Comments on: My Political Statement http://www.mattandnancy.org/matts-external-brain/my-political-statement/ Mon, 12 May 2008 11:00:30 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5 By: Dan http://www.mattandnancy.org/matts-external-brain/my-political-statement/#comment-7996 Dan Fri, 08 Feb 2008 00:21:08 +0000 http://www.mattandnancy.org/matts-external-brain/my-political-statement/#comment-7996 I agree with Matt AND Tim. How's that for a political compromise. After the Bush Wars in 2000 and 2004 with other Christians, I've concluded that we need to participate in politics because God wants us to be good citizens. I am a conservative because I think conservatism is best able to meet the needs of people. But people who call themselves conservatives don't always govern as conservatives should because they don;t truly have the needs of people at heart. Same could be said for liberals. Bottomline for me: We're in a battle being waged by God against the gates of hell. It's not a political battle, however, and not about prayer in school or amnesty for illegal immigrants or the flat tax, etc. The battle is a rescue mission for people's souls. So everything should take a back seat to that mission. I agree with Matt AND Tim. How’s that for a political compromise.

After the Bush Wars in 2000 and 2004 with other Christians, I’ve concluded that we need to participate in politics because God wants us to be good citizens. I am a conservative because I think conservatism is best able to meet the needs of people. But people who call themselves conservatives don’t always govern as conservatives should because they don;t truly have the needs of people at heart. Same could be said for liberals.

Bottomline for me: We’re in a battle being waged by God against the gates of hell. It’s not a political battle, however, and not about prayer in school or amnesty for illegal immigrants or the flat tax, etc. The battle is a rescue mission for people’s souls. So everything should take a back seat to that mission.

]]> By: ryan http://www.mattandnancy.org/matts-external-brain/my-political-statement/#comment-7993 ryan Thu, 07 Feb 2008 01:23:11 +0000 http://www.mattandnancy.org/matts-external-brain/my-political-statement/#comment-7993 Hey Matt! I just stumbled upon your blogs and have enjoyed what I've read so far. I guess my thought on politics is that yeah, what happens in politics these days sucks. But I think a core part of God's vision for our (the Church's) work is to establish the Kingdom here on earth, which is inherently a political act. Especially when you consider where "politics" comes from: issues that arise when people live in societies and communities. So maybe, as with the rest of the broken world around us, we can look for ways to reclaim politics. Will that happen by voting Republican? Probably not. Will that happen by voting Democrat? Probably not. Is that going to happen through voting, even? I would challenge that idea. Do I have any idea what that would look like? Absolutely not, but I'm young and idealistic enough to believe there's a way : ) Keep up the good work, both in web design and for the Kingdom! Hey Matt! I just stumbled upon your blogs and have enjoyed what I’ve read so far.

I guess my thought on politics is that yeah, what happens in politics these days sucks. But I think a core part of God’s vision for our (the Church’s) work is to establish the Kingdom here on earth, which is inherently a political act. Especially when you consider where “politics” comes from: issues that arise when people live in societies and communities.

So maybe, as with the rest of the broken world around us, we can look for ways to reclaim politics. Will that happen by voting Republican? Probably not. Will that happen by voting Democrat? Probably not. Is that going to happen through voting, even? I would challenge that idea. Do I have any idea what that would look like? Absolutely not, but I’m young and idealistic enough to believe there’s a way : )

Keep up the good work, both in web design and for the Kingdom!

]]> By: Dan L http://www.mattandnancy.org/matts-external-brain/my-political-statement/#comment-7990 Dan L Wed, 06 Feb 2008 16:31:47 +0000 http://www.mattandnancy.org/matts-external-brain/my-political-statement/#comment-7990 I don't think that Matt is saying that christians need to throw away politics completely. I think he is more warning about putting your hope in politics. Hopefully it is a vocal minority but I have read and seen a lot of christians that in my opinion are putting thier hope in Huckabee. Hopefully I am just seeing things but sometimes it is scary. p.s. Adam, in no way am I implying that you are one of those people. I don’t think that Matt is saying that christians need to throw away politics completely. I think he is more warning about putting your hope in politics. Hopefully it is a vocal minority but I have read and seen a lot of christians that in my opinion are putting thier hope in Huckabee. Hopefully I am just seeing things but sometimes it is scary.

p.s. Adam, in no way am I implying that you are one of those people.

]]> By: erik http://www.mattandnancy.org/matts-external-brain/my-political-statement/#comment-7989 erik Wed, 06 Feb 2008 16:12:23 +0000 http://www.mattandnancy.org/matts-external-brain/my-political-statement/#comment-7989 if people hate us because of our Lord, that is something where we can have joy in persecution, hurt as it may. if people hate us because we fall in line as a voting bloc for a candidate because we are told it's the christian thing to do, annoying just about everyone else in the process, that seems pointless to me. that's the disturbing trend i see that will probably only get worse until evangelicals either form a new party (and become irrelevant) or are driven underground. hopefully i have bad eyesight. <b>***disclaimer*** i think mike huckabee is a good guy and would be my second choice for a candidate, this post has almost nothing to do with him personally. it's too bad i feel i have to add that disclaimer, but i do.</b> if people hate us because of our Lord, that is something where we can have joy in persecution, hurt as it may. if people hate us because we fall in line as a voting bloc for a candidate because we are told it’s the christian thing to do, annoying just about everyone else in the process, that seems pointless to me. that’s the disturbing trend i see that will probably only get worse until evangelicals either form a new party (and become irrelevant) or are driven underground. hopefully i have bad eyesight.
disclaimer i think mike huckabee is a good guy and would be my second choice for a candidate, this post has almost nothing to do with him personally. it’s too bad i feel i have to add that disclaimer, but i do.

]]> By: Adam http://www.mattandnancy.org/matts-external-brain/my-political-statement/#comment-7988 Adam Wed, 06 Feb 2008 14:39:45 +0000 http://www.mattandnancy.org/matts-external-brain/my-political-statement/#comment-7988 I agree with Tim, we need to be involved with politics (I just realized this a month ago). If your struggling to find a good candidate for president, check out Mike Huckabee (mikehuckabee.com). He's a man committed to the Lord, and a man of great integrity (those to should be synonimous). Anyway, check him out... (he's Chuck Norris approved too) I agree with Tim, we need to be involved with politics (I just realized this a month ago). If your struggling to find a good candidate for president, check out Mike Huckabee (mikehuckabee.com). He’s a man committed to the Lord, and a man of great integrity (those to should be synonimous). Anyway, check him out…
(he’s Chuck Norris approved too)

]]> By: TJ Lyttle http://www.mattandnancy.org/matts-external-brain/my-political-statement/#comment-7987 TJ Lyttle Wed, 06 Feb 2008 04:33:56 +0000 http://www.mattandnancy.org/matts-external-brain/my-political-statement/#comment-7987 Hey Matt, first of all I wanted to say it was good seeing you and pat the other night. The other thing is that I COMPLETELY agree with you. It seems to me that the church was most effective and alive when it was an underground movement as opposed to being sponsored by the state. It also strikes me as interesting that Jesus refused to get involved with politics. I dont think Jesus is trying to tell us not to vote, but maybe He is wanting us to reevaluate what we are putting our faith in. Hey Matt,

first of all I wanted to say it was good seeing you and pat the other night. The other thing is that I COMPLETELY agree with you. It seems to me that the church was most effective and alive when it was an underground movement as opposed to being sponsored by the state. It also strikes me as interesting that Jesus refused to get involved with politics. I dont think Jesus is trying to tell us not to vote, but maybe He is wanting us to reevaluate what we are putting our faith in.

]]> By: Tim Borseth http://www.mattandnancy.org/matts-external-brain/my-political-statement/#comment-7986 Tim Borseth Wed, 06 Feb 2008 04:08:36 +0000 http://www.mattandnancy.org/matts-external-brain/my-political-statement/#comment-7986 Sounds like you just stubbed your toe on something, Matt. This is quite the rant. I hope that most Christians don't think as you do or we will be looking at each other from behind bars or worse as a result of the government that "we the people" elect. Now that might make you smile thinking that most Christians throughout history have suffered a similar fate. But I'm not so willing to sacrifice my children's future or the future of the unborn, because I have become disillusioned or disgusted with politics. Let's practice I Timothy 2:1-4 and get involved in politics through prayer and diligent action. Other Christians who have gone before us did, and we live in freedom and prosperity because of it. Sounds like you just stubbed your toe on something, Matt. This is quite the rant.

I hope that most Christians don’t think as you do or we will be looking at each other from behind bars or worse as a result of the government that “we the people” elect. Now that might make you smile thinking that most Christians throughout history have suffered a similar fate. But I’m not so willing to sacrifice my children’s future or the future of the unborn, because I have become disillusioned or disgusted with politics.
Let’s practice I Timothy 2:1-4 and get involved in politics through prayer and diligent action. Other Christians who have gone before us did, and we live in freedom and prosperity because of it.

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