Mixing "Business" and "Life"

I've been involved in 3 different facebook conversations over the past week which have to do with Obama, the health care debate and the school speech. In one of those discussions someone else responding got very heated and swore the the ** to make her point (and no, it was not me!). The 3 people who started the discussions in the very beginning are all Believers - followers of Jesus Christ, Christians in other words. One person was conservative, two were questioning. Of the questioners, one leans left and the other leans right from what I could discern.

This got me to thinking very seriously off and on all day.

As a Christian, how do I state my political beliefs in such a "tinder dry only needs a spark to cause an inferno" situation? Or do I even give my opinion, state what I believe? What is my responsibility as a Christian?

I am well aware that not all Christians are conservative in their political beliefs, as am I. But we are still brothers and sisters in Christ. That is what is key. We are members of one greater family that transcends political boundaries.

I admit, I cannot understand how a true Christian can be a liberal and follow politically a person who endorses abortion on demand, homosexual issues, taking away parental rights and responsibilities and giving those rights to the government, and much more. I do not know how a person can reconcile those beliefs with what the Bible says. However, it happens. And Christians end up disagreeing with each other. And from some of the responses I have read recently in these 3 discussions, and a host of others - Christians are disagreeing to the point of anger with each other and breaking the bonds of fellowship in Christ.

We have lost our focus.

Our focus is not on what OBAMA is doing, not on what the Left or the Right are doing. No, our focus must be on what God is doing, right now, in our political situation, among the people of America and the world at large. We are focusing - or maybe I should say I too easily focus on the 'near' and not on the big picture.

I am a Believer in the Holy Trinity. I believe that what the Apostle's Creed says is true. I also am an ambassador for Christ in another culture.

Too often my political views can get in the way of my Christian responsibility and my "job", so to speak. I must ask myself, "When people see me or think of me, do they see or think of Christian and the message of the Bible? Or do they think 'American politically conservative'"?

I also represent a mission organization. This organization itself has no political opinions, but I am sure that the members of this organization personally range from very left to very right politically. The Church encompasses people of all races, political beliefs (that I can think of), genders, etc.

So, I must be careful. I cannot mix the two - and that is VERY difficult! I am who I am, and that includes politically conservative and Christian both. And I have very strong opinions about my political beliefs.

Oh my. We all walk a very thin razor's edge here. I must very carefully watch my step.

In ALL things Christ must be glorified - I must remember this!