prop: a support placed beneath or against something to keep it from shaking or falling
As a Christian I love living in America. Mostly because it makes being a Christian really easy. For example, I don’t actually have to go out and help the poor or feed the hungry or visit the folks in prison – all I have to do is make sure I vote for the person who will put policies that support these things in place.
And if I don’t like this neighbor that I don’t know, and they decide to put a car on blocks in their driveway and I don’t like how that affects the value of my home then I don’t have to walk across the street and find out why their car is on blocks – all I have to do is write a letter to my Home Owner’s Association and we can pass a neighborhood law prohibiting cars on blocks. It’s so easy.
The coolest part about democracy is that when I feel my neighbors, or any of the 300 million people in this country for that matter, are living immoral lives, I don’t have to get to know them and try to figure out why they do what they do. I don’t have to become friends with them and gain influence. I don’t even have to take time out of my busy day to pray about that issue, or rely on the Holy Spirit to help them (or me) achieve a better life. All I have to do is start a petition, and call my senator, and try to pass a law that prohibits their immoral activity. Never mind it doesn’t change the way they act (it only makes it illegal) – I feel a lot better about myself when there are good, moral laws in place.
It gets even better when it comes to foreign policy. No longer do I have to go anywhere or see anything firsthand. I don’t have to help start an actual orphanage or touch one of those AIDS infected bodies – all I have to do is donate $100 to the president of my choice. He’ll take care of it with the next $1 billion international relief budget.
I love democracy. It makes being a Christian so easy.
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Ouch. On all sides.
I think you hit the nail on the head here. Great post.
I love the snarkiness.
I propose it should be required for any church member to have to volunteer once a month at either an orphanage, a homeless shelter, an AIDS clinic, help with hospice or a low income tutoring center. Regardless of the government, there are SO many needs and never enough $ or hands to help with it all sufficiently.
Here is comes, I feel my self stepping on to the dangerous soap box, the one that makes me unaware as to whether I am an advocate or a pharisee. Ugh. Bottom line-make a difference with all of your actions, how you spend your time, your money, your energy. One life is not very long-spend it wisely and generously.
Good one. That is why I have a ton of respect for missionaries.
Love it…every single bit of it.
yeeehawwwwww!!!
Thank you, Shawn, for saying this so powerfully. It’s something I’ve thought in a sort of unformed way, but which I try not to say too often because I don’t want to sound holier-than-thou, since I don’t actually live in the country anymore…
That said, democracy that works is a great blessing. You can see that clearly when you live in a place where it does not work. But I think conservative Americans are taking theirs to such an extreme that it makes a mockery of the whole idea. Rather than thanking God for what they have, they are becoming the very Pharisees Jesus so often condemned….
thanks for your thoughts carmen. you would have a unique perspective on democracy! the leaps that people are currently making with democracy remind me very much of similar leaps being made with capitalism.
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