Predestination & Politics

DISCLAIMER: I am choosing not to discuss my politics issue by issue but more show a little bit of my heart and why I am so passionate. I am choosing to post this here vs. facebook b/c this is a personal post- not a forum for which to discuss political views. I am also not trying to convince anyone of predestination. Please consider this if you choose to post a comment. Thank you.

I have been worried for a while now that my politics have defined my character for the people who are in my life for this season and honestly I feel more alone here with so much community, than I did as the token Christian in Seattle, with little community so I am going to share a little of the perspective I have in hopes it helps me feel heard.

I am the daughter of a Southern Baptist preacher. You say Southern Baptist and people automatically have preconceived notions but my father is a non-typical SB preacher. He is AMAZING and everyone LOVES him upon meeting him; it is truly ridiculous! The reason people love him is because he LOVES people, ALL people. When you meet him you immediately see Christ and people respond to him like no one else I have ever known.

Growing up I was taught that kind of love. You love people where they are because Christ loves you unconditionally; you give people the benefit of the doubt because you have been given unlimited grace; you give away freely because nothing you have is yours-God blessed you with it; you love people where they are because God loves you, a sinner; you forgive much because you have been forgiven much- retribution is the Lord's; you share the gospel in word and deed because it is a privilege and the most important thing you can give someone; you encourage obedience and hold people responsible because you do not want them to be separated from their Creator, not because you want to win, or see changed behavior; You love others well because HE FIRST LOVED YOU. Period.

In college, I was involved in a ministry that introduced me to the topic of predestination- God's Sovereign choice in salvation. This was a hard concept for me to swallow being that I had been raised hearing 'free will.' Believing that people had the power to make a decision for a good they cannot understand. I railed against the idea that a loving God would choose to send anyone to hell. I would much rather blame you (unrepentant sinner) than accept that God has designed people for hell. I fought with anyone in the ministry who would engage; I yelled at a hateful God I could not serve when I was confronted with what I now believe is Truth.

I did an internship with Prison Fellowship the summer before my senior semester in college. That summer was the healthiest I have ever been spiritually mainly because I spent time in the Word every morning. I began objectively reading His words and read verses I couldn't explain away with free will. God was speaking to ME directly and intimately and showing a facet of His character I had never really understood- His Holiness and in turn my incredible unworthiness and depravity.

Humbled, broken, and desparately aware of my sin I was finally able to accept the amazingness of His grace! Never to be taken advantage of again. Finally understanding that I did nothing, NOTHING to deserve the grace of God in my life, the sacrifice of His Son, the privilege of being used for His glory, the future hope of eternity in His presence. Finally understanding that we all deserve Hell, that people going to hell glorifies a Holy God, and people going to heaven is mercy alone, that when hearts are changed it is God doing the action...there is nothing in me that would have me choose Him.

Because I was raised to love people- I love FIERCELY, and unconditionally.

Because I am in AWE of God's grace in my life, I seek to extend grace to others.

When I recognize that it is by the grace of God alone that I was born in a free country, with the supportive family I have, the education level I was able to achieve, and the faith HE alone gives me I am unable to judge the lost around me- I just want to help them.

It would be great to be able to help those in need through the church alone but we can't even get Christians to tithe so... if the government (a institution that is not designed by God, nor used by Christ to motivate obedience) is large enough to protect those that need protection then I am in favor.

Recognizing that some people will abuse the system and that's not fair in human temporal standards, but understanding again that I have been given grace, I am blessed with more than I need through no work of my own, and I (thankfully) have no authority to judge the condition of hearts,

Recognizing that God hates murder- of the unborn, of the innocent, of the misguided and deceived, of the sinner who could still have time to repent,

Recognizing that issues are not black and white but complicated, and that the government, regardless of party, is full of lost people just like the world around me,

Recognizing that people are sinful and legislating morality does not turn people to God but rather shows an intolerance of behavior that Christ never displayed (outside the defiling of God's temple),

Recognizing that it is my responsibility as a citizen and as a person of faith to stay informed by reliable sources, to seek God in my decisions and remain open to His leading, to consistently pray for our leaders,

Recognizing all of this- I pray, and I unashamedly vote in obedience.

The insinuation that fellow Christians need to 'overlook' that in me, or 'forgive' that or 'still love me in spite of that' is extremely offensive to me.

Thankfully, despite our disagreements on any or all of these issues, we can both rest in the Sovereignty of a Holy God and that is indeed a comfort.