Saturday, October 25, 2008

Throwing Stones


Just in case I haven't mentioned it on my blog before, I hate politics. To the extent that I will leave the room if a discussion about it starts.

I personally believe that all the ads and stuff mean absolutely nothing. The ones saying "Vote for Me because..." are fluff. They say what we want to hear, so we'll elect them. Not that they can actually deliver what they promise, in most cases, without the backing of their Party, or the House, or Senate, or whoever else is involved.

Fluff.

Then there's the mudslinging, attack ads and smear campaigns. Taking snippets of past speeches and twisting them to fit their agenda. Pulling up old demons that have long been buried for the sole purpose of making the competition look bad.

More fluff.

How about just make yourself look better and leave it at that?

Ugh. I hate politics.

Then, how about we forget going after our competitor and go after their families instead? Yeah. That's SO much better.

I only bring all this up with the danger of starting a comments riot because I saw one of those attacks today. I was reading (for the first time) about Cindy McCain's past prescription drug addiction. So, it's over, it was years ago, it was a hard time for her and her family, so lets' just bring it back up and beat on her some more.

Usually, people like to hear about someone who is reformed.

Usually.

Unless you're in the public eye. Then they seem to want you to fail!

Apparently, if your husband (or wife) is in line for a big political seat, you'd better not have any skeletons in your closet either, because they're gonna be pulled out, dusted off, and put on display.

I'm not endorsing any candidate here. I'm simply making a point. Luke 6:37 says, "Don't pick on people, jump on their failures, criticize their faults - unless, of course, you want the same treatment." (The Message)

If you were the spouse of a political candidate, what skeletons would the press dig out of your closet?

Right. We won't talk about those here, will we?

John 8:7: "The sinless one among you, go first: Throw the stone."

Don't the rest of you just want to write all the newspapers and TV stations and remind them about throwing that first stone?

Regardless of the ability of politicians to push my buttons, I have to extend the same grace to them (and the press) that my Lord gives me. They may aggravate me to no end, but at the end of the day, if I can't step back and drop my stone instead of throwing it, I am no better than them.

Behavior like that is part of what gives Christians a bad name.

How about in this election year, we become the real change? We as children of God showing the world what that really means: love, forgiveness, mercy, acceptance and, of course, grace.

That might actually make me like politics.

5 comments:

  1. Very well said. I can't wait until the elections are over. God is in control--and I will rest in that! God bless.

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  2. The politic fingerpointing and the "he said/he said" has just about done me in this year. At this point I simply mute the TV when the ads start up.

    You would think these candidates
    would be singing their own attributes and telling the voters what they want to do for them instead of constantly maligning and belittling each other.

    And heaven forbid if a candidate or one of their family members had any kind of fault or failing in their past life... for it will surely be dug up and displayed like a prized trophy to show the world.

    Cindy McCain was addicted to pain killers but so was I... and many other people. SHe was able to overcome her addiction and used her experience to help other overcome theirs. Mrs. McCain has led a vastly successful life as a humanitarian and as a business woman. Her know how and abilities would well serve her husband if he should be elected president. She would be an awesome First Lady.

    Thank you for your perspective and your words of wisdom. I was blessed to read your comments.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Great blog. Very insightful.Thanks for sharing your thoughts!!

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  4. Good teaching Beth. It's not just politics that evokes stone-throwing. We can even do it within our churches to the body of Christ.

    Emptying my pocket of stones,
    Joy

    ReplyDelete
  5. Great post! Let the change start with us.

    I quit watching the news and most everything else a few weeks ago. When I do watch TV I mute the campaign commercials. It's just ugly with a capital U. I wish they would just spend their advertising money to say what they really stand for and what they're strong points are and leave it at that.

    When I stopped watching the news and the commercials my life became a whole lot more peaceful and I felt like I could really pray for the election with a level, uncluttered head.

    ReplyDelete

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