I’m not a hardcore partisan at all. In fact, I’ve recently joined a Facebook group called “I am a moderate and I hate the two party system.” Indeed, that statement sums me up nicely.
I heard that John Edwards (Kerry’s VP-candidate running mate) jumped into the 2008 Election. I say, “Good for him!”
And you know what else is Good? He’s big on issues that bolster the lower-class. You shouldn’t have a hard time finding loyally partisan Democrats that don’t like Edwards because of this. Why? Because championing the poor doesn’t win elections. “What about this candidate’s platform benefits ME directly?” Damnit, shut up, America! Pragmatically speaking (i.e. theological considerations aside), a chain is only as strong as its weakest link.
To my country’s self-professed liberal Christ-followers, if you’re authentic about being both of those things, I sure hope Edwards’ message stirs something in you. A basic reading of the Epistle of James points out one of the main duties of the Christ-follower (or… “What is true religion?”):
“Anyone who sets himself up as ‘religious’ by talking a good game is self-deceived. This kind of religion is only hot air. Real religion, the kind that passes muster before God is this: Reach out to the homeless and loveless in their plight and guard against corruption from the godless world.” James 1:26-27 (MSG)
Edwards may or may not be motivated by personal conviction as a Christ-follower… I do not know enough about him to make that call. But I would say that this part of his platform is genuinely “incarnational politics.”
More on this topic can be found at the discussion around this post.
More Questions Than Answers 