A Political Re-Run

Today, in light of recent news in the American political scene, here is a "re-run" of a post that originally "aired" on January 5, 2008...a few days after the Iowa caucuses of the '08 Presidential Campaign. The Republican winner of those caucuses was Gov. Mike Huckabee, and the Democratic winner was then-Senator B. Hussein Obama. I specifically ask that, in light of the Democrats' insane attempts to literally force their health-care legislation on a skeptical American public, that you read the last two paragraphs. But definitely peruse the whole article, and memorize the second quote from G. K. Chesterton!





The other night, my wife Cherith and I were watching the results of the Iowa caucus. As usual, there were roaring crowds, enthusiastic candidates, and media pundits ready with their fast analysis of the results (which usually changes from day to day).

Obama, the Democratic victor, gave what was by far the most inspiring speech, focusing on the historic moment of the first African-American to win a presidential caucus/primary, and on the hope that he will bring as a candidate of change (although change to what, I haven't yet gotten from him).

The speech that caught my attention was Huckabee's, the Republican winner who seems to be championed by many Evangelical Christians. Certainly more "folksy" and less polished than Obama's, he made reference to a quote by G. K. Chesterton...one of my favorite writers and a major influence on all of the Inklings.

The quote was: "A true warrior fights not because he hates those in front of him, but because he loves those behind him." A great quote, which Huckabee proceeded to take totally out of context and misapply to his point.

However, Huckabee's use of Chesterton in a political speech made me think of another quote from Chesterton in his book, The Everlasting Man: "A despotism may almost be defined as a tired democracy. As fatigue falls on a community, the citizens are less inclined for that eternal vigilance which has truly been called the price of liberty; and they prefer to arm only one single sentinel to watch the city while they sleep."

A despotism is a tired democracy. What a statement.

I look around the US, and in many respects, a tired democracy is exactly what I see, even among faithful Christians.

I see religious conservatives wanting government to legislate their moral principles and allow Christian orthodoxy to intrude into the public sphere...rather than doing the hard task of building relationships, loving, evangelizing, and discipling those who are lost.

I see liberal-thinking Christians wanting government to demonstrate the compassion and justice of Scripture through government entitlement programs and universal health care, all the while using most of their budgets on congregational programs and structures that are often more culture-bound than biblically mandated.

I see the majority of Americans believing that government owes them something beyond being a source of impartial law, an enforcer of contracts among people, and a protector from criminals and foreign enemies...which was implicitly the vision of our Founding Fathers.

Government has gotten so large and has taken on so many functions, we would hardly recognize the very frugal and simple government that existed for the first 100 years of our nation. Ironically, when our national government was small and had limited functions, it was then that our local communities were strong and vibrant, because those local communities were empowered to do things for themselves rather than immediately relying on Washington, D.C.

Is America slowly on the road to becoming a despotism? Are American citizens really more interested in being "cared for" by the government, rather than trusting in God and relying on their own ingenuity and the willing generosity of family, friends, and churches in their communities? Is it even possible to return to the vision of a national government so eloquently stated by Thomas Jefferson: "...a wise and frugal government, which shall restrain men from injuring one another, which shall leave them otherwise free to regulate their own pursuits of industry and improvement, and shall not take from the mouth of labor the bread it has earned"? Or has government become yet another idol in which we choose to put our unquestioning faith?

In conclusion, a brief lesson of history: In 1933, Adolf Hitler, perhaps the greatest despot of the 20th century, was elected into office. He did not seize power; it was given to him by the people of Germany, and as he usurped more and more authority while silencing his critics, the majority of Germans (including the church) chose to do nothing.

I pray to God that never happens here, but something tells me He might feel like teaching us the hard way.....

Waves

Yesterday I reconnected with a friend I hadn't seen in over 10 years.

He and I attended both college and seminary at the same time. We didn't exactly mingle with the same crowd, but we had a common interest in music and a desire to follow Christ. (At the time, we both were much better at the first than the second!). After seminary, he gave me the great honor of playing piano at his wedding.

For part of the day we went swimming in Lake Michigan. The weather here has been somewhat inconstant of late, and so yesterday we were able to enjoy an adventurous swim in incredibly choppy waters with waves eight feet tall (and taller) and a strong current that moved us as rapidly as a free-flowing river. At a public beach, they probably would not have allowed anyone to venture into such waters, but this was a private, swim-at-your-own-risk beach, so we went for it. Had my worrisome wife witnessed this behavior from her 36-year-old, out-of-shape, asthmatic husband, she probably would not have approved. (Sorry, honey).

We felt utterly ebullient as we enjoyed mother nature's aggressive side...yet my friend and I also delved into deep spiritual conversation. (Yes, even while treading water between the crashing waves). We talked about some doubts and struggles of ministry, we reminisced about the many immature decisions we made as college students, and in general we shared an authenticity that I find only infrequently among fellow Christ-followers, both clergy and laypeople.

I had hoped that my day's retreat with my friend would bring some fresh word from God to reinvigorate my ministry. God did not disappoint. He spoke to me in the waves. Just like my heroes, the Celtic Christians, who often boasted of their ability to see "glory in the grey," I am thankful to God for letting me see deeper meaning -- His meaning -- in that time of swimming.

The Celtic saints also believed that it is in the wildness, unpredictability, and ambiguity of life that the life of God is most intensely felt. Immersed in those waves, God challenged me to live my life with more boldness and authenticity than I have to this point. Too often I have allowed fear and cynicism to define how to relate to the world, other people, and even myself. I am uncomfortable with mystery and mess. I do not assert myself the way I should for fear of rejection and failure.

Do I trust God enough to be at peace in the waves of life...to fully immerse myself, even without full understanding? Can I let go of the destructive belief that everything in life must conform to my neat, rational categories?

Driving home last night, processing all that had transpired, God clearly spoke to me that I am missing out on much of what He has in store for me because I have been afraid to simply venture into, and enjoy, the waves of life. I see with abundant clarity some changes that I need to make in my own life, so that I can be more at peace with myself and more effective at sharing Jesus with others.

Lately, I have been asking a lot of questions of God. In true divine fashion, He responded, not by revealing answers, but by revealing Himself. And I'm pretty sure I'm satisfied.

Thanks, God, for a true experience of καιρος.

And thanks Charly and Christina, for a great afternoon of fellowship, music, and waves!