"http://www.prodigalsonmagazine.com/walk/news39small.gif" width=
"241" height="68" align="left" style=
"padding-right:6px;">NEWS :: LIBERAL ENCOURAGEMENT FOR
CONSERVATIVE CHRISTIANS >As most Christian
conservatives I encounter struggle to understand the whys and what
now’s of this obvious season of republican rebuke. I find reason
for more optimism than before the November elections. I detect a
waif of clarity in the otherwise sullied and arid political air.
"http://www.prodigalsonmagazine.com/walk/news39.gif" width="530"
height="147"> Liberal Encouragement for Conservative Christians As
most Christian conservatives I encounter struggle to understand the
whys and what now’s of this obvious season of republican rebuke. I
find reason for more optimism than before the November elections. I
detect a waif of clarity in the otherwise sullied and arid
political air. I do see how some feel let down, hopeless, angry or
perhaps even fearful as Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid take the reins
on Capitol Hill. Still, let me attempt some edification. The first
thing I try to say to the disappointed brethren is simply that
faith and fear do not mix. If you are fearful what was your faith
in anyway? If you are angry several suns have set so why are you
holding that anger? If you’ve lost hope, look up and remember who
is still on the top seat upstairs. We have hard but useful lessons
to learn as Christians and conservatives. Firstly, that
conservatism won this election, republicans lost. Congressional
republicans let power cloud their reason for having it. Moral,
economic, social and various other strains of conservatives
combined efforts for two decades to create what was squandered in
2006. The congress in both houses is now full of conservative
southern democrats or so they ran. The votes they received that
pushed them over the top were conservative and many Christian. The
folks are still looking for conservatives but are rejecting being
patronized. Secondly, we must see that we have become a voter block
open to manipulation by “political? Christian organizations.
Abramoff proved that we are viewed as such and can be steered by
“trusted? leaders whose mixed loyalties lie somewhere between
Christ, next week’s payroll and the coming production and
appearances schedule. Thirdly we must remember that we are judged
by our fruit, known by our love and committed to the One that we
follow. Not judged by our fruitiness, known by the things we love
and committed to a political party we follow. We need a more
personal commitment and lifestyle for God and less talking points
and religious rhetoric for mass media consumption. Results like
healed hearts, restored relationships, strong committed marriages
should be found where ever two or more of us gather. We must stand
out in the dark not blend in as we exit our Sunday parking spaces.
This only makes us invisible or at least annoying to the captives
being held there. Institutionalism is a paradox of Christianity.
People, including Jesus can get lost inside of one as it grows. We
have reached a point where there are nearly as many Christians
staying home on Sunday’s as show up somewhere. Why? They are bored
and burned by the many good actors and career centered hired hands
that fill too many pulpits on Sundays. Each time the facade falls
from around one of these we all take a black eye and some simply
leave the arena and the fight. George Barna has written a book
called Revolution that some now call him a rebel for writing
because in it he paints a picture most do not want to see. If we
don’t want his prophecy to come to pass, then whether traditional
or home, seeker friendly/informal, orthodox/ liturgical,
charismatic or main line evangelical we must wake up and reclaim
our faith and the true purpose of the church from the 501c3
corporate “Mega and Para? church institutions before we become
permanently pre-packaged manipulated and marginalized Those who
claim to be one thing then act as another become trivialized. It is
not our problem if democrats triangulate or co-op conservative
positions. If they faint right then roll left they will find the
same door shutting behind them that the republicans are sulking
behind now. The solution is not political it is spiritual and may,
in time, devolve into a simple test of competing eschatology,
Christian vs. Muslim. In this we must know where we stand and
democrat or republican is not a meaningful answer. The culture
won’t be saved by secular politics or formal memberships in and
regularly sent checks to great associations of “Christian?
Mega-leaders and Para-personalities, their political action
committees or the gifts and gratuities their underlings salt before
elected officials and the subsequent “proper legislation? from a
congress that is republican or democrat lead. Our error has been
placing faith and kingdom resources where they don’t belong. From
this we have been tied to defending positions, politicians and
party lines all while some charlatan is claiming thirty pieces of
silver to deliver us to the polls on an appointed day. This error
has helped make us appear as a menacing, judgmental and
programmable parody of the Grace, Love, Hope and Forgiveness we
should be seen as examples of to the very ones who need these the
most. We need a more one-on-one, reality-based Christianity. Low
production values but plenty of heart, hands and truth. We can’t
shoot it out on cable, satellite or broadcast television either
Christian or secular. It shouldn’t ring down on Sirius or Xm nor
should it be Tivoed or Ipoded for later consumption. It can be
found in the mirror now dimly seen. No matter whom controls
congress the true image should be discernable to all even with no
labels attached. We need to be that mirror and be where the
wounded, including our own, can not help but see. So let us
endeavor to support those politicians and parties that do what they
promise and agree with our sincere beliefs but don’t invest an
ounce of faith in them. Let Faith be the answer when others see
your abundant peace and life. That is what they are really seeking
for. This is now most clear to me and so encouraging I must share
it liberally with every conservative and Christian I find. M.O.
Poff Byline: Mr. Poff is a Bedford, Virginia freelance writer and
at-home-father of quadruplets plus three. He is perpetually working
on his Masters in Theology in his bountiful spare time.
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