Left Right, Left, Right

Here is an essay written by my cousin Pam. She has generously offered to write from the "left" point of view occasionally. I'm happy to have her contribution to the blog.

Left Right, Left, Right

by Pam Butherus Kinyoro

In the months preceding the last U.S. presidential election, much to my chagrin, I heard many of my fellow Adventists, champion the candidate for the Republican Party. More than once I heard prayer requests that God bless and bring about the election of the candidate of their choice. While I was startled to hear such political comments voiced in church I was even more shocked by the sheer numbers of Adventists backing a party supported by the people of the Far Right disposition including the Christian Coalition. Remaining ever politically correct, none of our ministers in my hearing ever addressed these comments or the history of the Right Wing or Conservative views. While I am always grateful for the freedom of choice to choose elected leaders I wonder at the shortness of memory that Christians as a whole, nonetheless Adventists, have regarding what the past has taught us regarding governments and kingdoms run primarily by the Church, or at least in the name of the church; often purported to be chosen by God.

Looking back to the history of the ancient Jews of Jesus’ time we see a society where the leaders were those in positions of highest religious leadership. From the moment of Jesus’ birth what was their response to the idea of the arrival of the long-awaited Messiah? Not only disregard but also hostility and eventually a corporate plan that called for His death. Would the members of the priesthood; the Pharisees and Sadducees of that day have been considered “Left” or “Right?” A few hundred year later the Catholic Church, having gained the power over even the kings of the secular realms were noted for their continuous and severe punishment and even torture of those who did not fall in line with their particular beliefs. Again, would they have been considered “Left” or “Right?” The Crusades and the infamous era of the Inquisition were also headed by the leading religious leaders of the time. Look a few more years into the future and you see the Church of England and its’ contemporaries in other countries following their lead as they sought to overcome any individual freedom of choice in worship with persecution, excommunication, and banishment. They were told they were heretics and would not be allowed through the Heavenly gates because of their stubborn rejection of the “correct” religion. Our country was populated by those who came here to exercise that very right to freedom of choice on how to worship; and while many of our countries’ leaders were certainly Christians they worked hard to build into the Constitution and Bill of Rights a wall that would forever separate the political and religious entities from influencing each other. A system of checks and balances was set into place so that no one branch of the government had complete authority and the freedom to practice or not practice religion was protected.

And yet now, a scant 200 years later we are seeing and hearing a great deal of pressure being exerted by religious groups to break down that very wall of separation between church and state in order to get “back to the good old days” of having a Christian country. What is it that so many of our sincere Christian brothers and sisters want? A return to a state regulated religion? Now as a fellow Christian and a lifelong Adventist to boot I certainly espouse the principles of Christianity and long for my fellow man to understand the great love behind them and the great happiness that living a Christian lifestyle provides, however, do I agree that we should elect only leaders who we think will promote Christian principles? I would have to say a hearty “No!” to that. As the Godhead gave Adam and Eve the choice to choose sin in the Garden of Eden so I believe God continues to want us to have a choice about whether we will serve Him. And although He has given us the Ten Commandments I don’t believe it would ever be His intention for them to be legislated; in fact as prophecy indicates such legislation will indeed bring about the end of our human history. While I am eagerly waiting His return and want to do everything in my power to bring it about quickly I don’t believe that voting in a president who may be the exact one who concludes the process of reaching across to grasp the hand of Rome is the way to go about it. Following the “Great Commission” seems more certainly the way our Lord intends for us to ready the world for His coming.

David Gates, the president of Gospel Ministries International, a volunteer missionary ministry relates what is happening in his country of residence, Venezuela. A few years ago he relates, the country was run by a Catholic influenced regime and as such they closed or kept closed the doors of many avenues of our evangelistic efforts. However, when Chavez, someone with obvious “Left wing” leanings became president, many doors opened and our work has been less hampered there than it was previously. Now don’t assume that I’m promoting Communism or Socialism! That I am not, however, it appears that God can work more efficiently in such governments at times in history than in a “Christian” lead government. As an aside, it also appears that the persecution that Christians have suffered at the hands of any of God’s enemies also has the undesired effect of making them stronger in their faith rather than weakening it!

My final point of discussion would be to ask the question of you, “If Jesus were to back a political party which one would He be most likely to support?” Now obviously He wouldn’t back ANY political party. However, it might behoove you to consider the consistent agendas of both parties and how that agenda affects the groups of people that Jesus made so many provisions for throughout the Old and New Testament: the poor, needy, orphans, and widows. If that doesn’t ring any party bells I’m not sure what will. Somehow I don’t believe that Jesus would, if He had any political leanings, lean toward a group that protects the interests of the wealthy and the upkeep of armed forces before the needs of those less fortunate. Now please don’t misunderstand my goal of this article, it is certainly not to change anyone’s mind about their political beliefs or their choice of political parties or who to vote for in future elections. My primary goal is to provoke thoughtful consideration of my points and invite discussion. With that in mind I look forward to seeing your responses in the discussion section of this website or on its blogs. Above all, I pray that each of us will devote our time and efforts to bring about Jesus’ soon return so that we may be ready for Him and will meet each other in Heaven someday very soon!