The left and the right both believe the government has a role in bettering society and that, somehow, it is the catalyst for human progress.  And we have politicians running around spouting off that they somehow will be the agents of change in our country.  What change?  Economic prosperity?  Equality?  Universal health care?

Which were the big governments in the Bible that were corrupt and strayed away from the purposes of God?  The Romans.  The Sanhendrin.  And the Greeks.

What is the government that Christ espoused?  The kingdom of heaven which is found in our hearts, now. It is minimal in structure and bureaucracy, yet profound in its impacts on the hearts of men and potentially, the course of history.

True change will occur when we grasp the fact that we are at union with Christ, are depraved and in dire need of His redemption, and thus motivated to follow him at all costs in the world serving Him by loving others and connecting with his people.  No human government or political party is designed to do this.  Yet the left in particular believes government has some role in redemptive change.  There is no historical precedent that it does.

Romans 13 (http://snurl.com/2svnp) reflects our relationship to gov’t well.  If we live right as followers of Jesus, government won’t be in our way.  This assumes that we don’t look to government for things we should not look to it for.   And notice that it says we pay taxes so that an orderly way of life can be maintained.  God uses the government to keep order, not to be our nanny state.  And our politicians, left or right are not anointed to save our country.

Christ, through us, is more than enough to help cure what ails this world.  And ultimately Christ is the only one that will redeem and complete it anyway.  Our lives are mere foreshadowings meant to draw others to him and his wondrous plan.  The NT church seemed good at this: people gathered together, with Christ as the head, and used the gifts imparted to them by God. In their reflection of Christ, the world was transformed.

We are not citizens of the American empire, ultimately, but of the movement of Christ.

I for one do not judge Obama personally, or question the faith he claims.  And he seems articulate and like a good guy.  But I wonder strongly about his associations (just who donated the over $200 million that is in his campaign chest), his integrity, and just how big a role he has in the change he constantly espouses.  IMHO, he is too small a man to change a very corrupt system that flies in the face of the kingdom of heaven.  And anyone would be.

Also, I get very concerned that there is such a frenzy over Obama.  In the minds of our culture and media, he has been all but elected.  Discerning, critical inquiry has fallen by the wayside.  This is a frightening place to be, lulled into the charisma of a candidate making grand promises that things are going to be better.  History has given us many compelling examples of what can result from this dynamic.

As I vote, I will consider the following:

- Will the candidate promote more intrusion into my life, or less?
- Will the candidate encourage creativity and entrepreneurship, or more dependence and victimhood?
- Will the candidate espouse ways to let me keep more of my hard-earned income, of find more ways to confiscate it, for some ways that are largely against the ways of Jesus?
- Is the candidate pandering to special interests and victim segments, or working for the good of the entire American people?
- Is the candidate creating an environment where I can choose how to give out of my charity, or one in which the government arbitrarily taxes me for the benefit of others?
- Does the candidate promote class warfare (playing the rich and big business as being “against” the interests of the working class [boy does that smack of the Marxist dialectic]), or encourage everyone, rich or poor, to make the best of their resources for the betterment of their families and communities, and ultimately the world?
- Does the candidate strive at all costs to minimize government such that it is reasonable versus seeking ways to increase it’s reach into all of our lives?
- Does the candidate believe he is somehow “anointed” to save our country, or does he talk about humbly serving our country in it’s entire best interest?
- Does the candidate view government as a solution to human progress or as a distracting hindrance to the redemption of the world?

I know, I have been long-winded, but this stuff has been boiling in my heart for a long time.  I care about my country vastly, but I care more about the kingdom of heaven, where the real change occurs.

There is an idea floating around out there about the role of government. To paraphrase, it holds that civilization and human progress can only happen through government. Somehow, our society, culture and mankind will grow better through progressive government. This is a fallacy.

I won’t go waxing scholarly here, nor will I quote the great social philosophers. I am going by my gut, based on a libertarian understanding of the Holy Bible. Yikes, you say, libertarian?!?! To that I reply with a resounding yes.

You see, as I have understood the holy scriptures, the big governments in the Bible were also founded upon the idea that government is the promoter of social progress. And we all see what happened to the Romans and the Greeks. The government espoused in the Bible has been ushered in by Jesus, and it is to be found in our hearts.

Romans 13 discusses government, if only briefly. The Message states clearly that we are to be good citizens and live responsibly. It also states that the God uses the government to maintain peace and order. We pay taxes to fund this. So there is a clear place for government, in God’s grander scheme for this earth. But I think the scriptures are clear right after the discussion on government and our relationship to it: Love other people as well as you do yourself. This is the formula for societal change, and even redemption.

God has lavished His love on us, even as we have not deserved it. And if we accept it, we are motivated by love, at least hopefully. When we give of our lives to our friends, spouses, children, strangers in need, etc. we seed change throughout our spheres of influence. This is the stuff that fuels strong communities where the needs of the less fortunate go met, without government provision or intervention. The idea that government can have a long-lasting impacting role in this is far-fetched, silly and logically impossible.

Bureaucracy feeds upon itself, and perpetuates itself. If it happens to be for a small iota of good, that is great. But government is the Borg, assimilating everything in its path to grow its collective consciousness. It’s a supertanker that needs miles to make a turn. It’s entrenched in old ideas, lack of innovation, a bloated workforce and lots of initiatives that are at best unimportant and at worst, immoral. And it tends to perpetuate this lack of risk and innovation to the masses.

We become mere cogs in the economic machine. More $10/hour jobs need to be created to keep people in subservience to a draconian and bordering on tyrannical tax apparatus. And those few that are wealthy and risk their capital are demonized as taking advantage of the poor and the middle class. It’s all so wrong. I want our politicians fighting on behalf of our entire citizenry for the best of the nation, not business interest groups, or the poor, or the senior citizens, or the farmers, or the middle class. But it ain’t to be.

So what of the Kingdom of Love, bathed in expressions of love? We give. We raise. We empower. We risk, start and encourage the same. We create and compel others to do the same. We sacrifice, give, give up the affluence we all have for the good of others. And we couch it all in the redemptive love of Jesus. This will never lead us entirely to a utopia of perfection in society, but we can make a huge mark on it that actually betters it (historical examples abound).

The government on the other hand, happily takes in our hard-earned working capital and likely distributes it to places that may make our stomaches turn. Meanwhile, the poor get poorer, the lonely get lonelier, the rich get richer, the abused get more abused, and our civilization drones on into brokenness. No president or politician can ever really change that. But you and I, we have all the power in the world at our disposal through God’s redemptive change in our hearts. The real question is: Are we willing to tap into it, or are we willing to let an uncaring government try to failingly do this work for us? More importantly, how will this question affect our view of all our overly-ambitious presidential candidates?

They are all spouting off, liberals and conservatives alike. They want to bring change to our country. They may be well-intentioned, but they are delusional. The idea of change from the top down is questionable at best. At worst, historically, it has strayed into utopian ideas that ended up being destructive. Remember socialism, communism and the Nazi’s?

I don’t believe it for a moment when the candidates wax rhetorical about their ability to change anything. They will end up being victims of a self-perpetuating bureaucracy like all the rest. They have to operate within a system that largely stifles any large-scale change.

Change can happen, and it can happen in massive, compelling ways, through us. Do you want change? Do you want to stop relying on a government that propagates the idea that it can be the catalyst to human progress and betterment of society? Here’s where the change begins, and I believe it can send shockwaves through our society and the world:

- Marry your sweetheart and love him/her undyingly.

- Make a family and raise good kids. It’s fun and it’ll have a profound impact on future generations.

- Find faith in God, and act upon His amazing grace.

- Work your job with integrity and tenacity, regardless of how menial it is.

- Provide for your family with whatever it takes.

- Find your passion, and pursue it.

- Take risks with your creativity for the betterment of others.

- Save your money and risk it on building better things or helping the less fortunate.

- Serve everyone you can, even if they are completely different from you.

- Protect your income and livelihood as much as morally and legally possible from burdensome and wasteful government taxation.

- Live simply, with gusto.

- Firm up your convictions and stand up for them at all costs.

- Do not turn a blind eye to injustice. Stand up for the weak and abused, even if it’s at your peril.

- Give freely of your time and money.

- Follow Jesus.

- Stop consuming, and start building and preserving a legacy.

- Stop relying on your government for anything. If anything good comes from it, in spite of itself, it’s icing on the cake.

- If you’re a man, give the women you know the highest appropriate honor.

- If you’re a woman, give the men you know the highest appropriate encouragement.

- Raise good kids.

- Invest in the lives of others.

OK, I know the list is long, but we can likely accomplish each of these at least once in our lifetimes. Change starts with you and me, not the president or the government. Anyone who tells you otherwise is flat wrong.

I have been aloof from the whole church thing lately. I find myself sitting in Sunday services, wondering just what the point is. We spend much time, energy and money on getting people in the door on Sundays. And I wonder for what. In this time of hyper-change, the institutional church seems to be lumbering along way behind the times.

It is evident here in the Seattle area. You can go to almost any club with live music on a weeknight (shows are usually from 9pm-1 or 2 am) and it is packed with professionals. Many of them have early mornings the next day due to work. Yet they pack out a nightclub on a weeknight. Just try to find them in church on Sundays.

I hang out a clubs, you see. No, I’m not hoping to run into Paris Hilton (I doubt she’d stoop low enough to visit Seattle anyway). And no, I am not pursuing hedonistic aims of drink and revelry, though I do enjoy hanging with my peeps. What I am attempting in my feeble way, is to connect with the masses that seek something more spiritually. Everyone wants more for their souls.

And so the throngs come to worship. And it ain’t Jesus. It’s the latest band. Or the chance to hang out with others to have fun and a few Jaeger shots. It’s the chance to dance to some grooves, hands raised in reverence to funky musical strains. And it’s the chance to connect with something deeper, with the most shallow of strategies.

As I sit in these postmodern worship environments, the deep hunger of the soul is palpable. And I sit largely alone as a follower of Christ. I have yet to run into other Jesus followers in these settings, save for the few brothers and sisters that have occasionally joined me for a cold micro or a healthy pour of Italian red. I feel alone, along with the throngs that surround me. Alone in places that yearn for the presence of Christ. Where is the Church?

Am I all that? No. Am I providing some great outreach ministry to the lost masses? Uh uh. But I am letting people into my life, so they can see something of Jesus through the haze of my imperfect soul. We have been taught for so long to preach the Gospel. I for one want to be the Gospel.

Those seeking fulfillment in their souls are flowing in a torrent past us, and the Church is largely not to be found. Oh yes, there are efforts here and there that reach into these lost and lonely places, and they are to be commended. But you have no idea how many people are starving for the heart of Jesus, without even knowing it. It has shaken my soul.

Take my friend John (not his real name) for instance. He has lived in the same neighborhood for 50 years. Born, raised, and now living in the home of his dead parents. He is depressed and lonely. He does not want to sit at home watching TV alone. So he goes to the neighborhood bar and grill. We have talked a number of times as he nurses 4-5 bottles of Bud Light (which really can’t be called beer). He is a good guy, and the heart of Jesus longs after his. I aim to dignify him, and let God reflect his heart through mine. He is opening up to his need.

Or consider the 6’2” hostess of the same establishment. Being 6′8″ myself, I am kind of freaked out by her. She is intellectually challenging to me. MENSA counts her among their membership. She strives for dual advanced degrees in theology and politics. Her aim? To understand the intersection of religion and diplomacy. Whoa!! All the while, she is developing her singer songwriter career and spouting quotes from Walt Whitman and Rainer Maria Rilke, while enjoying red meat and foie gras.

Did I tell you she was an animist? I love this woman. She is inches away, intellectually, from a completely Judeao-Christian worldview. Her heart has yet to be yanked forth in God’s grace though.

St. Francis said it well: Preach the gospel and if necessary, use words.” I know that this has started to become overused. But it is our key into the lonely souls of the hypermodern generation (to use Erwin McManus’ term). Consider the small act of paying for my drinks. Same club, different gal. She’s a great woman – and bartender — that is in the process of starting an EcoTourism magazine.

The other night, I noticed that I had only been charged for one beer, not the three that I actually had (this happens regularly, being the regular that I am). I had a slight twinge of temptation to let it be. After all, it was busy. But I called her on it. She slugged me in the arm, and told me she was “gonna kick my ass”. I fully believed her. She got a tip on the original amount. I will strive to be Christ in the situation. And maybe get beat up by a girl in the process. Preach the gospel…

I could tell you story after story like this (and probably will). I am probably at this establishment way too much. But oh well. People are getting to know me, and I them. I pray fervently that they see Christ in me. Please God, let it be so. I am building my – no God’s – influence to get credits to spend with people. I yearn that they let me in a little more each time. And I anticipate the day when they see directly into the heart of God.

I was at a church service tonight. It was packed. Nary a seat to be found. In Seattle. On a cold rainy night. At 6:45 pm. What brings the crowd here, in this godlessly, post-modern city? Maybe the message. Maybe the pastor. Maybe the warm, candlelit ambiance and earthy worship songs. I don’t know. But I was here. Read the rest of this entry »

I was standing in Chop Suey, with a great friend, anticipating a New Years Eve party. This Seattle club has an ersatz Chinese vibe, complete with a ceremonial parade dragon hanging on the ceiling and kitshy artifacts spread artfully about. And of course it pays a loose homage to Bruce Lee, a Seattle son. Read the rest of this entry »

the 94-year-old lady, alone in a care facility, her family dead and gone, and no one to visit her. She’s sitting in her wheel chair, waiting for dinner outside the dining room. It’s still two hours ’til dinner.

caring for parents unable to care for themselves, cleaning up after them in not the most pleasant of ways, helping mom into her bed, as she did when I was infant and unable.

the middle-aged lady, working at the mini-mart at ten PM on Christmas eve, waiting to go home to wrap her gifts for mom.

the single mom with a day off, sleeping in to rest and using the day, Christ’s birthday, to catch up on chores, alone.

people streaming into candle light services, singing Silent Night and not personally knowing the savior of their souls.

people rushing around from family to family, making sure they get it all in on Christmas day.

the homeless man, braving cold sleet to survive, any love left in the world lost on him.

the curmudgeonly Norwegian engineer, wandering out the dusk of his life puttering up to the mini-mart for Camels, smoking his lungs away in the Gazebo outside. His walker makes it harder.

Jesus, moving into our neighborhood, taking on our brokeness, lonliness, and pain, to give us a new lease on life.

Ok, I have been on a hiatus. From writing that is. Life got the best of me. I got lazy. I have been processing — a lot. I hope to be back now, regularly, exposing my thoughts here, amongst other things. So what have I learned in the six months since I last posted here?

- I am cynical about the Church, bordering on judgmental. What should be holy discontentment has degraded into negative frustration. It’s so bad, that I don’t even know where I want to go to church or connect (in fact, I have been going to five churches). I don’t feel that I can connect in if I can’t buy in.

- The places I do go to church have great people with great motives, but not much seems to be happening. Here in the Seattle area we are surrounded with people that are explicitly searching for spiritual meaning. I know, I meet them daily. These are not just New Agers, or militant Atheists. They are thoughtful people trying to find meaning for their souls. And sadly, I don’t see any people in the church out trying to engage these great people. And I grieve.

- Seattle is a cultural mecca. The world is looking to this area for the next new trends. The focus is on this great city. A city that I have grown to love in all its pagan splendor. I will be writing more about what Seattle is offering culturally and how we as followers of Jesus can have an impact.

- The Seattle music scene is awesome. There are some great artistic rumblings going on in the musical arena. There is a movement afoot to create true artistic community and to raise other artists up by mentoring, intense study and opportunities to perform. Hmmmm… kinda what the Church needs to be doing. How can we as followers of Christ tap into this for redemptive change?

There are other insights that I have gained. And I will write about them. And you’ll hear about my experiences with the people in Seattle that I love. And in the process, my heart yearns that you would be inspired.

The amazing reality is that the earnestly seeking and skeptical are flowing past us at alarming rates. All is good to them, it seems. And what when their world crashes around them and they find that they really did not have the Real Answer? Where have we who claim to follow Christ been? The torrent of souls flow past, and I humbly believe we are only having minor impact (bless all who are trying to reach the lost, nonetheless).

To paraphrase Bono, I am tired of waking up each day hearing that there is not a damn thing we can do about the profound problems of the world. So I’m going to go and do some damn thing.

I did not care to write.  I was sapped dry.  Creative juices drained from my soul.  I had ideas, daily.  But didn’t wanna write.  At all.  Still kinda not in the mood.  Yet I am motivated to spill my guts, wax opinionated and generally slather my words in this space.  More to come…

I guess I have finally figured it out. Everything is without savor to me. I have lost love. Life is in the mundane. I crave little spiritually. I have no motivation to pursue much more than I have, though I want so much more. I am up late at night, wanting to go to bed, but avoiding it. I hang out at clubs, listening to live music, empty. I am connecting with few. My prayers are gibberish. My heart knows what to pray for, but I have an hard time getting myself to approach the throne of grace. I am groping my way around the dark night in my soul. Read the rest of this entry »