Missional Explorer

American Politics

As a student and teacher of American History, I know full well that American politics and particularly American elections have always been sordid affairs dating back to the beginning of party politics with Thomas Jefferson and John Adams (which is one of the reasons why George Washington claimed no "party" affiliation and, in fact, warned that party factionalism could lead to ruin).   This year I find myself especially discouraged with what candidates/parties are dishing out in response to (a) what Americans seem to want and (b) what works in public opinion: muck-raking, distortion, pandering, and outright lies. At a time when the U.S. stands at so many crossroads with imperative choices to make (money, the environment, foreign policy, war, etc.), the politics of the moment has descended into an ethical abyss where each party is taking a "by any means necessary" approach to political power in a Faustian exchange for political advantage.   "Racism and/or sexism. . . no problem. . . lets go there!  Urban legends/lies passed off as truth. . . sure, if its on TV or in an email, it must be true.  And lets not talk specifics in terms of policy interviews or conversations of substance.  Truth is something to be manipulated and managed, not something to be told.  Finally, for God's sake (literally, as we use His name in vain to support whatever position we want to take), lets not talk about bad news.  Nobody wants to hear the bad news about the hard choices Americans face.  Instead lets wrap ourselves in the flag with self-talk of how great and virtuous we are as a country and how prosperity (as the ultimate idol), lies right around the corner." 

Given what is happening on the world stage, this would appear to be a most fascinating moment. . . dangerously ominous for those who live with the illusion that the U.S. is somehow the messianic "last best hope for mankind"  yet also agonizing for those of us who, while having a much different Allegiance, still seek to walk in peace, redemption, and reconciliation in such a massively broken world.       

What's Wrong With This Picture?

"There's power, wonder-working power, in the goodness and idealism and faith of the American people."  President Bush, 2003 State of the Union Address

"This country is still the last best hope on earth." Barack Obama on the Late Show with David Letterman

"The ideal of America is the hope of all mankind. . . That hope still lights our way.  And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it."  George W. Bush, Ellis Island, 2002

These quotes are taken from Shane Claiborne and Chris Haw's book Jesus for President and are a "truth is stranger than fiction" interpretation of where our politicians see hope in this U.S. election year.   You may call me unpatriotic but is there not a huge problem here?  As Claiborne and Haw insist, "Putting America in where the old gospel hymn places the blood of the Lamb is not only idolatry, it also just doesn't have the same ring to it; try singing it on Sunday morning." 

The Power of Travel

Read a great quote in a travel magazine the other day which interviewed actor Matt Damon on his many trips to Africa in support of digging wells for local populations, a practice which has profoundly changed both the Africans he comes in contact with as well as Damon himself.

"Damon believes in the power of travel to transform people.  He wishes that Americans were less insular, and quotes the fact that only 21 percent of Americans have passports.  "I think many of our problems as a country would be solved if people had thick passports," he says.  "There's just not substitute for actually going and seeing things". 

Our family would say a resounding "YES!" to this sentiment.  As our closest friends will attest, our travels abroad to England, New Zealand, Fiji, Mexico, Israel, the West Bank, and Costa Rica have transformed our lives beyond words. . . and all in the past 3 years.  Traveling abroad as "experiential tourists" has powerfully changed our view of the world, the U.S., and ourselves!  In fact, in our opinion, one cannot truly understand the United States until we have looked at the U.S. through the eyes of "others".  Going further, I strongly suspect that at least some of our current struggles here in the U.S. stem from the fact that only 21% of our population travel abroad.  Like Damon, I think our problems would be greatly helped if more of us had "thick passports"!     

Against the Grain

Continuing from my previous posting, one example of "taking the red pill" politically right now is dealing honestly with the fact that our energy practices and policies are both globally and locally unsustainable!  I know this goes against the grain but I am delighted that our gas prices are "high" (although still ridiculously low compared to most other parts of the world).  In fact, I wish the price of gas would go higher, much higher.  Despite my concerns for the airlines, my fear is that high gasoline prices are the only way we would be FORCED to honestly deal with our energy situation.  Here again, we do not have a politician in sight with the guts to tell us the truth.  So we live with the dishonest illusion that our American lifestyle is somehow sustainable long term.  Which is why I find myself hoping for even higher gasoline prices, recognizing the enormous hurt this will cause short term especially to those who truly can't afford the consequences but equally recognizing that Americans in general and American political leaders in particular are unwilling to take the honest "medicine" we need to address our delusional "disease". 

Political Courage

Between my American Government class (High School Juniors) and recent extended family conversations, the reality of our present political situation seems to be ever-present on my mind.  On one hand, as followers-of-Jesus, our primary allegiance is to God and His Kingdom alone with all other "allegiances" a distant second.  On the other hand, we in the US are facing perhaps the most important election cycle in modern memory with both major candidates, tickets, and parties promising platitudes and prosperity as answers to our dilemmas.  Unfortunately in my mind, political rhetoric and politics as usual won't cut it anymore.   Paradoxically, even as our problems multiply and seemingly defy solution, both of our political parties seem to suffer from a woeful lack of political vision and courage. . . a potentially dangerous combination for the road ahead.  As a student of American History, I celebrate the fact that the US has both an African-American and a woman on each of the party tickets.  But as a student of our times, I am still wondering if either party or candidates have the political vision or courage to deal with the dangers of our times.

I am reminded of a conversation I experienced in the Middle East last year with a woman knee-deep in Middle Eastern political affairs.  This was not some political hack spewing party propaganda but rather a thoughtful, honest assessment of political leadership in the volatile Middle East.  Despite the fact that she was very involved in one specific party, this delightfully candid woman offered up the assessment that most people in the Middle East from all parties and persuasions are despairing of present leadership on all sides as lacking political courage, wisdom, or honesty. . . including from her own political party.  Absent such leadership, she offered that most people in the Middle East have little hope for the future. 

While my hope is thankfully not rooted on any of our American political parties or candidates, I am nevertheless longing for political leaders who will tell us the truth.  In the movie Matrix terms, give us the red pill helping us make the best of what appears to be woeful options rather than insisting that we take the blue pill and live with ridiculous illusions. 

Respectful Conversation

As anybody who lives in the U.S. knows, we are finding ourselves seriously divided by many issues: faith, politics, morality, security, "family values", and especially how to respond to perceived threats to the above.  Unfortunately we have also seemingly lost the ability to have respectful, open dialogue over these issues and are instead yelling across the divide, demonizing those who disagree with us (often using "straw men" stereotypes) in what seems to be a desperate need to be "right" on all things.  The red state/blue state divide is, in fact, only the tip of the iceberg as the chasm runs much deeper than politics, not only separating those of different faith cultures and backgrounds but even those within a single faith tradition. 

I am very mindful of this "yelling across the divide" these days on several fronts.  First, to some extent and over some issues it is happening at our school which leaves teachers (me included) very uncertain and even fearful as to what issues/questions are "OK" to unpack with kids without scathing criticism, unfounded accusations, and/or losing our jobs.  Secondly, to some extent and over some issues it is also happening in my extended family as we find it increasingly difficult to talk about certain things with objectivity, openness, and respect.   

In the midst of these minefields, I occasionally encounter conversations between individuals holding differing perspectives to be both hopeful and encouraging.  One such conversation has been made into a DVD entitled Purple State of Mind metaphorically combining the colors red and blue into a "purple" conversation between Craig Detweiler, a film maker and Christ-follower, and John Marks, a journalist formerly with 60 Minutes and US News & World Report who was once a Christ-follower but who has since walked away from faith.  John and Craig are long time friends having been roommates in college year ago (when John was still "in Christ").  Now they are both chronicling their journey, Craig in the form of the film and John in the writing of a book entitled Reasons to Believe: One Man's Journey Among the Evangelicals and the Faith He Left Behind.  I recommend both the book and the movie for anyone who is discouraged about the yelling.  While not for the faint of heart (or for those who think they are "right" on all things), Craig and John clearly model an openness and loving attitude toward their differences which gives me hope for the days ahead.  In fact, I'm trying to figure out if/how I can use their conversation in the context of my classes this fall.  Without a doubt I will be criticized for using Craig and John because they are not "right" on everything (and fuzzy on plenty) but I am so attracted by the possibility of civil and respectful conversation in the midst of our differences that I can't resist the attractivenss of their model.  All the more important in what is sure to be a dreadfully destructive election process this fall. 

"All You Can Eat!"

I'm back on the blogging circuit after a (hot) summer break of painting houses.  The next three weeks are insanely busy with two weddings, one retreat, teacher preparation for the school year (more on that later) and a momentous trip to Chicago where our oldest son, Adam, begins his freshmen year at Wheaton College.  Between school prep and painting, I've been working pretty hard these days but have still found time for "stories" in the form of movies and books. . . some of which I have entered into deeply while others have been simply "candy for the mind".  The most disconcerting and puzzling story of the summer has been The Dark Knight which is not only shattering all records for movie attendance but is continuing the recent Hollywood trend of delving into ever deeper and darker corners of the human soul in the forms of violence and abuse.  Don't get me wrong, I do not say this with any condemnation.  It's more that, as movies are one of the primary ways our culture tells stories about ourselves, what conclusions are we to draw from this self-perception these days?

Much more straightforward yet troubling in different ways is a fascinating movie we saw called Up the Yangtze where Western culture (in the form of tourists "cruising" the Yangtze River in China) meets Eastern culture (in the form of laborers who serve the tourist industry) all in the context of the massive Yangtze Dam project which will forever change the face of China enriching some, impoverishing others.  Aside from the painful cluelessness of Western tourists who persistently see people and culture through ethnocentric lens (including the Chinese kids they tip as "Cindy" and "Bobby"), we were touched by the personal stories of Chinese peasants along the river.  Several days ago our family passed a restaurant advertising "All You Can Eat". . .  a phrase our son, Robby observed is probably interpreted one way by Americans and a second way by starving Chinese displaced by the Yangtze Dam.      

A Reality Check on Gas Prices

We continue to hear moaning and groaning at the supposed "high" price of gas here in the States.  But let's get real here on several counts.  First, what we continue to pay is far below what most other Western countries are forced to pay on a daily basis.  So why the grinching?  Secondly, as our family visited with several close friends and kindred spirits last week, we all acknowledged that we actually hope the price of gas goes HIGHER in the U.S.!!  Yes, higher gas prices will hurt our pocketbooks and our economy but in the long run higher gas prices (a) may actually force us to make the lifestyle changes that we need to make so that we are not so selfish and ethnocentric (b) will also force us to look for more healthy alternative energy sources and (b) any lifestyle changes we make might actually take us in the direction of a more sustainable world including a more redemptive stewarding/healing of our environment. . . certainly one key aspect of God's Mission in the world today.  Yes, God does care about people but I also think the Bible is clear that His redemptive work on the Cross extends beyond people to all of Creation.  As N.T. Wright (and others) have written, "Heaven is not our home!" for God is indeed creating a new Heaven and a new Earth .  .  .  a key aspect of God's redemptive reign (Kingdom) now demonstrated in what we call The Lord's Prayer: "May Your Kingdom come and Your Will be done on EARTH as it is in Heaven"! 

"Our 1700-Year Wedgie"

I've been reading my friend Hugh Halter's new book The Tangible Kingdom: Creating Incarnation Community(co-authored by Matt Smay) and have found many of Hugh's observations both humorous and thought-provoking!  Just two examples:

Hugh refers to institutional Christendom first seen under Emperor Constantine as "our 1700-year wedgie", a very accurate albeit humorously graphic image of how we continue to be affected by the unholy union of church and state in our country under the guise of civil religion.  "Wedgie" is a great word because Christianity in America truly has been "jammed up" in both meaning and outcomes to the point that I seriously wonder if Jesus would find our supposed discipleship even faintly recognizable compared to what He said and did.   All of which seems to make the word "Christian" one of the most polluted words of our time.  Literally and figuratively, what in the world does "Christian" mean anymore?   Like many others, I find it hard to use the word without the context of significant explanation.

Separately although very related, I also found Hugh's comments on doctrine and the person of Jesus very thought provoking.  Quoting Hugh: "You may not know it but there's a war a-brewing. . . The best way to characterize this coming civil war is to see the church in two primary camps.  One we'll call 'Jerusalem Christians', those who see the person of Jesus through their traditions and the literal interpretation of doctrine and the other 'Galilee Christians', those who see the Christian message through the person of Jesus and the narratives about his life."

As I digest this comparison, I see it almost like a lens through which we choose to see reality.  On one hand, some wear the lens of "doctrine" through which they view and interpret everything: Jesus, church, mission, school, life, etc.  The other "camp", as Hugh puts it, chooses to wear the lens of "Jesus" through Whom they also choose to view and interpret everything (including doctrine).   Both are "lens" yet each "sees" a profoundly different view of the world including our engagement of it, response to it, and posture towards it.  I have seen this difference up close and personal in recent days.  Without going into details, will our lives and purposes be governed by doctrine about Jesus (however important) or by the words and works of Jesus Himself?  This is hardly an idle question and one which may indeed lead to heavy conversation in the days ahead.             

The Dreaded "H" Word!

Speaking of heresies, I find it so incredibly interesting that we all so quick to drag out the hoary and supposedly terrifying word "HERESY" whenever some disagrees with our opinions.  "Heresy" is, after all, such a delicious word as it marginalizes and condemns someone else's views while keeping our own views so obviously "right", beyond critique, and wrapped in the mantle of God's blessings.  Reminds me of two quotes I've mentioned before.  The first attributed to Dallas Willard, the second to Abraham Lincoln.  Quoting Dr. Willard, I like to tell my classes that "There are over 33,000 Christian denominations in the world. . . and they all think they are right."   Implied of course is the fact that no single organization or individual can possibly be "right" on everything because, to be "right" on everything would make one "God".  Despite this fact, we continue to play the games that I've got a handle on everything and, if you disagree, I might just drag out the H-Bomb in order to put you in our place.

As for Lincoln's quote, in light of the fact that both the North and the South were claiming God to be on their side, Lincoln was asked for his response.  Lincoln responded almost prophetically "God cannot be for and against the same thing.  One side therefore must be and both sides may be wrong!"  I wish that we could be more careful in using the H-word to bolster our own interpretive opinions.