I ruined a perfectly good evening with my family.
My kids finished their homework, we went out to get some pizza, had lively conversation, snacked on a few nachos with hot salsa, and Christmas caroled a house on the way home. Everything was great, and then when we got back home someone persuaded me to go against my better angels and I turned on the Republican Debate that was airing live on CNN — thanks Pedro!
So there we sat, watching and listening to the wacky world of political horse racing. The number one thought that kept running through my mind while these bombastic and opinionated men and a woman dressed in business attire argued was, “How did this cast of characters end up becoming our final choices for the presidency?” (And don’t try to convince me the candidate across the aisle on the Democratic side is any better; she may be the biggest charlatan of them all?)
As I was listening to all of the political mudslinging and posturing, another thought came to my mind, “Would I even trust any of them with running the affairs of our small town church?” I don’t think so. But no worries, crazy season is upon us and I have decided to not let it pull me in, so I remained relatively calm. I use to care a lot more, but I have grown a little older and wiser, and I realize what is being said is driven by the desire to win votes — not really lead a country.
So just when I was patting myself on the back for not getting emotionally involved, Wolf Blitzer, the CNN host, directed a question from a viewer to the candidates that really fired me up. It was the straw that broke the camel’s back and it made me angry as I watched the rest of the debate. Carla Hernandez of Eagle Pass, Texas challenged the Republican candidates’ moral integrity because they are not in favor of allowing Syrian refugees into the country. Here is what she asked,
“If the Bible clearly states that we need to embrace those in need and not fear, how can we justify not accepting refugees?”
As a pastor, it drives me crazy when people reference the bible in their line of questioning. Seriously, no one in Washington really cares about what the bible says. But then when someone has a pet issue that makes them seem more compassionate and caring than all the candidates up on stage, it has become perfectly appropriate to appeal to scriptures. C’mon, this nothing more than rotten political theater.
What if people really did care about what the Bible states? What if making an appeal to what God has clearly declared through the prophets and apostles of old really mattered to people? I think a lot tougher and serious questions would be asked. Let me show you what I mean by asking the same sort of questions as Carla asked:
“If the Bible clearly states that ‘if any man who does not like to work should not eat,’ does that mean we should completely overhaul our benefit programs and cut people off who have quit looking for work or refuse to work?”
“If the Bible clearly states that sex outside of marriage is sin, should we stop allowing people in adulterous relationships to vote?”
“If the Bible clearly states that lying before God and people in a public forum is a serious crime, should we not fire our current President, and refuse any candidate from running for office who has publicly lied?” Who would be left to run?
I could go on and on, but it would lead us nowhere. If we are going to use the Bible, let’s understand the real ramifications and correct context on how to use it. When it comes to letting in refugees the argument becomes much more complex than simply saying we need to “embrace and not fear.” How many of you have invited a homeless man on the corner to come to your house to live with you? Probably not many, and for good reasons.
Instead of rhetoric, we need solid answers from reasonable leaders. My frustration is that we as a country are not interested in reason anymore. We are addicted to soundbites and the entertainment value found in political theater. Ratings, reaction and laughter have become our goal; they are the new idols of a consumer culture who has been “amusing itself to death.”
No wonder we don’t get the best, brightest and most moral to lead our country – – they don’t want to play the blood-sport of politics. No one wants to have their life destroyed by a callous world shooting in the shadows of social media, or being relentlessly attacked on 24 hours news and cable networks.
God help us!
