Wrong War!

Our culture is changing.  Congress is embroiled in a new controversy that threatens to generate yet another government "shut-down."  Many People of faith have dutifully written their Senators and Representative demanding action.  They are good culture-warriors.  I have a problem with this.  The "culture war" is the wrong campaign.  It's a battle for minds.  People of faith are called to battle for hearts.  Little wonder minds have become utterly corrupt.  

In this process, we see how people of faith have been seduced too.  The culture war is self-serving.  It's an attempt to preserve and re-create a world less hostile, less chaotic, less wrong-headed for our benefit.  It's about preserving our values, protecting our children, maintaining equilibrium and economy so we can live out our god-informed vision of what our lives should be like.  This is normal; it's also carnal...it's the way most humans think and act.

That's not the vision people of faith have been called to by God. We have been called to justice, to selfless living, to compassionate action; to loving the unreached citizens of this world like God does.  When people of faith do that, people with no hope notice. They understand that this kind of concern is counter-intuitive.  It's not the way normal people live; they want to know "why?"   

Peter's first letter to the church contains instruction for us...
"...in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect."   1 Peter 3.15 NIV

We win the world one heart at a time gently, respectfully.  It can't be done with legislation.  We don't win them with constitutional amendments.  The silver bullet isn't packing the courts with the "right kind of thinkers."  It's done by living alongside people who aren't like children of the King, who don't share His values and act in ways that reflect how radically confused people without effective faith are.

When people of faith insert themselves into culture in a transformative way hearts begin to change.  When hearts begin to change, minds begin to change.  When hearts and minds begin to change, culture begins to change.  When people with no hope begin to see faith, hope and love in their neighborhoods, schools, workplaces--they pay attention!  They realize they are thirsty, hungry and without hope. They realize there's more, and they want to know where they can embrace it...one heart at a time.

For too many people of faith, living this way just isn't something we want to do.  We're more comfortable on church properties that create space between the world without effective faith and our world of grace.  We shield our children from the world without effective faith in ways that create fear and contempt in their hearts. We forget what life without grace is like, and we become entrenched in a battle for minds using the least effective means available to us--the wisdom and power of the world system.  

Little wonder we seem befuddled, put-off by what Jesus described as "sheep without a shepherd."  They aren't like us, they don't think or act like us.  They are driven by differnt values, often by different passions.  Yet, they carry the same godly imprint on their souls that people of faith reflect...we are all created in His image.  We are all loved with an unconditional love.  We all have access the same unmerited overflow of His grace.  We are all sinners in need of a Savior.  

These lost sheep, souls, are not the enemy.  They are victims in Satan's attempt to foil the purpose of God in the redemption of all people.  That purpose begins with a battle for hearts...and minds will follow.  We win hearts when in the power of the Spirit we come along side these unlovely people and their messy lives and seek to serve them in compassion, with sacrifice through love.

One heart, one mind... gently, respectfully, powerfully.

bN tGit

So it begins.

Summer "daze" is history now. Footballs fill the air, Baseball stumbles toward the World Series and Fall slips toward winter...and we begin in ernest the process leading to the selection of our 46th President--along with a potential sea change in Congress.

So change is in the air. But is it?

Will this election give birth to real, new leadership or will we simply swap one set of suits for another?  Is there a matrix we might use to evaluate the smooth words and generous promises who seek the anointing of the people?  How do we determine where to invest our vote?  How will we know what the election produces?  Here's my "watch" list...

• New leadership will act reponsibly as stewards of our wealth. No more blown budgets. 

• New leadership will refuse to act in its own self-interest. No more pork. 
• New leadership will build bridges across the asiles of Congress. No more gridlock. 
• New leadership will work on behalf of the people. No more paybacks to unions, lobbies, business or deep pockets at the people's expence. 
• New leadership will set a different tone as it charts our course as a Nation. No more lionizing the "loyal opposition" or winner-takes-all arrogance. 
• New leadership will commit to reform--of both the Senate and the House. No more tolerance for cronyism, nepotism or corruption. 
• New leadership will understand that "less is more." No more unlimited terms of service. 
• New leadership will celebrate our history, diversity, vision and way of life, while at the same time seeking to make us a better, more compassionate and inclusive people. No more excoriating the nation because it seems the "hip" thing to do. 
• New leadership will set a "living example" of good citizenship. No more double standards. 
• New leadership will act in the interests of the nation. No more back room deals where the only winners are the politicians and their handlers. 

Seems polyanna. But we've seen this before. Read about it in "John Adams;"  leaders serving selflessly, fearlessly and without guile. It is this kind of leadership that gave birth to our nation and now must re-emerge to carry us, our childern, through our part the 21st Century with a reclaibrated vision, but a vision that stands stedfastly, still, on the prinicples of freedom, equality and the inalienable rights of its citizens.

These principles birthed a Confederation, nurtured a Union and established a Nation...of the people, by the people and for the people.

Measure twice, vote once.

bN tGit