So, last night, I ended up getting into a REALLY REALLY long political debate with 2 of my friends who were McCain supporters (so far, among my friends here, I'd gather that most of them are republicans or at least McCain supporters). And afterwards (since I'm not very eloquent, I'm not good at debates) I felt totally torn apart. They were throwing at me information and stuff about the political arena that I hadn't even heard of or thought about. That's not what I felt torn up about though. After last night (and one of the girls sent me an email with more information this morning about how 'Christian rights', Christianity, and the Judeo-Christian foundation of this country would be in danger if Obama were to become president), I felt that the underlying implications from these girls is a questioning of my faith and my love for God based on their understanding about me and my political beliefs. And because I couldn't debate my political choices well enough to them, I was seen to be less of a Christian. Now I may be paranoid and going a bit overboard with this...so I'm not saying that that's what the girls definitely said and do believe about me (I'll tell them about my feelings and gauge their reactions before I make a comment like that). But my point about posting my feelings is this...I don't question or judge any Christian's faith and love for God based on political beliefs. Firstly, it's not at all enough information about a person and second of all, who am I to judge how much someone loves God, how much faith a person has? Cause I'm sure plenty of times, from outward appearance and presentation, I wouldn't seem like someone who truly loves God either. So who am I to judge? I guess I would just appreciate not being judged and questioned in return if I happen to go against the flow of what "normal" Christians here would say. Because it hurts when you question my love for my Savior. I would willingly and joyously be a martyr for my Jesus Christ. I don't care if you question anything else...but please don't question my love of the One whom I love more than life and anyone else in this universe.
Also, now that this situation of assumptions and conclusions have been drawn about my faith and my choices, I am actually now under even more pressure to really live out my faith and my love for Him. It made me think of Joe a lot actually...and probably how much persecution he must have faced from many directions for his decisions and political beliefs. He must have really been pressured to show through the way he lived his life how different he was from all the other Christians and yet still the same as all the other Christians. My situation is the same. I'm a Christian just like these girls that I debated with (e.g. I believe and accept the tenets set in the Apostle's Creed). But perhaps it is really hard sometimes to accept that we can disagree in the political arena...(mostly because I do believe in the separation of church and state but that's a post for another day entirely). Just because I believe in the separation of church and state, doesn't make me less of a Christian. I just want people to know that.
Post note: Sheila sent me this link and it's a debate that she had with some friends about the separation of church and state and the biblical explanations for it. For those of you interested, it's quite a bit of reading but it's worth it - Morality of America
Jess,
ReplyDeleteI definitely feel for you. It is not OK for someone to question the integrity of your faith simply because of a single political discussion. And I can imagine that it especially hurts since you are in a new town with new people, etc.
That being said, I want to express that your friends response is probably the result of years of cultural forces.
On one had we have many who are rightly sensitive to the decay of biblical values in our society and even in many of our churches. On the other hand, we have two political parties that more and more are going to lengths to exploit people's spiritual beliefs to get elected. Put the two together, and we have the mess I think you find yourself in.
I guess all I can say is that Christ knows your dedication to Him and He will defend you. And perhaps He has more in store for this situation that may bear good fruit...