Sunday, October 5, 2008

The Idolatry of Politics

Go read this great article by Greg Boyd, a theologian whose ideas, although open theistic and sometimes pretty radical, I really respect.

It bothers me that so many people in our country treat politics like a religion. It bothers me that if you're not one of those people who touts Barack Obama likes he is the Messiah, you're one of those who denounces him like he's the anti-Christ. It bothers me that people put so much of their hope and security in the voting booth. It really bothers me that so many Christians think this is okay.

I haven't decided yet if I'm going to vote. It's not just that I'm apathetic about both candidates (which is true), but I think it's almost my own little rebellion from this system of idolatry. People tell me that voting is my chance to have my voice heard, and if I don't vote, I won't have the right to complain later if things don't go my way. That seems like such petty reasoning to me by those who may put too much hope in our system of politics. I find my hope in Christ, whose Kingdom is not of this world. The Kingdom of God is a higher priority to me than any "kingdoms" of this world. Not to say that I'm rebelling against America or am not grateful for the benefits and freedoms of living here. But to put so much importance on America because some might call it "God's nation" is borderline idolatry to me.

Christians: to put our hope in a worldly system of politics is not okay. To live in a way that is consumed by this system of politics is not okay, because we are supposed to be living for a greater Kingdom.