Recently I made a comment to several military officers that we should not build our doctrine around the perfect scenario- we should write our doctrine reflecting the current reality or, better yet- the worse-case scenario. Specifically we were talking about how we seem to be operating more and more in cases wherein our strategy is unclear and our objectives are ambiguous. Even more upsetting is the lack of support and/or understanding for what we are doing from our populace. Instead of assuming we will get unambiguous guidance and a strategy that is clear and supported by our people, let's figure out, I argued, how we should act when we don't have those things. If we get those positive things- then our effort should be easier. In fact, we often train that way at the tactical level- the thought being that if you train for the worse, then if things are not as bad- then we should be fine.
Why don't we do the same for religion? Many religious folk talk a lot about how we need to make the Earth better and we need to work for peace. There are even many who insert their religion into their politics- I heard one lady on the radio say that the reason a bus monitor was abused by kids was that prayer had been taken out of school. Do we really want our nation to be guided by our faith? What about "rendering to Caesar"? If power corrupts, I'd think the last thing we would want is for our religion to hold political influence. Politics is all about compromise- but religion doesn't seem to be conducive to much compromise.
I think establishing a more perfect Earth and working to get our country to support our faith is similar to the military wishing for the perfect environment with which to carry out operations. I submit that no matter how much we fight to get prayer back in schools, abortion banned, and the ten commandments in courtrooms, the U.S.- and the Earth for that matter- will still have the same issues we have today. Why? Because of human nature. Humans seeking power (all of us) will twist whatever "works" to their own ends- whether it be religion or secularism. If an interest group can take a position of advantage- through either the victim mantle, a righteous position, or simple majority rule- then they will use it to their ends and their ends will eventually become corrupted through their ways and means. Religion is no different and, as we have seen over and over again, religious leaders are just as bad as secular ones.
Instead, I would not advocate inserting religion into politics. Practically speaking, there may be a time or a place where Christians are not the majority- and then what? But, philosophically, I think Christianity is at its best when it is the minority. When it is oppressed. Laughed-at. Even persecuted. Christianity starts turning very peculiar when it is the governing authority in an area. It was a religion that started during trying times- people actually faced much more hunger than they did obesity, subsistence living was the experience of most, and most religious folk faced some kind of persecution of one kind or another- to include death. Today the worst thing that can happen to most Christians in the U.S. is not getting to the restaurant on Sunday for lunch quicker than the church down the street.
I would also encourage us to "prepare for the worst" instead of trying to make things better. Because that assumes we can make things better. And I don't really see where God gave us the mission to make the Earth a perfect place. He wanted us to treat each other better, but I don't think that included setting up a theocracy- or even a republic that was conducive to religion. Instead of assuming we can have it perfect one day- let's assume that no matter what we do, the Earth will remain a place full of faults. That way we can turn our efforts towards that reality- instead of praying for things we should know will not take place. For instance, instead of praying for a certain politician to win, maybe pray for both sides to conduct themselves respectfully. Instead of praying for a person to recover from a disease, maybe pray for everyone who loves that person to be comforted. Things in life will continue to be bad- we cannot build a Tower of Babel on this Earth. Let's accept that and move on to the real business Jesus talked about: spiritual growth and development.
Why don't we do the same for religion? Many religious folk talk a lot about how we need to make the Earth better and we need to work for peace. There are even many who insert their religion into their politics- I heard one lady on the radio say that the reason a bus monitor was abused by kids was that prayer had been taken out of school. Do we really want our nation to be guided by our faith? What about "rendering to Caesar"? If power corrupts, I'd think the last thing we would want is for our religion to hold political influence. Politics is all about compromise- but religion doesn't seem to be conducive to much compromise.
I think establishing a more perfect Earth and working to get our country to support our faith is similar to the military wishing for the perfect environment with which to carry out operations. I submit that no matter how much we fight to get prayer back in schools, abortion banned, and the ten commandments in courtrooms, the U.S.- and the Earth for that matter- will still have the same issues we have today. Why? Because of human nature. Humans seeking power (all of us) will twist whatever "works" to their own ends- whether it be religion or secularism. If an interest group can take a position of advantage- through either the victim mantle, a righteous position, or simple majority rule- then they will use it to their ends and their ends will eventually become corrupted through their ways and means. Religion is no different and, as we have seen over and over again, religious leaders are just as bad as secular ones.
Instead, I would not advocate inserting religion into politics. Practically speaking, there may be a time or a place where Christians are not the majority- and then what? But, philosophically, I think Christianity is at its best when it is the minority. When it is oppressed. Laughed-at. Even persecuted. Christianity starts turning very peculiar when it is the governing authority in an area. It was a religion that started during trying times- people actually faced much more hunger than they did obesity, subsistence living was the experience of most, and most religious folk faced some kind of persecution of one kind or another- to include death. Today the worst thing that can happen to most Christians in the U.S. is not getting to the restaurant on Sunday for lunch quicker than the church down the street.
I would also encourage us to "prepare for the worst" instead of trying to make things better. Because that assumes we can make things better. And I don't really see where God gave us the mission to make the Earth a perfect place. He wanted us to treat each other better, but I don't think that included setting up a theocracy- or even a republic that was conducive to religion. Instead of assuming we can have it perfect one day- let's assume that no matter what we do, the Earth will remain a place full of faults. That way we can turn our efforts towards that reality- instead of praying for things we should know will not take place. For instance, instead of praying for a certain politician to win, maybe pray for both sides to conduct themselves respectfully. Instead of praying for a person to recover from a disease, maybe pray for everyone who loves that person to be comforted. Things in life will continue to be bad- we cannot build a Tower of Babel on this Earth. Let's accept that and move on to the real business Jesus talked about: spiritual growth and development.
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