It’s Only Politics

Political conversations between people of opposing views often result in heated arguments and sometimes, fights. Even friends of two different political ideologies can hardly engage in a healthy debate because somehow one or both of them get all emotionally worked up and thus, lose their cool. I should know. I’ve had a few clashes with friends this election season myself.
I’ve never solicited this kind of exchanges, especially since I know how touchy people get when debating on politics or religion. But I’m not one to shy away from expressing my views either, more so when I see or hear that someone’s view is fundamentally wrong. But I do avoid engaging anyone in a talk about politics when I know him or her to be a staunch Republican. Somehow I’ve learned from talking to their type that they will not have a change of heart, much less a change of views. So, why even bother? I’m sure this same principle is true of Democrats, too.
This being election year, my daily challenge of “warding off” nasty, untrue and unwanted emails gets tougher. Let’s not even talk of forwarded messages that don’t contribute to my well being such as emails that threaten me with bad luck if I don’t forward it to a certain number of peoplewithin a specified time. I’m talking about emails that are outright lies and often disparaging to one and only person, President Obama. These emails reek of hatred, racism and prejudice of all kinds that it felt like I was transported back to the time Martin Luther King. Some of these emails are so twisted and vile that I wished I had never opened or read them at all.
But there are many of them that I like, too – the inspirational, informational and entertaining kind of messages. These I welcome and thank the sender for sharing with me. What I have an issue with are people who keep forwarding me political messages that have not been verified first, especially the manufactured ones. Some nice friends stopped when I asked them to but others just keep going. They seem to think they can win me over despite my expressed views and unmistakable political affiliation by those untruthful articles spewed by the Republican propaganda machine.
But then again, it’s only politics so I started thinking if it’s worth giving up my friendship for it. Of course, the answer is no.
This bloody world of politics offers a wide range of discussions for a Daily Rundown with Chuck Todd, a Morning Joe with John Scarborogh, et. al., an afternoon with Martin Bashir or an evening with likes of Bill Maher and Jon Stewart, Hannity and O’Reilly or Chris Matthews, Ed Schultz and Rachel Maddow. Politics and election are what keep them going and fired up. They also keep advertising dollars flowing, so what’s not to love about it?
But to give up a friend or some friends on account of political differences? C’mon…That’s crazy.
I’d love a healthy and enlightened conversation on the subject though. If we could only maintain proper decorum and keep our blood pressure from rising while making our point, it would be a fruitful exercise.
Why are Evangelical Christians mostly, if not all, Republican?
A friend and political ally once asked me why members of Christian churches are fiercely Republican. Being a member of a Christian church myself, though obviously an exception to this stereotype, I can only offer an apparent reason. First, they are single issue voters – anything that contradicts the Scripture will be a vote against the party or candidate that endorses it. Same sex marriage and abortion are two most important issues Christian voters will take to the ballot box. That is, to them, at the heart of governance; all other things are only secondary.
Why then do I deviate from the mold? Does this make me a bad Christian?
My answer to the first question is simple. If we believe in the separation of the church and state, we should not ask the government to legislate laws that impinge on the individual’s personal liberty. If God gave us the freedom to choose between right and wrong but it comes with responsibility, an expected consequence of our choice or choices because of His laws, why must we ask our government to take away that freedom? If God wanted to do the same, He would have removed the choices and just made us his law-abiding children. People should not be treated like robots made to behave a certain way by man-made laws. Give them the same freedom of choice that God gave them and let them take responsibility for their actions. For it is certain, the punishment of disobeying his laws or reward of obeying it is clear in the Scripture. “For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 6:23)
People who believe in the true message of the Scripture need none of man’s laws to avoid sin. If gays and lesbians succumb to their earthly nature and the Scripture, indeed, forbids it then let them suffer the fires of hell when they die. That’s individual accountability. My sin, my punishment.
My point is, let the individual persons worry about their moral and spiritual lives and the government take care of the larger problems of human existence, those that relate to other specific areas of life such as education and economics and in general, the pursuit of life, liberty and happiness, which are our inalienable rights.
Essential to a person’s faith is his or her ability to secure a life that affords him or her freedom, comfort and happiness. He or she develops spiritual, family and social values around these basic human needs. We must keep our faith but we must also keep working to get food, shelter and clothing.
Just to be clear, the views I’ve just expressed are purely my own. They are never the teachings of the church I belong in. If I lived during the Inquisition, I’d most likely end up literally losing my head for a crime called heresy. Thank God, we don’t live in that dark period for I know I can keep my head.
As for the second question, whether or not my thoughts made me a bad Christian, that’s for my God to judge when He calls me into His kingdom. After all, aren’t we all accountable to him when we die?