It seems that most the people I know (in real life, not Twitter or Facebook friends) are both evangelicals and Republicans.

So often so, that the lines between the two are typically blurred for the individual (like Health Care reform is somehow an issue of personal and corporate morality and may or may not be a sign of the end times.)

and (this is sad but really true) most evangelicals I know are better versed in The Gospel according to Rush than any of the ones that happen to be about Jesus.

In most cases I see conservative evangelicals are also politically conservative primarily because of the abortion issue.

And because of that one issue, they are “Republican” and therefore anything that reeks of political liberalism must be evil and sinful and anti-Christ.

(i.e. environmental responsibility, gay rights, peace, and especially anything dubbed “socialized”)

Richard Cizik was recently forced to resign from his large evangelical church after having the gall to express his differences of opinion on political issues.

I am so excited to see someone of prominence serve as an example to the rest of us that having traditional evangelical theology doesn’t mean political policy is always a black-and-white, republican=christian, throw-the-liberal-baby-out-with-the-bathwater kind of thing. He can exemplify how to be an orthodox believer and evangelical Christian and know that doesn’t require him to walk party lines with the rest of the nation’s evangelical leaders.

Perhaps he’ll be the one to communicate to America’s evangelicals that humans have more rights than just that of being born.

I can’t say much more for fear of revealing my ignorance on politics and policy, but mostly I’m writing to encourage everyone to listen to Fresh Air today on NPR. (our local station airs Fresh Air at noon, check your local listings)

Today Terry Gross interviews Richard Cizik and I’m going to listen just so I can hear him say this:

Evangelicalism has become so subservient to an ideology and to a political party that it needs, as I say, to be born again

If you miss the radio broadcast you can hear it online after 5pm today (July 28)

I heard a funny story on NPR’s On the Media this week…

Apparently a guy named Robert Ekas is suing his local police department, claiming his multiple moving violations are bogus and only issued because he is (apparently) committed to giving the police the finger.

Brooke Gladstone’s conversation with Ira Robbins about free speech, public obscenities and flag burning was funny and interesting.

A case that seems kind of silly is actually kind of a big deal…

What do you think? do we have a right to “salute” the police in whichever way we feel appropriate? (whether they deserve it or not?)

If so, do you believe it an important way to excercise your first amendment rights?

Listen for yourself, or read the transcript here.

Disclaimer: I’m thankful for Traverse City police and I’d never call them pigs… it just makes the illustration funnier.

I started paying attention to Wyclef Jean when I spotted Bob Dylan in one of his videos.

I really started paying attention when I heard about his charity and social development programs in Haiti.

Here is one man that cares about Haiti.

He may not be great at business or with personal finances…

His non-profit has definitely had some growing pains.

But he cared when no one else did.

One of the poorest and most desperate nations in the world is just outside the U.S.

It has been there for a long time.

Hurting for a really long time.

Nobody cared.

And though it’s been encouraging and inspiring to see individuals and communities across the U.S. contribute to healing Haiti right now…

It’s sad to realize what it took for us to even begin to care.

Check out Wyclef’s song “President” in the player and don’t forget to stay up-to-date with Strong Odors by becoming a fan on Facebook and following on Twitter.

I see it pretty regularly, but on mornings like today it becomes especially hard to bear.

When Scott Brown took over Ted Kennedy’s Senate seat last night, half the nation cheered (and half the nation grimaced).

I have no problem with that.

Part of being American means that I am entitled to my opinion.

I don’t think anyone should take that for granted… if you believe in something, speak up!

What drives me insane is when I wake up to Facebook statuses, tweets, etc. suggesting that God (obviously) dislikes the current health care reform bill and every victory for the status quo is a victory for His Kingdom.

Cheers of “praise God!” “a miracle in Massachusetts!” “you can’t deny there’s a God when something like this happens!”

Ugh.

I do believe in prayer… I’ve experienced the effects of prayer… but I have a big problem with casting God in a political mold.

It diminishes the power of God’s redemptive will

What if the election had turned out otherwise? Right wing Christians then are left to wonder “does God answer prayer?” or just find some other provisional explanation (usually blaming the devil à la Adam and Eve).

It shows a lack of faith and fear of the future

One of the things I’ve been trying to learn lately is that I have a lot of fear in my life. I’ve tried to deal with it in the past by controlling everything around me (doesn’t work) and generally avoiding any relationship or situation that I imagine might cause some sort of conflict at some point in the future. By putting faith in politics, Christians around the United States have time and again unknowingly demonstrated their fears to the world. If God is God, then it doesn’t matter who sits on the throne… right?

The thinking that God’s will can only be done through a particular political system has been extremely destructive to the western Christian church.

It shows a lack of respect for other-minded believers

For those that imagine God’s pleasure in Scott Brown’s election and assume his win will mean the end of health care reform (seriously?), consider this: at least half of all the Christians in the United States may have been praying for the exact opposite outcome. So what does this mean? You have a closer connection to the true God than they? That these other Jesus-loving folks haven’t read their Bibles enough to know that God prefers America’s current system of health care?

It puts God in a box

God is not a Republican. He is not a Democrat. He is not even American (gasp!). He’s not white or black. He’s not a man or a woman (despite my insistence on gender-specific pronouns). He is not what you want him to be. He is who he is.

Remember that conversation Moses had with the burning bush?

I AM

And the following rescue of his people from oppression was the proof that he was… and is… and will continue to be.

So why do I fear? Why does my foundation rest on God’s supporting my political opinions? Why do I believe if this guy is president or that bill passes or this is legal or that is illegal…. then God’s will is foiled and my life is over?

So rejoice when your “team” wins one… but please don’t believe that God is on your side alone.

He’s a heck of a lot bigger than that.