Jesus... Blue or Red?

This post by: Travis

So, the whole idea behind this blog is to allow two brothers, namely me and my older brother Mark, to share our thoughts on some of the more in depth religious, philosophical and political musings that arise in our twisted little minds.

Please, if you read these, check your ego at the door. These are discussions meant to voice our opinions, and believe it or not, opinions cannot be WRONG. They can only be different than yours.

But I would ask that you approach everything written here with an open mind, and an open heart. If you approach everything with a heart and mind that are willing to learn, willing to change even, only one of two things can happen, you WILL change your mind, or you WONT change your mind, and you will benefit from EITHER. Getting heated, or holding onto presumptions and beliefs for the sake of the beliefs themselves will simply leave you adrift in an unchanging sea called ignorance.

We welcome all challengers to what we say here, as long as you approach us with respect, friendship and love, which is what we will do in return. Yes, the comments section is not long enough for detailed rebuttals, but if you feel convicted about something and want to contact us about it let us know. We may even post your response for all to read. (Not just those that we agree with, but all who bring significant ideas to the table.)

So, what to start off with... well I have just finished a book that Mark gave me for Christmas (sorry that I am just now getting to it, but baby books and the like had my attention diverted) called "Blue Like Jazz", and while it is a brilliantly written book, with some incredible insight into the Christian Faith from someone well outside of what you would call a "typical" Christian, it has raised a slew of questions in my own mind about how I view things. What is MY "Christian" perspective on things.

So, to jump into the deep end, and get all three themes covered, my question that I pose now is: How do we defend our Republican political ideals as Christians.

This may seem like a silly question to many who would immediately react by saying "Aren't republican and Christian ideals the same? Why would you feel the need to defend them?"

Well, really I see two issues here.

1. Republican's do not have a monopoly on spirituality
2. Often times it is the negative emotional reaction to the "Christian Right" that shuts down an otherwise intellectual conversation.

I saw a bumper sticker the other day that said "Jesus was a Democrat"... I disagree with this statement as a whole, being that I see Jesus as above political affiliations. I see him as a teacher, an example, a savior, and one who challenges us on the heart level, not the political.

But I got the meaning behind the sticker. What the author (in my humble opinion) was trying to say was that Jesus' ideas of caring for the sick, the impoverished, the tired, the weak, the scorned is what the democrats are trying to do through their social and economic programs.

How can we deny this? After all, the very core of the democratic view on politics is designed around the idea of helping those less fortunate, of creating a community in which we all are taken care of... isn't it? Whereas the republicans are just pro big corporations, polluting, global warming and anti poor, anti gay and anti-fun. (well except the fun of shooting things).

Well here's where I think that our current political system fails us. You see, I think that there are actually two major categories of things that people must separate their ideas into.

1. The emotional/ social side of politics
(the one on which the Liberals will chant "let me live my own life")
2. The functional side of politics
(The one on which Conservatives will chant "let me live my own life")

These things are not mutually exclusive, but it is my hope that I will explain these in such a way that you will understand WHY I personally have chosen to follow the Republican party.

My core belief lies in number 2. I think it would be ludacris to try to debate social and emotional issues. Unfortunately that is all we seem to get from the media, and from politicians themselves. They know what sells, emotion. Get people emotionally involved and of course they are going to support you.

No, I think the only logical way to approach politics is through the functional nature of each party, because this is where the biggest differential lies. The democrats use social issues to drive their agenda forward, they approach every issue from the emotional side which is where republicans get the reputation of being cold hearted and calloused.

Let me just say now that I DO NOT believe that EITHER party is out to destroy America. I truly believe that most everyone in this world is driven by a sense of community, a sense of moral responsibility. While we may have different visions of what that looks like, I think we all want better lives for ourselves and those around us.

The problem is that the democratic system of putting their agenda in motion is simply wrong. Their idea is one of forced charity, forced environmentalism, forced compassion... getting the picture here. You see, it doesn't matter what your stance is on social issues, I think everyone can agree that you cannot FORCE your social views on someone else. What you get is resentment, disrespect, and bitterness.

I may have a discussion with you about abortion, or about prayer in schools. I may even express my views in an attempt to sway your opinion toward mine... and if you do, then you do it of your own volition, and we are both happy. If you don't then we agree to disagree and we are both happy. But the moment I come to you and TELL you how to feel about something, is the moment you will shut down, rebel, and resent me for it.

Let me try another illustration to make my point a little more clear. You are walking down the street... it's a beautiful day really... blue skies.... sun shining. You just got done with lunch, and have some spare change in your pocket, and are thinking that some ice cream sounds really good.
On your way to Marble Slab you pass a homeless person on the street. They are digging in the trash can for some food, and they look terribly hungry. There is a McDonald's right there, and you have just enough cash to get a Happy Meal, or one of those Double Chocolate cones with Snickers rolled in it... mmmm.

You weigh the conviction on your heart, and you truly feel like you can do without the ice cream. You walk into McDonald's and buy a Happy Meal. You walk outside, step up to the homeless man and hand him the food. He smiles a toothless grin at you and thanks you for your kindness.

NOW Let's go back...

On your way to Marble Slab you pass a homeless person on the street. They are digging in the trash can for some food, and they look terribly hungry. There is a McDonald's right there, and you have just enough cash to get a Happy Meal, or one of those Double Chocolate cones with Snickers rolled in it... mmmm.

A man in a dark suit with dark sunglasses hops out from behind the dumpster. He flashes a shiny badge at you and identifies himself as a government agent. He then reaches into your pocket grabs your money, walks over, takes a dollar for himself and hands the rest directly to the homeless guy.

He then walks back to you to thank you for your good deed, while over his shoulder you can see the homeless guy sauntering into a convenience store and buying a pack of cigarettes.

This story is in no way meant to say that all bums are going to waste money that you give them, but let's dissect the meaning here through a little self examining pop-quiz:

1. How did you feel when you handed the homeless guy a meal?

2. How did you feel when the agent did it for you?

3. Who did a better job of satisfying the homeless guys needs?


My answers (in case you are curious)
1. Good, happy, humbled and blessed.
2. Robbed, of both my money and my joy
3. I did, because in my scenario he got fed.

Now, some might argue that it was the homeless guys right to choose cigarettes over food... and in that statement you are absolutely right... but isn't it MY right to decide whether I supply him with money for cigarettes?

Others may argue, you're being too cliche, not all homeless guys are going to spend money on booze and stogies and not food... to which I say yes, but that is hardly the point. My counter would simply be, well if they had a history or WISE monetary decisions would they be homeless?

My point, in the end is that we are all better at charity on the individual level. There is no need for forced redistribution of wealth, it should come as a result of conviction on the heart, not government enforced mandates. And if there is not enough charity going around, isn't that simply a sign of a broken and fallen world.

Really, I find it sad that there is a need for the democrat party. It means that we, as individuals are not doing our job in loving and caring for others in our community. So much so, that people are starting to feel like we need to be forced to do it.

So that is why I am a republican. Or, one of the core reasons. Social issues completely set aside, I want a government that allows me to choose right or wrong, charity or selfishness, community or isolation for myself...

The republicans are not perfect, and I do not agree with everything they stand for. It is that socialism, communism and democratic ideals are just that... ideals. They are not practical, and they have been shown lacking again and again by history.

You want to change the world, start with yourself, start with your heart, and reach out to others in your community. But you cannot hate those that do not follow any more than you can hate those that don't dress like you or talk like you or like your favorite music.

We all have our faults, and in my humble opinion most of the democrats I know are looking for some form of salvation, of satisfaction, a way of shedding a little of their own guilt by standing on a soapbox that preaches equality and charity and hope... when all it delivers is a guy in a suit who robs you and doesn't do any good in the end anyway.

So I have only addressed a small portion of the discussion here, but as you can see, I tend to get a little long winded... so Mark, I am looking forward to your response here, be it continuing on with the original question, addressing some of my thoughts here, or even starting your own tangent.