Post by jhutch on Jan 21, 2009 14:31:52 GMT -8
Hey all, I have had an account for a while and spent some time trolling the topics. Then, I lost my username/password so...I vanished for a bit. But, I'll try to check in more often.
Anyway, Josh asked me to post a note from something I had written on Facebook. It's seem to have sparked a good deal of comment over there and he thought it may benefit us to chat about it a bit. Here it goes...
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I have been reflecting on what I witnessed on TV today over the course of about 6 hours of DVR'ed coverage that I recorded of today's inauguration. I'll be honest, I was exited about all the pomp and circumstance. The pageantry and tradition is just terribly interesting to me. I was impressed by the small tidbits of presidential information that the news anchors would share about each of the former presidents and how they related to the next. Regan's crazy stationary, the rug designed by Laura Bush that will remain in the Oval Office, and known contentious car-rides between outgoing and incoming figures of state all make for interesting filler between cameras trained on state dignitaries. It all culminated in Aretha Franklin's hat for me.
I watched in anticipation of what our newly elected president might say. Obama had the world's attention. He took all of 18+ minutes to say what he thought he needed to. He delivered a somber yet forceful address. I thought I'd share a few of my thoughts on his address. Feel free to comment as you have time. This is a conversation that we'll all be having for years to come, not merely about this address, but about this man's decisions and his presidency.
Early on, Obama makes clear that he will not be pulling any punches toward the former White House administration saying, "Our economy is badly weakened, a consequence of greed and irresponsibility on the part of some, but also our collective failure to make hard choices and prepare the nation for a new age." It's so unfair to blame any one group for greed and irresponsibility. He in fact, was one of those in power as a US Senator during this time of "greed and responsibility". I wish he would have taken a more apologetic approach much like the prophet Isaiah, "I am a man of unclean lips and I live amongst a people of unclean lips." He could have bought a bit more cred with me had he done so.
I don't agree with a great deal of what the Bush administration did. Those that know me, know that. I am ready for a change. But, to point a finger without acknowledging our own personal responsibility in the failure of the system (a system he was a part of during the snapshot of history being scrutinized) is frustrating. We all had a hand in this. We all spent beyond our means. We all took short cuts of some sort. And know we all want bailed out, or at the very least want to blame someone else. Obama seems to do just that, "On this day, we come to proclaim an end to the petty grievances and false promises, the recriminations and worn out dogmas, that for far too long have strangled our politics." I want him to take it further. Jab the Bush administration, fine. He and Chaney deserve some credit. But...they were in cahoots with every single American living beyond their means. Every congressmen making backroom deals. And even more indicting, they were working in concert with Christians aligning themselves with an American way of life rather than with those in need choosing comfort and familiarity over sacrifice and service. More on this later.
What's more frustrating is the all-too familiar language offered up in the speech that is reminiscent of the Bush administration. If I picture a half-assed smirk and a bit of a raspy voice, I can see former President Bush delivering this same line, "The time has come to reaffirm our enduring spirit; to choose our better history; to carry forward that precious gift, that noble idea, passed on from generation to generation: the God-given promise that all are equal, all are free, and all deserve a chance to pursue their full measure of happiness." Are you serious? God-given? Not a chance. Jesus was fairly clear that this whole Christianity thing was a pretty serious deal. Jesus offered language like "count the cost" intentionally reminding his followers that a vote for Jesus is often a vote for death. That is a God-given promise. American is hardly a Christian nation. We're a democratic sovereign country. The people in this country have done a pretty good job to set up a system where people select it's leadership, not God. People select it's values, not Almighty God. The notion that God has selected America or any other country to deliver freedom to the world is not only wrong, but unbiblical. All men are not created equal here on earth. All men are not free here on earth. All men don't get the opportunity to pursue their full measure of happiness here on earth. You can see where I am going with this. God offers spiritual freedom, equal and unconditional love, and eternal happiness. However, God must shudder when his name get attached to some of the things done in his name delivering freedom to the world. This is the same rhetoric offered by past administrations, and I hope Obama just said this because it what people think they want to hear, not because he believes it.
He goes on to address what this great nation could do and be. And, I agree with this stuff for the most part. He said, "And so to all other peoples and governments who are watching today, from the grandest capitals to the small village where my father was born: know that America is a friend of each nation and every man, woman, and child who seeks a future of peace and dignity, and that we are ready to lead once more." I think, we need to move beyond our love affair with this nation being about Christianity, leave that to the church. But instead let's put this nations great wealth to work for the common good of the world. Promoting peace by being peaceful is a novel idea. America has the chance to be on the forefront of environmental responsibility and oil independence. These and tons of other areas are the things that would be great avenues to "lead once more" as Obama stated.
I hope people understand that I am a proud follower of Jesus. I am a servant of God. I want the place I live to be the best it can be. I'm just convinced that American Politics and the church are VERY strange bedfellows. And in fact, when the church has power, works for power, wields power legislatively, or lobby's for it's values to become nationalized...it's always suffers. Don't ask me, check church history for this one. Our Christian faith works best when it's being tried. It's relied upon when it's all we've got. It suffers when it's protected and safe.
It sounds like Obama knows what the reality is though. We are not Christian nation any more than we are a Muslim, Hindi, or secular nation. He remarked, "We are a nation of Christians and Muslims, Jews and Hindus – and non-believers. We are shaped by every language and culture, drawn from every end of this Earth." This is the mosaic offered up as the backdrop for America. Again, I just wish President Obama and the rest of our political leaders would stop attempting to garner votes and/or support by making sure to label the country as such. The result…God get’s blamed for a lot of crap he doesn’t deserve.
It makes me wonder how much God cares about politics. I mean, we laugh when some chucklehead points to God after he scores a touchdown in an eternally meaningless game. Why don’t we draw those same conclusions when talking about successful nations scoring proverbial economic touchdowns? Obama states toward the end of his address, "This is the source of our confidence – the knowledge that God calls on us to shape an uncertain destiny." He’s confident that God called him to the office of President and is calling America to lead the world once more. Okay, I’ll buy the calling him to the office part. He call’s lot’s of people to a lot of things. I just ask that Obama be very careful in the decisions that follow. As we’ve seen, when mistakes are made (even lives lost), if we invoke the name of God and his calling into the picture…it’s awfully hard to admit where we are wrong (or God was wrong) even though the death toll rises and evidence mounts.
Overall, I am hopeful. I am hopeful that the beliefs of this president more closely align with mine as a citizen of an earthly country. At least closer than that of former president Bush. That’s it. However, I am a citizen of a much more important land. It’s a land that transcends politics and sows love across all ideologies. It’s a far more important citizenship than anything I could begin to align with here on Earth. And, if taken seriously, it requires more sacrifice and a much higher price than anything being asked of me by America’s leadership. God help me.
Jess
Anyway, Josh asked me to post a note from something I had written on Facebook. It's seem to have sparked a good deal of comment over there and he thought it may benefit us to chat about it a bit. Here it goes...
---------------------------------------------------
I have been reflecting on what I witnessed on TV today over the course of about 6 hours of DVR'ed coverage that I recorded of today's inauguration. I'll be honest, I was exited about all the pomp and circumstance. The pageantry and tradition is just terribly interesting to me. I was impressed by the small tidbits of presidential information that the news anchors would share about each of the former presidents and how they related to the next. Regan's crazy stationary, the rug designed by Laura Bush that will remain in the Oval Office, and known contentious car-rides between outgoing and incoming figures of state all make for interesting filler between cameras trained on state dignitaries. It all culminated in Aretha Franklin's hat for me.
I watched in anticipation of what our newly elected president might say. Obama had the world's attention. He took all of 18+ minutes to say what he thought he needed to. He delivered a somber yet forceful address. I thought I'd share a few of my thoughts on his address. Feel free to comment as you have time. This is a conversation that we'll all be having for years to come, not merely about this address, but about this man's decisions and his presidency.
Early on, Obama makes clear that he will not be pulling any punches toward the former White House administration saying, "Our economy is badly weakened, a consequence of greed and irresponsibility on the part of some, but also our collective failure to make hard choices and prepare the nation for a new age." It's so unfair to blame any one group for greed and irresponsibility. He in fact, was one of those in power as a US Senator during this time of "greed and responsibility". I wish he would have taken a more apologetic approach much like the prophet Isaiah, "I am a man of unclean lips and I live amongst a people of unclean lips." He could have bought a bit more cred with me had he done so.
I don't agree with a great deal of what the Bush administration did. Those that know me, know that. I am ready for a change. But, to point a finger without acknowledging our own personal responsibility in the failure of the system (a system he was a part of during the snapshot of history being scrutinized) is frustrating. We all had a hand in this. We all spent beyond our means. We all took short cuts of some sort. And know we all want bailed out, or at the very least want to blame someone else. Obama seems to do just that, "On this day, we come to proclaim an end to the petty grievances and false promises, the recriminations and worn out dogmas, that for far too long have strangled our politics." I want him to take it further. Jab the Bush administration, fine. He and Chaney deserve some credit. But...they were in cahoots with every single American living beyond their means. Every congressmen making backroom deals. And even more indicting, they were working in concert with Christians aligning themselves with an American way of life rather than with those in need choosing comfort and familiarity over sacrifice and service. More on this later.
What's more frustrating is the all-too familiar language offered up in the speech that is reminiscent of the Bush administration. If I picture a half-assed smirk and a bit of a raspy voice, I can see former President Bush delivering this same line, "The time has come to reaffirm our enduring spirit; to choose our better history; to carry forward that precious gift, that noble idea, passed on from generation to generation: the God-given promise that all are equal, all are free, and all deserve a chance to pursue their full measure of happiness." Are you serious? God-given? Not a chance. Jesus was fairly clear that this whole Christianity thing was a pretty serious deal. Jesus offered language like "count the cost" intentionally reminding his followers that a vote for Jesus is often a vote for death. That is a God-given promise. American is hardly a Christian nation. We're a democratic sovereign country. The people in this country have done a pretty good job to set up a system where people select it's leadership, not God. People select it's values, not Almighty God. The notion that God has selected America or any other country to deliver freedom to the world is not only wrong, but unbiblical. All men are not created equal here on earth. All men are not free here on earth. All men don't get the opportunity to pursue their full measure of happiness here on earth. You can see where I am going with this. God offers spiritual freedom, equal and unconditional love, and eternal happiness. However, God must shudder when his name get attached to some of the things done in his name delivering freedom to the world. This is the same rhetoric offered by past administrations, and I hope Obama just said this because it what people think they want to hear, not because he believes it.
He goes on to address what this great nation could do and be. And, I agree with this stuff for the most part. He said, "And so to all other peoples and governments who are watching today, from the grandest capitals to the small village where my father was born: know that America is a friend of each nation and every man, woman, and child who seeks a future of peace and dignity, and that we are ready to lead once more." I think, we need to move beyond our love affair with this nation being about Christianity, leave that to the church. But instead let's put this nations great wealth to work for the common good of the world. Promoting peace by being peaceful is a novel idea. America has the chance to be on the forefront of environmental responsibility and oil independence. These and tons of other areas are the things that would be great avenues to "lead once more" as Obama stated.
I hope people understand that I am a proud follower of Jesus. I am a servant of God. I want the place I live to be the best it can be. I'm just convinced that American Politics and the church are VERY strange bedfellows. And in fact, when the church has power, works for power, wields power legislatively, or lobby's for it's values to become nationalized...it's always suffers. Don't ask me, check church history for this one. Our Christian faith works best when it's being tried. It's relied upon when it's all we've got. It suffers when it's protected and safe.
It sounds like Obama knows what the reality is though. We are not Christian nation any more than we are a Muslim, Hindi, or secular nation. He remarked, "We are a nation of Christians and Muslims, Jews and Hindus – and non-believers. We are shaped by every language and culture, drawn from every end of this Earth." This is the mosaic offered up as the backdrop for America. Again, I just wish President Obama and the rest of our political leaders would stop attempting to garner votes and/or support by making sure to label the country as such. The result…God get’s blamed for a lot of crap he doesn’t deserve.
It makes me wonder how much God cares about politics. I mean, we laugh when some chucklehead points to God after he scores a touchdown in an eternally meaningless game. Why don’t we draw those same conclusions when talking about successful nations scoring proverbial economic touchdowns? Obama states toward the end of his address, "This is the source of our confidence – the knowledge that God calls on us to shape an uncertain destiny." He’s confident that God called him to the office of President and is calling America to lead the world once more. Okay, I’ll buy the calling him to the office part. He call’s lot’s of people to a lot of things. I just ask that Obama be very careful in the decisions that follow. As we’ve seen, when mistakes are made (even lives lost), if we invoke the name of God and his calling into the picture…it’s awfully hard to admit where we are wrong (or God was wrong) even though the death toll rises and evidence mounts.
Overall, I am hopeful. I am hopeful that the beliefs of this president more closely align with mine as a citizen of an earthly country. At least closer than that of former president Bush. That’s it. However, I am a citizen of a much more important land. It’s a land that transcends politics and sows love across all ideologies. It’s a far more important citizenship than anything I could begin to align with here on Earth. And, if taken seriously, it requires more sacrifice and a much higher price than anything being asked of me by America’s leadership. God help me.
Jess
