Reconciling Faith with Politics

I watched with great interest a video clip on Senator Barack Obama's website concerning reconciling faith with politics. I personally find this a particular conflict, as many here do, considering not only do I consider myself a Democrat but a Christian too.

In the 1990s, the Democratic Party became labled, sometimes correctly, sometimes not, as a political party which did not believe in God or Christianity. Christians, such as myself, flocked to the Republican party which seemed to openly embrace Christianity and it's influence in society. The Democratic party became known as the hippy party, the left-wing socialist party which openly embraced all agendas regardless if those agendas could be construed as being immoral by Christian standards; such as the issues of abortion or gay rights.

While I was a member of the Republican party I was happy to be associated with people who openly espoused their faith. George W. Bush's open claim that he was a Christian and believed that the faith should play a role in government was one of the reasons I voted for him in the 2000 election. I believed strongly in his slogan of compassionate conservatism. Unfortunately, there is a vast difference between a pretty speech and actions. In regards to compassionate conservatism there seemed to be more conservatism than compassion in the policy. For all the Republicans claim as being defenders of Christianity, they too, violated the tenents of Christianity of tending justice with mercy and to look out for the poor. For better or for worse, they have also pursued a sort of religious war against the Muslims in the East tearing apart what was already a fragile peace between the two faiths since the end of the Gulf War in 1991.

As a Christian, I find myself torn between politics and choosing which party to vote for. I believe and support the some of the issues of the Democratic party such as education, a national health care plan and ending the war in Iraq but do not support it's stance on abortion or gay marriage as I feel that they conflict with my Christian values. On the Republican side, while I believe as Americans we need a strong national defense, have the right to bear arms as well as believe that people should be free to be individuals I do not believe in the right to wage war unconditionally, to spend tax money unwisely or to ignore the plight of the poor; particularly in the hurricane ravaged city of New Orleans.

I believe, as Senator Obama has stated, that faith in religion should be used to guide us in decisions made to govern but not to the point where it is overwhelming. We need to remember what the Republicans forgot, to love thy neighbor and to temper justice with mercy.

Politics should not have to be a choice of good versus evil but it is. Sadly, there seems to be more evil in politics than there is good. The conflict between faith and politics is a strong one for it has made me have to choose between the lesser of two evils.

To reconcile this, I've decided not to vote along party lines but upon the merits of the candidate in question. This is where Christianity and it's values come to play. While I feel it necessary to support my party, it is also very important to make sure what my party is supporting moves side by side by my own Christian perspectives. This is a tricky landscape to navigate filled with hundreds, if not thousands, of land mines. Here, one has to tread very, very carefully with religion for you could be perceived either as being strongly overbearing or a hypocrite who bends to every whim of the moment.

The best compass for navigating these troubled waters is the Bible; both Old and Newer Testaments. They have to be taken together and as a whole. Both books compliment one another; both Mosaic law and Christ's commandments work hand in hand. 

God puts obstacles in our lives to test our character; to find out if we are worthy of being called His children. Playing politics could be one of the hardest tests He puts before us … do we choose God or do we choose loyalty to an earthy political body? Can we blend both? This is the challenge of reconciling faith with politics.