3 More Things

I think I love Scribio Facio Noto (even though I don't know what it means).

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I also love Anthony Esolen's thinking on the election. Like the man said, "Put not your trust in princes."

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I've been warned about Frank Viola's books. A well-meaning friend suggested I read some heresy-hunter's blog concerning him (she said she was afraid for me). This is all very strange, as it was clear that she had no idea what his books were actually about. It seems that the co-author of Jesus Manifesto: Restoring the Supremacy and Sovereignty of Jesus Christ is sure some dangerous fellow! Not that I expect everyone to agree with Viola all the time (heck, I have some reservations myself), but I would say Viola has reoriented my views significantly (I'm brainwashed!). Anyway, I've been warned:

A Political Eschatology?

It's election day. I'm going to go vote this morning in a ritual that I have always enjoyed. I believe in participatory democracy, and share Winston Churchill's oft-quoted perspective: it's the worst form of government, except all the others!

Now, I'm generally a less-government-is-good-government sort of guy and will vote accordingly, but I wanted to point my readers to one of the best political blogposts you may ever read. Scot McKnight's The Eschatology of Politics. [HT: Ted Gossard]

In God We Do Not Trust

Mark Driscoll's pre-election insights:

People are longing for Jesus, and tragically left voting for mere presidential candidates. For those whose candidate wins today there will be some months of groundless euphoric faith in that candidate and the atoning salvation that their kingdom will bring. But, in time, their supporters will see that no matter who wins the presidency, they are mere mortals prone to sin, folly, and self-interest just like all the other sons of Adam and daughters of Eve. To help extend naïve false hope as long as possible, a great enemy will be named and demonized as the one who is hindering all of the progress to atone for our sins and usher in our kingdom. If the Democrats win it will be the rich, and if the Republicans win it will be the terrorists. This diversionary trick is as old as Eve who blamed her sin on Satan rather than repenting. The lie is that it’s always someone else’s fault and we’re always the victim of sinners and never the sinner.

Read it all here.

HT: allsufficientgrace

Somebody needed to say it . . .

So Phil Johnson did:

I object to the fact that the average evangelical could not give a coherent, biblically sound summary of the gospel or a theologically accurate explanation of justification by faith—but they are more worried about an Obama presidency than they are about the disintegration of their own testimony.

Yes.

The Post 11/4 Conversation

A day off from work (Veteran's Day), and a glorious Fall morning in New England. I'm going to spend the morning raking leaves (a seasonal obligation), but first I've been reading some interesting posts concerning the recent election. I began with Nate at The Jesus Paradign, then followed his links to Kingdom Grace and Cerulean Sanctum. These last two also feature some excellent dialogue among the comments.

These are but three voices in what is already a virtual hubbub of conversation concerning the relationship of Christians to the political process. On this matter, a lot depends, I think, on whether your fundamental premise is that "America is a Christian country," or that America has some special or elevated status among nations in the eyes of God. This is the kind of thing you hear from the religious right, from various "prophetic" wingnuts (who shall remain unnamed), and of course the politicians that court the Christian vote. And it's a destructive fallacy. If you believe it, you will invest far more in the political process than you will, say, in making disciples. That's part of the point made by the three commentators mentioned above.

Whatever else one may say about Barack Obama, he is the first successful politician to say as much and get away with it. This statement of simple truth was greeted with outrage among the James Dobson wing of the Republican party, but I for one commend him for it.

And that's a starting place for thinking about this matrix of Christianity and politics. The USA is not God's special focus, holding some sort of special status in his redemptive plan for creation. Top dogs always think they're special in God's eyes. Jesus said the first shall be last, overturning these standard worldly expectations, and that should at least cause us to wonder if all our struggling for power and influence is not a devilish cul de sac.

Along those lines, recall these instructions of Screwtape:

Let him begin by treating patriotism…as a part of his religion. Then let him, under the influence of partisan spirit, come to regard it as the most important part. Then quietly and gradually nurse him on to the stage at which the religion becomes merely a part of the "cause," in which Christianity is valued chiefly because of the excellent arguments it can produce.... Once he’s made the world an end, and faith a means, you have almost won your man, and it makes very little difference what kind of worldly end he is pursuing.

Thanks to Roc in Exile for sharing this quote. Read his post, How to Derail a Christian. It's right on the money.

In addition: read Jared Wilson's SearchWarp article, There is Only One Messiah and America Isn't His Kingdom. What I said.

Greetings from the Loyal Opposition

It seems strangely perverse of me not to comment on the recent election, or at least take note of the social phenomenon that is Barack Obama. So, herewith, a few notes:

I have not seen such excitement over a candidate for president in my lifetime as that which I have seen in the past few months for Barack Obama.

I like Mr. Obama's temperament. He's cool-headed, mature, and I don't expect to hear of him having childish temper-tantrums or pity-parties in the White House. He's also smart. That having been said . . .

I disagree with much of his agenda, and I don't like his political allies much, to whom he will certainly be awarding power in the coming months (that's what president's do, after all). Despite the campaign hyperbole about unity and all that, the Obama candidacy represents the resurgence of the liberal agenda. This prospect does not fill me with warm-fuzzies.

The apt historical comparison might be the election of 1932. Franklin Roosevelt took office following a long period of conservative rule, and during a time of economic turbulence. In terms of governance, Roosevelt was a true leftist, but in terms of leadership, he successfully transcended politics and was a kind of chaplain/father-figure to the American people. Mr. Obama, while a very different man for a very different time, nevertheless seems want to embrace that same role.

Folks, things are about to get very interesting. That is the only prediction I will make. I do want Mr. Obama to succeed. I did not vote for him, but come inauguration day he will be my president. As for me, I expect to responsibly oppose those policies which I consider wrong, and yet always, as far as I am able, to love him and pray for him and his family.

My Quadrenniel Political Post, or The Evil of 2 Lessers

So I voted the other day. For the first time ever, I voted before election day, sitting at my dining room table. And in honor of the occasion, I offer my rarely spoken thoughts on this election season.

First, and this is true of any election, if you have a reasonably high standard of honest and plain speaking, along with a healthy respect for the complexity of things, American elections must drive you up a wall!

I know they do me.

I received a large postcard in the mail from a candidate for the state house. It displayed a beautiful picture of majestic wind generators on a grass-covered hillside, against a blue sky. Two children were running ecstatically through the deep green grass. The headline read, "[Joe the Candidate] will bring you clean energy."

Ahem. By any reasonable standard of honesty and valuable communication, this is an utterly worthless statement.

Now multiply that by a thousand statements. A million statements. An avalanche of statements. With photo-ops to boot. Aren't we lucky to live in a democracy?

Elections are not a time for reasoned dialog. They are a time for pronouncements untethered to critical elements of the truth. The motivation for these pronouncements is utterly selfish, driven by ambition, and therefore all inconvenient complexities (otherwise known as "reality") are carefully airbrushed out of the picture.

So I voted. The man I voted for is no doubt a ninny, a doofus, and a bozo. So is the other guy. Oh well.

My Last Political Post of this Election Year

I have voted for many fools in my time. I expect to vote for another one in the coming election.

Dark Thoughts from Lars Walker

Of course there's no shortage of Internet commentary concerning the recent election. If you read blogs, you know that, and you don't need me to provide the links. Instapundit does a fine job of that, and of course many others. But perhaps you missed this commentary from novelist Lars Walker of Brandywine Books. Lars speaks with clarity what had been nothing more than foggy intimations in my own thoughts.