can go through this cycle of politics loving those we disagree with, then we will prove that that we truly serve God and not the billions of dollars spent to control us and our passions.

In one way this is a counter politic.   And this counter politic finds its fullest expression in the liturgy every Sunday when we as the people of God pass the Peace to our neighbors, no matter what political affiliation they identify with.   For it is in the passing of the Peace of Christ that we affirm our first allegiance to the King of heaven and earth.   In a world starved for authority which truly helps people, there is the Peace of Christ.  In a world full of violence and uncertainty, there is the Peace of Christ.  In a world divided and angry, there is the Peace of Christ.   The exchange of the Peace of Christ is the greatest political statement we can ever make.  Let us then vote as we may this season, but let us allow the Peace of Christ to be our primary political statement for the Glory of God.

In the Name of God the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.  Amen.