"Tear the roof off, we're gonna tear the roof off the mother, sucker
Tear the roof off the sucker"
We understand voting is foundational to the political process of American Democracy and is the means through which our lives are ordered and shaped. Yet, is it possible that the System in which we live makes the voting process and our society stumbling blocks to our living faithful lives for Jesus Christ? It seems:
Every year and with every vote we face false choices. . .
If Jesus is Lord of our Life, the question the Christian voter asks – Does my vote express the values and purpose espoused by Jesus? However, for every believer in Jesus (whose concern is restoring God-centered order of harmony and provision for ALL of creation) this is a conundrum because neither democrats nor republicans are representative of Jesus’ "Other-Worldness". Both parties wield power over the people and support and develop policies to maintain the System of imperialism (the ruling over lesser subjects).
But Jesus plainly states there is a distinction in praxis between He and the leaders of this world:
"Jesus answered, "My Kingdom is not of this world. If it were, my followers would
fight to keep me from being handed over to the Jewish leaders.
But my Kingdom is not of this world."" (John 18:36)
""My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts," says the LORD.
"And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine." (Isaiah 55:8)
Thus, as we vote for the lesser of Evil, we might begin engagement of another question/solution like Jesus did – How can I/we overturn the current "Democratic" System of oppression and enact God's reign of Peace, Justice, Mercy, Equity, and Love for All?
If we say we follow Jesus and Love God with all our heart, mind and soul – Can we continue to silently participate in a System that subverts the nature and nurture of God which is Love? Any true expression of love is shared power. Power wielded over and against is not an expression of love, conversely it is an act of hatred and abuse. To rightly understand power expressed through love and compassion, let's look to Jesus:
“The glory that you have given me I have given them, so that they may be one, as we are one, I in them and you in me, that they may become completely one, so that the world may know that you have sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.” (John 17:22-23)
While voting is important overturning the System that is inconsistent with the values and purpose of Jesus Christ is even more essential. How do we expect "God's will be done on earth as it is in heaven" when we are complicit in strengthening the System which is contrary to God's will?
If we are to tear the roof off the sucker (System of oppression), our challenge is re-imagining the world through the lens of Jesus’ life and daringly taking actions to create a system whereby Jesus’ model of shared power is its cornerstone so that ALL people are valued and God is glorified. Amen!
Benediction:
Go, ye therefore to find and create opportunities to "Tear the roof off the sucker"!
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INSPIRED BY LOVE,
Pastor Marcus J. Singleton
PastorSingleton@gmail.com
