While I was reading the responses to Chuck’s post about the “Masculinization of God” I couldn’t help thinking of another “ization” within Christianity -”politicization”. I’ve been aware of this process in American politics for about the last 15 years, but I’m sure it had its roots long before then.

With expanded media coverage, online articles and various blogs, it is hard not to come across a lot of different opinions on both sides of the issue.

In my late teens, many of my adult influences, most especially my parents, cautioned me never to engage in discussions of religion or politics in polite company. Apparently, that is no longer the case. But then the company is not nearly as “polite” as it used to be!

Below is an article from “Sojourner” exploring this “new” phenomenon to some extent.

http://www.sojo.net/blogs/2011/12/13/vote-me-politicization-and-manipulation-jesus-christians-and-religion/?continue

Steve

A poignant topic, Steve. It seems to me that we can’t help but have connections between our faith and our politics, and like you I was taught that we shouldn’t wear those connections on our sleeves. As I have gotten older, I have become more outspoken about how my faith directly relates to my social and political attitudes, but that has been primarily in response to Christianity having taken on a certain public image that I and so many others simply do not identify with. It’s too easy for people, Christians and non-Christians alike, to get the impression that “the Christian point of view” equals some specific set of religious beliefs and an accompanying set of moral, social, and political positions. That misunderstanding isn’t good for anyone, and so it’s important that people talk openly about it. The trick for me has been to not get caught up in the false dichotomies that some people in the media, in politics, and in pulpits, would like to force everyone into. Some of my own friends and family are convinced that you can’t “really” be a Christian and vote for ___________ (insert issue or politician’s name). From there, it’s far too easy to start dehumanizing others as being “misled by Satan,” or worse.

No matter what our specific political, social, or theological beliefs, my hope is that folks identifying themselves as Christians will welcome and work with each other, and with all people, in the spirit of the Sermon on the Mount or Sermon on the Plain.

This all leads me to think about Jesus speaking openly about a Judaism that wasn’t limited to the religion defined by the Sadducees and Pharisees. In fact, I sometimes think there are a lot of parallels in contemporary Christianity.

Agape,
Chuck