In our American politics, it saddens me to see many Christians on both side of the aisle apply bad theology and mistake their parties worldview for the Biblical one.

I came across this quote in a book about worldviews and I saw both party platforms in it.

First the Republican: “The humanist assumes that to be free is to do whatever one pleases. If a person’s reason is clear and their will is free, their only limitations are physical.”

I don’t think all Republicans are humanist, nor do I think all would agree with this. But the basic philosophical under pinnings of the platform are—work hard, set your mind to it, freedom is your right and you can achieve anything in this country. “Yes You Can!”

Next the Democrats: “The Marxist assumes just the opposite. People are in bondage, personally, intellectually, and morally to economic forces beyond their control. Freedom is simply participation in a new collective political consciousness and the inevitable historical process taking them to a classless utopia.”

Again, I don’t think all Democrats are Marxists, nor do I think all would agree with this. But, as with the Republican/humanist underpinning, so goes the democrat philosophical platform—we should share equally in our burdens as Americans. There’s nothing wrong with those who have more sharing a little extra with those who have less—it’s called being neighborly. Together we can bring the change we need. “Yes We Can!”

But the Biblical world view says neither. It says apart from Christ I can do nothing, but in Christ I can or we can do all things. We fail the mission of the church and our calling as ambassadors of a new kingdom when we as Christians forget this.

Okay, so I’m not going as far as some others have in linking this kinda propaganda to everyones favorite German—I don’t think that’s a respectable nor an entirely sensible correlation even though there are similarities (not with the man, but with the propaganda and devotion to the man). BUT, this is still pretty wacky to me.

I live in California, but come from the MidWest, I think that many times people on the west coast have no idea how the rest of the country thinks, especially the small towns through the middle of our country and this video is a case in point. I can’t believe someone actually thought this was a good idea …

Wow.

Check it out:

Posted by email from thinkshawn’s posterous

So I just saw these pics on my sister-in-laws website. So cool, I LOVE these pics. Especially the first 2 : ) I’m bummed I can’t just go over and see this little guy. Can’t wait to see him at Christmas.

See and download the full gallery on posterous

Posted by email from thinkshawn’s posterous

I snapped this pic last week of my dad, brother and his new son. Great moment. Someday little Ian will appreciate it.

Posted by email from thinkshawn’s posterous

I found this Political personality test through a lively discussion about politics on my friend Kevin Hendrick’s blog.
I thought I’d drop the results of mine here. Let’s just say it shows that I tend to want less government and more economic and personal responsibility. That means, I’m responsible to not only take care of my family but to lookout for my neighbor and beyond as God and conscience direct.

I believe we’re in a weird place as Christians living in a Democratic Republic. We have the right and civic duty to lend our voice and vote for the direction of our larger society. We all want the world to be a better place. We want children not to starve, injustice to be stopped and love for all to flourish.

Suffice it to say, I’m not holding my breath for any government to lead us to this Utopia. Although I love the country that God has placed me in. There is only one government that will lead to perfection, it belongs on the shoulders of Christ and I am eagerly awaiting it.

Tags: Politics, Jesus, Republican, Democrat, Christianity, America

Found this note I scribbled down in a church service in Feb. of 2004:

“You came and restored dignity to a shamed humanity. You honored … the lowly, the dis-graced of the world. You came and challenged the honor of the honorable and restored it to the poor, the broken, those who need and know they need.”

I think it sucks that I have moments when things are as clear as they must have been when I wrote that and then … things are like they are now. I’m not so clear headed or full of wonder. I think because I’ve been to full of myself lately.

I came across this video last night before I went to bed. I gotta admit it made me tear up.

I thought about honor–it’s a mysterious substance. When we see it we’re moved and we instinctively respond that what we are seeing is right and what we are seeing is good, and we cannot explain why. It just is.

Link from Mac Richard through the Deadly Viper Blog.

Peggy Noonan wrote a pretty scathing article on the state of the Republican party in the Wall Street Journal yesterday.

The end of her article had one of the hardest hitting and dare I say, drop dead truthful statements I’ve seen about politicians in a long time. She was targeting Republicans, I think it applies to a majority of them on either side of ‘the aisle’. Here’s what she said:

“they (The Republicans) wouldn’t be left with a ruined “brand,” as they all say, speaking the language of marketing. And they speak that language because they are marketers, not thinkers. Not serious about policy. Not serious about ideas. And not serious about leadership, only followership.

Where are the civic leaders?

This image was captured by my close friend Corey Chambers the other night. This big green guy said something about my height.

It was on!

I met a homeless man this morning. When I asked what his name was, his response–’it doesn’t matter’.

It does matter. He matters.

He bears God’s image, no amount of dirt, grime or sin can change that.

He matters, and so do you.