Don't be lukewarm!

Have you heard about this hullabaloo about the Republican candidate for president, Mitt Romney, being Mormon? Basically, there are some people out there who feel the country isn’t ready for a Mormon president. But if you think about it, the winner of the presidential election next year will likely be the first something: first woman, first African-American, first Mormon, first person to be president having not served in a higher elected office than mayor, and the list goes on. Barring something unforeseen, business-as-usual (from an election standpoint) is going to get tossed out the window.

Is Romney a Christian? I think the question itself is a red herring. Here is the breakdown of the top 6 affiliations of the 110^th Congregation, according to wikipedia (by the way, don’t trust everything you read on wikipedia…):

Roman Catholic: 28.8%

Baptist: 14.1%

Methodist: 11.4%

Presbyterian: 9.7%

Episcopalian: 7.9%

Jewish: 6.9%

And further down the list there are 16 Mormons, 2 Buddhists, 1 Scientologist, 1 Muslim, and 1 Atheist.

My question is that out of these people in Washington, how many of them are living out their faith when they get to work and are in front of crowds and cameras, as opposed to leaving it for at home and occasional worship attendance? A thought that makes me tremble is that the atheist might be the most genuine one there.

Now, of course, the bleak picture I paint makes the situation sound worse than it really is. But sometimes you need to shout to get your voice heard even a little bit. Our mainstream society is not only secular, but it is becoming increasingly anti-Christian. So how is it that these people, who designate themselves as having faith of one type or another, manage to keep getting elected? Chew on that one for a while.

Don’t hide your faith. Embrace it. You can authentically be a disciple of Jesus Christ in America without offending the person sitting next to you. Don’t believe the madness out there that says you need to hide or minimize your faith in order to be in community with others or not impinge on their rights. Listen instead to your heart, and live out boldly the faith that you find there. Check out Revelation 3:15, “I know your works: you are neither cold nor hot. Would that you were either cold or hot!” Don’t be lukewarm with your faith.

[Note: This blogger does not support any specific party or candidate…unless Jesus comes back and decides to run for something.]

Peace,

Kevin