David Bahn – Reflections

Hebrews 12:22-24

But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to innumerable angels in festal gathering, ²³ and to the assembly of the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven, and to God, the judge of all, and to the spirits of the righteous made perfect, ²⁴ and to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel.

The national conventions of both parties are over. The rhetoric has flown back and forth. The accusations have been leveled, rebutted, and refined. You might have your strong preference. I certainly have mine. But I hesitate even to put a bumper sticker on my car (I know, I may be a bit paranoid, but there’s a reason: read on). This has to do with my desire not to put anything in the way of a person coming to Christ other than the cross itself. I believe a person can be Republican, Democrat, Tea Party, Libertarian, or nearly any political party and be a Christian. The Christian faith spans political parties and ideals.

As Christians we have come not to a mountain, or political ideal, nor to a particular expression of worship. We have come to Jesus the mediator of a new covenant (thanks be to God!). That new covenant is established in the blood of Jesus shed at the cross. That is a difficult-enough obstacle itself to overcome. Why would I do anything to put off someone for a lesser reason?

I will admit that I am a bit over-sensitive in this area. It would not be difficult to determine where I align myself politically. And I don’t begrudge anyone from making their political statements loud and clear. But I would hope it is even less difficult to discern my Christian convictions. I seek to make it crystal clear that I am a follower of Jesus, and that he (alone!) is our great and only true hope.

The question we might want to consider – especially if we tend toward a hard line politically – is whether we know someone of the opposite political persuasion. The reason for this is two-fold. For one, there are people of strong political views on both sides of the political aisle; you will be spending eternity with these people and it would be good to get into that practice now. Secondly, there are people who will benefit from your Christian witness who don’t align themselves with your political views. They need Christ more urgently than they need a political conversion.

I am thankful for people like Cardinal Dolan who gave benedictions at both political parties’ conventions this month. He was consistant in his witness, and clear in his focus on Christ (the text of his benediction may be found here). What is most needed in our world today is not just a political solution to our nation’s problems. We need God’s salvation and the gift of abundant eternal life that Jesus gives us by faith. I wonder if I know a Democrat who needs to hear that.