Truth, Justice, Freedom and the American Jesus Way

Yesterday we were doing a little bit of joking about politics at band practice.

Truth be told, I hate politics. For the past 3 weeks now, we've heard nothing but this Anthony Weiner scandal and there are lots of other issues important to our country right now that are being completely ignored. But that's politics for you.

I remember vividly in my early years of faith being told that if you're a Christian, you're a republican. I bought this for many years and I practiced my politics that way as well. I thought you'd be crazy to vote anything but republican. Those democrat Christians? Blasphemous!

But as I've come to know more about Jesus, I've discovered something about more about politics: Jesus transcends republicans and democrats or any other political party. No one political body, country or ideal has the corner market on Jesus. Jesus is too big for that.

After all, it's God himself that ordains the governments of our world and we have to submit to them whether we like it or not.

Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. - Romans 13:1

Don't get so wrapped up in politics. Simply be faithful in what God has given you to do today. We may not like all of the things going on with our country, but Jesus has promised to take care of us.

Oh and remember that we are free in our country and free in Christ. That also gives us the freedom to be a democrat, republican or any other political party that we choose.

People of Little Faith

I have to completely admit that I'm coming out of a spiritual black hole. For quite a long time now, I've had lots of questions about faith, and in particular my relationship to faith.

It wasn't that I doubted the existence of God or anything like that, but my faith was troubled and I had a hard time reconciling it. I'm very happy to say that I've come through that time and I'm a lot stronger because of it.

And I think that's the point that God was making in me.

I had a discussion with a student the other day that was struggling with an issue that one of his friends had approached him about on a matter of faith. We had a great discussion and I think, for the most part, we answered his question. On my drive home, I started to think about that conversation and the nagging question that bothered him and the relief that it brought when it was figured out. That's growth.

If you're comfortable in your faith and you never have a question about God or Jesus or anything like that, I don't think you're growing. If you read the Bible and never walk away with a doubt or a nagging question in your mind, you aren't going deep enough.

As human and finite beings, we should have questions about God. We should have doubts. Why are we so afraid of having a doubt. We're human, after all.

In Matthew 8, Jesus and the disciples were out on a boat. While Jesus was sleeping, a large storm came and ravaged the small boat. On a side note, I think it's kind of funny that Jesus slept through the whole thing. The disciples, having been with Jesus for some time now and seeing him work miracles and learn from his teaching still didn't seem to understand who Jesus was. He said to them: "You of little faith..." His disciples were amazed and understood a little more about who Jesus was.

We too are people of little faith.

Our moments of little faith lead us to bigger faith.