On one hand, I feel a civic duty to care about my country (which I do), and feel the need to serve the fellow citizens I live with. God says, give to ceasar what is his and to honor elected officials and within the scope of our environment, being obedient to the government and servicing the country is the faithful and Christian thing to do. But on the other hand it is very hard for me to fully embrace politics when the message will ultimately be about making much of ones country, ones party, ones main issues, ones candidate, and ultimately and truly about wanting to make much of oneself. My vote goes more towards that cause than it does to bring an end to injustice, to murder, to inequality, towards economic prosperity (which isnt even that biblical) and more importantly, towards bringing Glory to the only one worthy of it.
It is a universal reaction to find annoyance in someone who makes much of themselves in speech, and in action... we applaud people who are humble. This is because there is not a human being on the earth who thinks there is a perfect person in this world. We are deeply and utterly aware of our imperfections both individually and as a country, race, and species. Rather we strive for equality, and applaud our differences... rather than speculate and magnify our weaknesses, we celebrate uniqueness and differences as a solution to the obvious annoyance garnered by purely trying to make much of oneself. We find ways around the obvious truth that we "dont measure up" to still try and make much of ourselves. This is why for the moderate voter, a party's retoric seems very disgenuine because we know that both parties cant be totally right. There has to be faults, compromises, and failures in the plans, decisions, and stances of each political party. During the elections each party with their hyper-partisan stance, will try their best to boast and sell the fact that their issues and their stance matters more... that their solutions will help to make this country great.
The reality of it is that this country is gravely fallen. I am proud that to a certain degree, the United States were founded on Christian principles but ultimately, the country is full fallen individuals. It is a mistake to think that politicians are particularly evil, the truth being that we are all fallen.
Ultimately, we cannot place our ultimate hope and trust in any government system, party or plan. God and only God can redeem. If there was an ultimately absoluteness to the definition of redemption, only God could fulfill it. He alone is the hope of today, tomorrow, and forever more. And while we should be faithful to serve our country, our fellow citizens, and community... we need to remember to never to place our ultimate hope in it.
I am a democrat [proponent of democracy] because I believe in the Fall of Man.I think most people are democrats for the opposite reason. A great deal of democratic enthusiasm descends from the ideas of people like Rousseau, who believed in democracy because they thought mankind so wise and good that every one deserved a share in the government.The danger of defending democracy on those grounds is that they’re not true. . . . I find that they’re not true without looking further than myself. I don’t deserve a share in governing a hen-roost. Much less a nation. . . .The real reason for democracy is just the reverse. Mankind is so fallen that no man can be trusted with unchecked power over his fellows. Aristotle said that some people were only fit to be slaves. I do not contradict him. But I reject slavery because I see no men fit to be masters.
-C.S. LEWIS
