Tuesday I saw a painting that somewhat troubled me as a person of faith. The painting was one of George W Bush kneeling in prayer flanked by two prayerful figures with their hands upon his shoulders.
I do not question Bush’s faith or passion for his Lord. Nor do I question that he should be upheld in prayer. Rather it is the responsibility of every single Christian to pray for all our political leaders, particularly for those who assume key responsibilities for the governance of our communities and nations. I am of the view that one of the sins of the Church is that it does not pray for our political leaders regardless of their political persuasion or that of the collective and individual congregants.
In my blog of 26 May I questioned the damage incurred to the gospel when significant branches of the Church and/or its major leaders tie themselves to a political party. While many individuals and portions of the Church will naturally align themselves with a particular position and even a party, we must, must, have the wisdom to not align ourselves within the body or outside the body to a particular party.
What bothered me with regard to picture is that it the two figures in prayer with President Bush between them were George Washington and Abraham Lincoln. The painting communicates the following:
a) That Bush is a man of faith
b) He is a man of the caliber of Washington and Lincoln
c) He is God’s man of the hour to lead the nation out of darkness into light
d) The nation is in a crisis of the order of War of Independence and Civil War
e) The Church should get behind the President and support his position without debate because of “c”.
I will agree with “a” but “b” is unsupportable. While “e” is more subtle, we must be careful to conclude that because a person is a Christian that he is more blessed than others on the political level. He clearly would be more blessed on a spiritual and interpersonal level than a person lacking faith, but God can work through a leader who lacks faith which has been demonstrated in Scriptures. Hence, “c” is somewhat debatable in my mind.
I am not as convinced about “d” as America had faced numerous other crisis moments that threatened to harm the nation. Amongst such moments the War of 1812, the Depression, WW II, and the Cuban Missile Crisis immediately come to mind.
I said above somewhat troubled, not troubled, as the painting should be desplayed as it is free speach. Further, it was in a private office and therefore private and personal speach and not in a public place so as to indicate the political dogma and position of the organization and its leadership.
May God convict the Church on its sin for not praying for our political leaders. May He also grant us wisdom to address life, social and community issues without having to align ourselves with a particular political party.
Reflective Wanderings - Reflections on various topics that arise out of my personal, life and professional experiences. There are also are some family related news, travels and pictures.
2 comments:
A very interesting and thought provoking post on that print. I found the painting you spoke about at the following web address
http://www.tapestryproductions.com/_productimages/121046.jpg
I totally agree with you that the church, I'm talking about every Christian has failed our leaders - even our oposition party leaders by not praying for them as we should!
The more I watch American news - the insane war in Iraq that has left hundreds of thousands of Iraqi citizens dead, the hundreds of thousands of young men and women who are fighting a war that cannot be won - that will leave a country worse off than before the war, the political posturing and opportunism and the perceived backing of Christians of particular political parties, the polarization of the American electorate, the huge paranoia around security, the growing threat of terroism, of the inevitable mass attack not unlike that occured on 911, - the more I realize that the US is indeed in crisis. The US has squaundered the opportunity of 911 to build on the good will of the world - instead the US is now isolated and reviled. I think the US crisis can be compared to the great events of their history.
I am very sadden - and I am praying every day for the US, for their politician, for wisdom and discernment - for the understanding that they do not have sole possession of the moral high ground. History certain speaks for itself.
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