Nice Christians?

This is a comment to an excellent, thought-provoking blog post by a dear friend of mine.

@Dean - I'm reading UNChristian by David Kinnaman (excellent book) and I was thinking the same thing. "Yep. That's us. We seem to be against everything and for nothing."

@Shawn - Well, that cuts both ways. Conservative (and Christian!) media paint all liberals as godless, amoral, baby-killing, America-hating communists.

I don't like either side's stereotyping. And I'm frustrated by the fact that humans so eagerly grasp at caricatures of those who are different. Think about it honestly: If your opponent's perception of you is flawed, couldn't your perception of them be flawed as well?

From the day I accepted Christ, I understood that you grew as a Christian by studying the Bible, praying, going to church, and becoming a Republican. Only later did I discover that the last one wasn't required. And frankly, I think I used it as a mask to cover for not always doing the first three very well. It was easy to repeat rhetoric I heard on talk radio, make sarcastic remarks about Bill Clinton, and sign a few petitions - then pat myself on the back for "fighting for righteousness." As with head knowledge of theology, I believed the right (?) things but I didn't have to DO anything. It's easy to take potshots at politicians and root for your "team." It's a lot harder to directly affect the community around us face-to-face.

Also, to set up one political party or ideology as the only true one is idolatry (and illogic) of the first order. Each side has legitimate points and the best solutions to many problems. But not all problems. They are earthly institutions and philosophies, born both of noble intentions and selfish interests. That's why we need each to keep the other in check.

But I don't think politics is the point of Jan's post. As I already pointed out, it's easier to avoid introspection and self-evaluation - the purpose she expressed - and just launch into well-rehearsed arguments about politics. And, let's face it, when "teammates" do that amongst themselves they are just preaching to the choir, flashing their "True Believer" badges at each other. Is this good use of our time? Or, rather, God's time?

Let's find out where we have contributed to the often accurate perception that we are mindless sheep bent on making everyone follow our rules, with not much care for their real lives and legitimate questions. I hope Jan's acquaintance came away with an understanding that that's not what we're about. At least not deep down. And I hope that we have the humility to learn that we do have wisdom to glean from liberals, too. I think I read somewhere *cough*Proverbs*cough* that safety is in a multitude of counsel, not in a gaggle of folks who already agree with you.