Johan's Tough Conviction

I heard Rob Bell say something that has been weighing heavy on my heart and I wanted to share it all of you. Less than a year ago I heard Rob Bell say something along the lines that “He’s not a Republican nor a Democrat, because he believes that Jesus was neither. That I (Rob Bell) and Mars Hill (his church) are aggressive bipartisans.”

This has been weighing heavy on my heart because I have been feeling pressure from myself to be pick and choose a political party. The point is if we were to ask Jesus if He was a Democrat or a Republican he would in His thought provoking Rabbinic style rebuke us and at the same time not answer our question but see our off kiltered motives, see a soul that is starving for truth and love, and answer a greater, deeper question. He would tell us that we have missed the point in our pursuit to determine which political party was more righteous. I have a feeling that He would say that loving others is not a political party but the way He demonstrated his life and the way He desires us to live.

Greg Boyd (renown pastor of Woodland Hills Church located in St. Paul, MN) recently lost 20%, about 1000 members, of his congregation because he made the statement that there is a danger of associating the Christian faith too closely with any political point of view. He even released a book called “Myth of a Christian Nation” that expands on his thought about this. Check out his blog @ gregboyd.blogspot.com, by far, one of my favorite and lengthiest blogs to read.

To all of my readers, friends, and family, I want you to know that I greatly appreciate and respect your opinions and your convictions. I love you guys! I want you all to know that it’s been a struggle and yet a great joy to be challenged by this. I’ve learned so much about myself. I know that we all believe that the love of Christ is greater than any ideology or political platform. We all believe this, I know we do! Don’t get me wrong, I’m not saying that one party is better than another, or that no party is better then being affiliated with one. I’ve just been so transformed by the love of Jesus that I just want to love others regardless of any age, social standing, faith, or political stance. May we all be instruments of peace! Amen!