Politics

It’s pretty hard to stay out of political conversations. Everyone seems to have taken sides, as if that’s the point of politics. The “I’m right and you’re wrong” kind of conversations filter into all sorts of moments, and that’s distressing. I’ve tried, while being here, to hit an even level focusing on how we are called to remain loyal first to God in Jesus before we tie ourselves to any other allegiance. Still, that doesn’t stop the conversations or the adversarial attitudes that grow in them. I’ve had a few folks, really just 3 or 4, who have told me that they know I don’t like a particular politician. I pay close attention to that moment because I am watching to see if they are going to take an “opposing” stand or if they’re just informing me of their thoughts. So far, it’s just been thoughts. And the thing is, for me, that it isn’t the politician with whom I have a problem. It is with character. My problems with people tend to focus on character. I expect that all politicians will lie. They’ll shade the truth so that they, and their party, have an advantage or look better. I don’t really mind that. It’s when a person lies as a habit, or says two different things at once – the marks of a con man, that I get concerned, watchful, and distrusting. The reason I grow so focused is because I need to follow Jesus first. If I tie my integrity to a leader, my honor and veracity are tied to their expressions of life and purpose. Those are aspects of my character that should reveal Jesus to others, so I am careful, and I encourage other believers to be equally careful about whom they tie their integrity. Having an opinion on ways the government should run, or what our goals as a country are, is different from who I claim to represent. I encourage you to think along those lines. Blessings, Geoff