Thursday, October 09, 2008
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It's Impossible for a Follower of Jesus to Be Elected President
Guest post submitted by Theophilus166
You can always trust the devil or a politician
To be the devil or a politician
But beyond that friends you'd best beware
'cause at the Pentagon bar they're an inseparable pair
And as long as the lobbyists are paying their bills
We'll never have a savior on Capitol Hill"A Savior on Capitol Hill" by Derek Webb
I watched the Presidential debate for about 20 minutes tonight, before I couldn't take it any more. I got so irritated with each candidate answering questions, yet in the process, throwing in backhanded barbs at their opponent. It reminded me of an awkward family get together in which two members of the family are forced to be in the same room even though they hate each other. It makes every conversation painful when there are constant insults thrown in to every comment.
When election day comes, I'm not going to vote. It's been discussed whether it's a Christian's duty to vote, whether they have the option of voting, or whether they should abstain from voting. I'm not going to get into that at the moment (although I'm in the middle group).
But here's something I firmly believe: someone who is a passionate follower of Jesus cannot be elected President of the United States.
Maybe there was a day when that was possible, but not today. The moment when a candidate is asked about different religions, they'll have to sell out the truth of the Bible, or make a statement that automatically loses them 50% of the vote. The moment they claim that Jesus will come back to judge the earth, or that Jonah was swallowed by a whale, or that demons can "possess" people, they'll be written off as crazy by the media and a lot of voters.
For instance, in one interview, George W. Bush was asked whether he thinks Jews, Muslims, and Christians pray to the same God.
"I think we do. We have different routes of getting to the Almighty," Bush said.
Whether Bush really believes that, or he just says that so he can remain a successful politician, I don't know. But it just reminds me that in a government system that depends on popular opinion, following Jesus will never lead to election. There is no "Christian" candidate. There isn't going to be one. They're always running for reelection. They're always interested in public opinion, if not for themselves, for their party.
Maybe I'm too skeptical, too cynical. I just don't really trust politicians at all. I'm amazed that anyone can fully support a presidential candidate. Even if I was going to vote for one of these guys, I'd be hesitant to put my "stamp of approval" on either. I'm fully expect that I'm being lied to, manipulated, and mislead no matter who I vote for.
Do you think it's possible for a passionate follower of Jesus Christ to be elected president of the United States?
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Comments (105)
Yeah, i breifly talked on this subject in my last post.. Its insane really. I mean i think its funny how they basically attack one another to make themselves look better, and they dont. I would really rather them be honest and just say look.. "i could tell you the gas prices will be lowered, but they aren't." i would repect that more then the other crap that comes out of their mouths.. which you and i .. as well as most of america.. is all a bunch of poo!
Really, it comes down to the lesser of two evils. They are both not fit if you ask me.. but not really a lot we can do.. in 2009, one of those god forsaken men will be running this country.. I wish neither wasn't but its enevitable.
@Lisa2077365@xanga - unfortunately everyone says they want to hear the truth from politicians, and I think some truly do, but many of those people don't. The minute someone tells them the truth, they get angry because it's not what they were hoping to hear.
I think a Christian can run for President, if they would ever get elected in another story.
I'm not American - but I wouldn't want a hardcore Christian as the Prime Minister of Canada. Or one who put his Religious views before anything else.
Church is separate. And it should be. There's so many different Religions. It's just something that shouldn't be put together.
Just my opinion.
Hold on a minute. The author here implies that Bush was theologically wrong to say that Jews and Muslims are attempting to reach the same deity that Christians are. But what part of that is wrong?
I certainly agree that machine politics is a big problem in terms of getting principled and sincere people in office. I just don't see how this particular story is at all a good example of being un-Christian.
wow...so you know the heart of the presidential candidates? i would never presume to make such a statement...if they believe in Jesus Christ..that He died for our sins and was resurrected and sits at the Right Hand of the Father and say so, they are saved...read Romans 2:1-2...we all have our failings and make mistakes, theirs are just more public...
Well once there was a king named David, he was called a man after God's own heart. But far from pure he was.
Yes it is possible, but no it not likely that a president will seem to be the prefect Christan
I'm pretty sure every single president has been Christian (but I don't study that crap in my spare time - I'm just taking an educated guess). And they've all pretty much screwed up, except for a select few who didn't put their religion before their humanly duties. They still made mistakes, of course, but they didn't send men, women, sons daughters and parents somewhere they don't need to be *cough IRAQ cough*
@amandawishesonstaars@xanga - I second that ideal...argh. Politiker and religion should have absolutely nothing to do with each other.
Actually, Christians, Jews and Muslims DO pray to the same God. Abraham is the spiritual father of all three religions. Do a little homework and you'll see it's true. George Bush simply knows his history.
It's not that people don't want a Christian President. They don't want a fideist President. Fideists believe is "sola fide" or faith only. They reject the divine gift of reason as a faculty that necessarily works in union with faith. Fideists have a tendency to be perceived as unreasonable religious fanatics. That's the problem, not being Christian.
Keep an eye on Sarah Palin, believer, and future President of the United States.
Lastly, politics is war. It's an all out war for the soul of a nation. With a nation whose government has grown so large, the war is also about power, money and influence. Right and wrong will always be at war. Being put off by the combat shows a disturbing tendency toward moral relativism.
The fact that politicians don't talk about religious matters is because this is a free country. If a candidate for political office were to adamantly declare their faith, Americans of a different belief system may suspect he or she would not respect their own. Religion is a very delicate and PERSONAL thing in America... and stepping on toes is very likely if a politician is going to choose to proclaim his or her religious views.
So, to answer your question, I think that yes, someone who is a passionate follower can be elected. However, I don't think that ministering is something this person should do within the office. The president's personal relationship with Christ should be just that - personal. He or she is supposed to lead a country full of very diverse peoples... If Bush were to say "No, the only way to heaven is Jesus" then many people may question his respect for other's opinions. I've always thought that personal matters should stay within the confines of that person's own life... and not be a matter of public opinion. Again, if Bush were to say that we didn't all pray to the same god... would that make any of his more secular decisions while in office any different? What I mean is, does someone's religious affiliation truly affect how he or she would govern the country? I personally do not believe so. This nation has grown up on Christian ideals and regardless of whether or not we identify them as such, we still abide by them whether we follow Christ or not.
And not voting... Well, to me, that's just a cop out. That's saying, "Well, I can't win anyway." and leaving the rest of the country to deal with it while you sit in the side lines. It gets me highly annoyed when people do this. Do Americans realize that citizens of other countries DO NOT HAVE THE SAME PRIVLEDGE? It's our duty as citizens to vote. It's a responsibility. But now we've become this lazy, I-don't-give-a-crap nation who sit on our arses complaining about all the things we don't like about our country... Even though WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO CHANGE IT!
But that's enough of my rant...
Peace&love,
Brooke.
@LoBornlite@xanga - Amen to that.
history proves theocracy fails.
I'm with you 100%.
The Washington machine is so corrupt...
@trunthepaige@xanga - Murder and adultery. He makes Bill Clinton look tame.
yeah, seriously. what cRyStaL_rAiNe @xanga said
A Christian is someone who has made Jesus Christ their lord, and who is answerable only to Jesus Christ's lordship. As such, a Christian will reject any other lordship to the degree that it conflicts with Jesus' lordship.
So if my nation tells me to feed the poor, of course I can accept that. But if my nation tells me to violate the commandments of God, I have to reject that.
A President is responsible to the constituency of the United States, perhaps specifically to the constituency of their own party (or perhaps not). As such, in their role as president, they are not free to proclaim Christ's and only Christ's lordship.
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The earliest Christians would not even serve in the military, let alone hold government office, for this reason. They were accused of living in such a way that if everyone imitated them, the Roman Empire would fall apart, an accusation with which they agreed and to which they replied that it would be a good thing.
So, no, I don't believe that someone whose primary lord is Jesus Christ can also be the President of the United States.
-ND
I agree with this 100%
It is possible for a Christian to run for president. The problem is, that he or she will never get elected. Imagine if Jesus was running for president... even his followers wouldn't vote for him because most of them would think his views are too radical.
@cRyStaL_rAiNe@xanga - Freedom is relevant. A person can feel just as free no matter where they are. We are brainwashed to believe we are "free". True freedom comes from Christ. Ask the underground Christians in North Korea.
@HeartOfPandora@xanga - A bunch of our presidents have been considered to be Deists- which is far from true Christianity. This ranges from Thomas Jefferson, James Madison, Abe Lincoln, and many more- although he claims he is a baptist, I believe. People just use Christianity to get the majority vote. It is kind of like the majority of Christians in the church, I really don't think are... because most of them don't believe everything Jesus taught.
@LoBornlite@xanga - It is not the same God. It is thought of as the same God. Let me give you an example. The Christian God (The one whom I believe to be the true God) is a trinity. Father, Son and Spirit- all one God. Completely different from the God of Islam who is just God the creator. This God does not have a Holy Spirit or a son who is considered to be God. The Jews believe that God is not plural either, and they don't consider Jesus to be God as the Christians do. Christians, Jews, and Muslims believe in different gods. The detail of that god is very important in determining whether or not we pray to the same god.
@jmallory@xanga - I think you're talking about spiritual freedom which I agree on, but I was talking about legal freedom; you're not free to do as you please if you have to call yourself an Underground Christian. You and everyone you know would be punished, tortured, blah blah by N. Korean people, for example, if you weren't underground.
@jmallory@xanga - It might not be "true" Christianity, but it's still Christianity. I highly doubt we've had say and atheist, agnostic, pagan or Buddhist president, though.
@jmallory@xanga - Sorry, but the Father (Abba) of the Christians, Yahwey of the Jews and Allah of the Muslims is the same Person. Jesus gave the complete Revelation of God, the Trinity. But God, the Father is the same for Muslims, Christians and Jews.
Let me give you an example. As a Catholic, I could say that since Protestantism is heresy, Protestants don't believe in the same Jesus as Catholics do. But that would be false. Differences in doctrine don't necessarily mean a complete parting of the ways.
The fact remains that the spiritual lineage of Jews, Christians and Muslims begins with Abraham. We all worship the same Father, though of the three religions only Christians believe in the Trinity and the Revelation of Jesus Christ.
This is where you are wrong. Differences in denomination is not even close to differences in religion. Catholics and protestants believe in the same God. There are few differences in the two, but those differences are not a matter of salvation.
My God is a trinity and has been forever. Jesus did not just give the complete revelation of God. Jesus has always been God- and since Jesus, God and the Holy Spirit are all one God, then the entire manifestation of God is different from the entire being of the muslim god and the jewish god.
Also, Islam believes that God has chosen the line Ishmael as God's chosen people. This is not what the Christians and the Jews believe. We believe that God's line came from Isaac.- Different ideas of God here. Only one of them can be right. And further more, after the line was completed all the way to Jesus, God has chosen the world to be his people. Not just one line. Huge difference in the complete God that I believe in.
Is it the same God in Idea?- Kind of... That is, up until Isaac and Ishmael. Then it is a completely different god than the Christian God.
Wow, look at you. You can see INTO PEOPLE'S HEARTS. You must be the greatest political scientist the world has ever seen, since you can claim this much and act like you're right. But hey, remember JFK? Yeah, the Catholic we elected about forty years back? I guess you're going to claim that Catholics aren't Christ-followers now.
But hey, great job seeing into people's hearts. With a Latin blogname, I expected as much. Go back to reading your Pliny the Elder and Josephus now since you apparently know so much about politics.