Hope?
Last night Barak Obama returned to Eugene to address the townsfolk at the U of O campus. He’d been there about a month ago, and we’d been amazed to see the line of people waiting to get into the basketball arena stretching clear around the entire sports area, a good city block. This time we were on campus again and decided to join the lineup and pack into the library quad for this second rally.
I felt very American, going to see a presidential candidate – never done that before. In spite of (or maybe because of) my lack of experience with campaign speeches, I was struck by Obama’s sincere and personable demeanor. The people there were excited and eager to throw their support behind his ideals of change. The idea of changing how the country is run, the idea of finally solving the problems that have plagued us for decades – the idea of bringing the war to an end. These are admirable goals. Is this “change we can believe in?” If we just believe it hard enough, wave enough “HOPE” signs, will it happen?
We had quite awhile to wait before the speech, packed together with lots of young Eugenians and a smaller number of middle aged ones. A youngish man sitting just in front of us had a Barak Obama campaign image sewed to his jacket. As he stood up, another patch became visible: a cross (Christ) crossed out, in the red “no-smoking” style. I guess that’s not the kind of hope this crowd is looking for. But I believe it’s the only real hope there is, the only kind that’s not just wishful thinking.
“Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.” Romans 5:1-5
I too really like Obama’s sincerity. But on the other hand I know that as a man he will always disappoint. I don’t feel like a true Christ follower, in the most literal sense- someone doing their utmost best to be like Christ- would ever seek a job in the political at all, because I think politics and Christianity are incompatible. It’s incompatible with Christ’s message of peace, etc. and a Christian in that position is sincerely compromising their faith.
Yeah, I struggle with the question of how politically involved a Christian should be. Sometimes it’s hard to even feel motivated to vote, because on the one hand humans are so fallable and most of the good ideas about how society should be would only work if we humans weren’t so selfish – and on the other hand, I believe God is in control of earthly authority and we are to submit to them as to God. (as long as they aren’t telling us to do something immoral, of course.)
I guess it comes down to, we can’t always (or often?) trust our leaders, but we can trust God. He is our hope.
For me the question is not of hope but of faith. I feel that hope carries with it a sense of doubt (“I hope it works”), but faith is a confirmation of belief in spite of doubt (“I believe in God.”)
I have the upmost faith in God but political leaders leave me stale. I feel wounded by them. Whose values do they represent? Have I been lied to, too may times?
To quote lyrics by Marvin “oh, mercy, mercy me, what’s going on?”
As a Christian who’s been politically involved (my husband worked on a Senate campaign) I see it as a matter of being “in the world, not of it.” My hope is for an eternal home, but while I’m here, I’m going to work to make the world the best place it can be.
I just love your star blanket, by the way. That’s what got me here, from Ravelry.