God In Politics

I had a conversation yesterday with a friend of mine.  We have a professional relationship, but a mutual respect that causes me to think of him as a friend.  We don't talk much about politics or faith but today he wanted to ask what I thought about the issue with the Democratic convention's hubbub over having the word "God" in their party's platform.    

 

It's been on the news to the point of annoying.  Bloggers raced to the keyboards with eager fingers.  Atheists hyperventilated with a possible move of reason and Evangelicals readied their voices for outraged protest.

 

The phrase in discussion is, "we need a government that stands up for the hopes, values and interests of working people and gives everyone wiling to work hard the chance to make the most of their God-given potential."   

 

Interesting - when we are allowed to talk about God it's about us.

 

God is about making us successful.  He's about strengthening us so that we can live the "American dream."  The Almighty's purpose is synonymous with a healthy financial portfolio.

 

This may be an overstatement but if that phrase would have been left off I think we would have been more offended than God. 

 

"Sitting down, Jesus called the Twelve and said, "If anyone wants to be first, he must be the very last, and the servant of all." (Mark 9:35)

 

I think what God's view of "God-given potential" and what we have manufactured as a "God-given potential" are two very different things.

 

I told my friend that what saddens me is that God is about personal relationship not political maneuvering.  The line between those two is being blurred to our detriment and God's disappointment.  

 

I understand that the issue is bigger than I paint it and includes the nation of Israel as well, but I just find it interesting we had a vote to use His name even though we refuse to submit to His reign.  The first is a waste of time if we ignore the latter.

 

I think THAT's the point.

 

Pastor Dave