What’s an American Christian to do?

Thi s blog hasn’t been about politics, but living in the United States this past few years has meant many people who don’t think about politics are thinking about it now.  I have been interested for a while, but have gotten more active with each passing election.  I admit it, I have attended three tea party get togethers in my area. 

I have talked with people who attend the tea parties, and really, all of the ones I have spoken to seem to be regular people who just don’t like the policies being pushed through Congress and passed on to the President.  Though it’s been said they are an “angry mob” I have found them to be the most polite group of protesters I have seen.  They don’t fit the stereotype of protester, that’s for sure.  Many are grandparents, parents, workers, stay at home moms, generally conservative.  They show up on time and leave at the stated end of the event.  Most have witty signs, and some will yell, but I’ve not seen much animation.  There’s more yelling at a regular high school football game. 

I also listen to different radio/television opinion media.  Those who are with the tea party types speak about the current leaders with a bit of fear.  They predict a socialist type future for the United States, and they state the Constitution is being ignored at the very least, some say destroyed.  All conservative opinion media believes the health care laws are a disaster, as are many of the newest laws put forth.  Politicians on the conservative side echo the conservative opinion media.  There are comments thrown about such as socialist, communist, and marxist.

On the other side of opinion media, and even from the politicians leaning liberal, we hear insults claiming the tea party protesters are right wing extremists.  I watched a piece claiming to have tapes of the Oklahoma City bomber, and using the same exact terms to describe him as are used against tea party people.  It all makes me uneasy.

I know what I think of the laws being passed.  I am not sure what to make of all the name calling and the intensity of it.  I also know personally the media slants things to appear a certain way.  The local tea parties I’ve attended have been under numbered, often outright ignored, but when reported often the more colorful people have been highlighted.   This is a small annoyance to me, but still tells me that if the media cannot be honest in the small details (like actual number attending), they are capable of making the whole group look racist or extreme when it’s not.

And the pen cuts both ways.  There are many claims about the left out there, and many of them I refuse to jump on.  I’d rather focus on the issues presented and decide based on what’s on paper (if I can find the time to read through it all!) rather than what people claim about a person or group.  We can disagree and still vote to decide things. 

There’s a lot of yelling out there, a lot of obnoxious opinions floating…who can be trusted?  This time in our history as a nation is new to my generation, the climate is different.  I’m not sure exactly what to do!

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Visit to Another Church

 

(Okay, for the exact sermon click below…I’m sure you’ll find I missed or added something in my text)….

http://www.redeemer-pca.org/files/Redeemer/Sermons/826.2010-04-04%20-%20Matthew%2028.1-7%20%20selected%20passages%20-%20God%27s%20Greatest%20Statement%20-%20Felich.mp3

Though we’ve really enjoyed the church we attend, we decided to visit friends which put us in another church for Resurrection Sunday.  I spent most of the time in the nursing room since I have a new baby, and that did hinder my experience (as did my younger children when I did sit in the service).  We do enjoy our children, but I cannot listen with a toddler and 4 year old who have yet to learn to sit without pointing things out to me…and with a newborn it’s more difficult. 

The church was a nice Presbyterian church that claims it’s “Reformation roots.”  The pastor spoke about (and I’m paraphrasing so I may miss exactly how he titled it) the most important words God spoke that were recorded in the Bible.  He went from Genesis through the whole Bible pointing out many major statements with events such as the creation, sending Moses and the people to the promised land, promises to Abraham, David, and many others.  He quoted the prophets as they spoke about the promised Messiah.  He quoted the gospels as Mary and Joseph were told about Jesus, a baby soon to be born, and as Jesus was annouced to the shepherds.  Many moments in Jesus’ life were highlighted.  He even quoted “it is finished” stating that it was still NOT the most important statement.  No, the most important statement was “greetings” according to this pastor.  This is because it was the first thing Christ said after he was raised (he mentioned it’s also interpreted as “joy” or “be joyful”).  The reason this is most important is that without Christ raising from the dead, we have no hope and all that came before is in vain for sinners. 

 I rather enjoyed what I did hear of the sermon and most especially that I was challenged to think.  No new information was presented, but highlights from across time were brougth forth in an interesting sermon on Resurrection Sunday without special tricks.  No one was offered a show, there was no fancy song and dance, no skits, no entertainment.  Just a sermon preached from the Bible. 

I am sure it was a stark contrast to the seeker friendly message that was presented in many churches, after all, Easter Sunday pulls in the generally unchurched.  Of course we want to make the message interesting to these people, but as a friend of mine pointed out, the messages at church on a Sunday morning are for believers.  They can be accessible to non-believers, but they are for building up the body.

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