Heavy Thoughts on the Walk Home

As I walked home, I had to put my book down. For one thing, the roads were busy, so reading and walking at the same time can become reckless. For another thing, a heavy thought was distracting me.

Here's how it started:

Steven E. Athay I am shocked that Obama won or that he'd even be considered, but I am very proud of my president, as I think the entire nation should be proud.

Obama Wins Nobel Peace Prize

Source: www.huffingtonpost.com

OSLO — President Barack Obama won the 2009 Nobel Peace Prize on Friday in a stunning decision designed to build momentum behind his initiatives to reduce nuclear arms, ease tensions with the Muslim world and stress diplomacy and cooperation rather than unilateralism. ...

One of My Friends Is it like being proud of your son for winning a game, even tho he cheated?

about an hour ago · Delete

Ok, now, listen. I have a personal policy that I don't discuss politics with friends and family. I'm fairly strict about it, because I feel it causes more tension and discord than "being right" is worth. But hear this one out, because this really isn't political.

You can probably tell I edited that. Well, I only did that because I haven't asked permission from the party who left the comment if I can use it, so I decided to just delete it - just in case. But if that person reads this - forgive me. And trust me, I'm only using it as an example of something else.

The comment that Obama cheated to get the Nobel Peace Prize is pretty audacious. And ridiculous. I even responded to the comment online saying the same thing. See, I don't care if you don't think he deserves it; you are totally fine having an opinion about that, as anyone may have with any winner of the prize. Heck, I'm not even sure that he truly deserves the prize. The trouble I have with the comment is that there is nobody in their right mind who could possibly accuse Obama of having the ability (or desire) to cheat to be awarded the Nobel Peace Prize.

Now, I don't really believe the person who left the comment believes that. I am pretty sure that person is being snarky - one of the things I like about them. But I do know lots of people who would take a comment like that and totally run with it. Quote it as though it had come down from God himself. And comments like that are thrown around so easily, even from "reputable" media outlets. Comments that can later be dismissed as offhanded, but everyone knows that the audience didn't take it that way.

It's my own belief that we need to be wise with the words we use. Who knows who takes those words and believes them without thinking about it? We are responsible for sharing discernment, not ambiguity; for spreading truth, not opinions. I understand the difference between jokes and seriousness, and that's why I thought this silly post was a good example - I've seen people post similarly ridiculous thoughts that were meant to be taken seriously, and would probably make your hair curl.

My point is that Christians, myself included, usually take on mantras like "Do everything as if you were doing it for God." and post them in our dorms or on our fridges. We wear bracelets that remind us to consider how Jesus would handle any given situation. We memorize verses that tell us to love our enemies. But I only see people apply these things on a small scale. "Would Jesus watch the Simpsons?" "Did I bake this pie as if it were for God?" "I don't have any enemies, so I'm okay, right?"

I rarely see Christians applying their beliefs to the big picture. "Would Jesus be arguing with his friends about politics?" "Did I spend the last 8 hours at work as if I were working for God?" "Am I treating my bitchy co-worker with love and respect...?" (Sigh.)

Here are some questions I wish Christians would ask themselves and try to find their Biblical answers:

How should I treat the environment?

How should I spend my money?

What responsibilities do I have to my community, and how would my life change if I lived like that?

When genocides are happening right now, when people are homeless and jobless, when food is being produced and sold in a way that is destroying the land and making people die... when there are real life and death, generation-changing issues at stake, why are we happy to remain ignorant, watch reality television, and ignore the world around us?

Why am I really arguing with someone about their political leanings? Is it really doing any good?

I used to believe that there was some built up tension between Christians and non-Christians. Then I realized it was between right-wing Christians and anyone (Christian or not) who is left-leaning. I often find myself on the opposite side of the argument than most of my Christian friends. Now I see that, right-wing, left-wing, chicken-wing - we're just fighting to be right. Put the KFC down, my friends (please, choose organic, free-range!). I ask you - is it so important to be on the correct side of the political spectrum. My answer: no. God wants us to love one another, and we're not going to convince each other by pushing buttons, shouting the loudest, or writing the longest facebook comments (or blogs - yikes!). If you're an American Christian, stop wielding your political beliefs around in one hand and your Bible (or lack-thereof) in the other. Jesus didn't do it that way*, why do we insist on doing so?

*At least, the Bible I read doesn't mention that... but if you can find a verse that contradicts me, I'm open to hearing about it.