To What Does God Belong

Politics.

Jesus once said it is "easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God." (Matthew 19:24)

Is it any easier for a politician?

I doubt it. Consider. Has not politics become synonymous with falsehood, deceit, bribery, corruption? That is not to say that every politician is guilty of these crimes, but in all honesty, who believes that many are not? It is an acceptable prejudice.

I saw a bit of a blurb on television regarding how the amount of dishonesty in financial matters is greater in New York City than in any other place in the world. A psychologist was explaining how this is so.

They had done an experiment in which they put several bills of currency in a refrigerator in a workplace. The bills were all left alone. Then they put in a six-pack of soda pop. One by one, the hidden camera showed people taking pop that didn't belong to them. Why so? The explanation was that few people will actually steal "cash", but if the money element is removed one or more places, people will steal. In this case, the money was converted into soda pop. Suddenly, it was much easier to rationalize one's behavior. That is what happens in the banking industry. People don't take money from the vaults. They take stock dividends, vacations, and other things which cost money, but are not money.

That is what happens in politics. Ideals of honesty, integrity, and openness are abandoned for some "greater good".

I knew someone who had a friend who ran for congressional office because he wanted to make a difference. He won the election. However, when it came time to decide whether or not to run for re-election the man opted to retired from public office. Why? Because the system is so corrupt that, in order to accomplish anything, he had to sacrifice what he believed was honesty, integrity, and general character.

It is no secret I have never care for, nor respected, politics much at all. It is more than annoying to listen to people spout phony words of caring and compassion. The more earnestly they speak, the less I believe them.

But what irks me more than anything is how the Republican Party has convinced so many idiot Christians that God is a Republican. That infuriates me. Why? Because of all political parties, the one which LEAST resembles God is the Republican Party.

They are mean, intolerant, hateful, unforgiving, exclusionary, uncooperative, uncaring - the list goes on.

And yet so many Christians think they have to be Republican because that party is officially against abortion. No wonder God keeps calling us sheep. We're about the most stupid things he created.

If you are upset about my blasting Republicans - good. But be upset enough to read your Bible and check out what God says. If you are honest, you will see that God is no more in favor of Republicans than he is of Democrats. And that's the other thing that torks me off. Being against one political party doesn't automatically mean I support another. In no way do I mean to state, or even imply, that I think God is a Democrat. Or has any other political affiliation. God is God. He's above it all.

But where do you see the Republicans in this?

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such there is no law. And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. Galatians 5:22-23 Revised Standard Version

If you want to know which verses of Scripture make me think Republican, here you go:

But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of stress. For men will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, inhuman, implacable, slanderers, profligates, fierce, haters of good, treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, holding the form of religion but denying the power of it. Avoid such people. (emphasis mine) 2 Timothy 3:1-5 Revised Standard Version

To the angel of the church in Ephesus write: 'The words of him who holds the seven stars in his right hand, who walks among the seven golden lampstands. I know your works, your toil and your patient endurance, and how you cannot bear evil men but have tested those who call themselves apostles but are not, and found them to be false; I know you are enduring patiently and bearing up for my name's sake, and you have not grown weary. But I have this against you, that you have abondoned the love you had at first. Remember then from what you have fallen, repent and do the works you did at first. If not, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place, unless you repent. (emphasis mine) Revelation 2:1-5 Revised Standard Version

In essence, it is my conviction that any religion/faith which is political in nature is a harlot religion/faith. God is independent of human conventions.

That is what I believe.