Before You Judge Me...

Before you judge me, know that I don't like to consider myself Republican, Democrat, Independent, or otherwise. I would love to think I vote for every candidate (local and national) based on their specific qualifications and ideas.

With that said, here's the funnniest Facebook post I've read this week, in the aftermath of the Supreme Court's ruling to uphold the Obama Administration's Affordable Care Act.
Note: They sarcastically posted this under a big 'thumbs-up' to Obamacare logo:

"NO... it is horrible! I am a republican and i hate the idea that people now dont have to worry... you all are socialist !!!! I am going to now move to Canada where they have a universal health care and i clearly dont understand what i am talking about! Also, woman suck! And I know that this so called "global warming" is a lie you made up to scare us! USA USA! errr... i think i forgot to mention GOD too... yeah, GOD! You are not a true christian now!"

This quote really exemplifies why I try to avoid talking politics at all. People just end up ranting and saying things that are insensitive and divisive.

Political Etiquette On Facebook

In the hours following the Supreme Court's decision to uphold the Affordable Care Act first passed into law in 2010, Facebook was the place to voice one's opinions on the matter. There's an old joke about a bunch of men at the local diner fixing the world's problems over coffee. My friends, that's exactly what we are seeing on Facebook: Everybody has an opinion, and, yes, their opinion is the right one.

Should Facebook be used this way? Some would say, 'why not?' Others would say that it exemplifies the beauty of free speech in our country. Others would contend that it opens up dialog and discourse. I'm annoyed by it all, honestly. I'm finding myself judging people because they aired their opinion on a complex political issue. By posting your opinion on a hot-button topic that affects everyone, you're taking a chance. There will be plenty of people who will agree with you, and plenty who will not. Are you willing to alienate yourself that way? To be a divisive voice amongst your 'friends'?

CNN's Belief Blog ran a great follow-up article on this health care reform issue. John Blake, the article's author, notes that Jesus "was a healer, a provider of universal health care, a man of compassion who treated those with preexisting medical conditions." Now we certainly don't know what Christ would think about individual mandates, but we know what the New Testament says about him. There is a moral dimension to this debate, and at its heart is how the nation should best help "its 'least of these,' an estimated 50 million Americans who can’t afford health insurance, as well as those who could go broke or die because they can’t afford medical care." Most agree that health care should be widely available and also affordable, but Christians who quote the same Jesus come up with very opposite conclusions.

And these 'conclusions' end up on Facebook.

My point here is to say that certain opinions should be guarded carefully. Lots of very experienced, intelligent voices are weighing in on these legal decisions. Should we trust our government? Maybe not, but we should trust our God who is over all. And ranting opinions on a controversial topic will not bring anything but more controversy and debate. Instead of worrying about how our own health care may or may not be affected, we should be more concerned—every day—with all of those who are without.

Community

A TLS blog

In my next series of blogs, I plan to write about my experiences at Trinity Lutheran Seminary. I will be starting Greek this summer, then taking a full semester of classes beginning in late August. This will be a very new and challenging experience for me, and there's going to be plenty to write about.






Every Wednesday evening, the families that live in the Trinity Seminary apartments have a community dinner. Each family grills their own meat and brings a side item to share with the group. It's a very simple idea, yet it holds so much goodness and power. We gather and talk. We cook. We drink. We eat some burgers. We relax and enjoy a nice, summer evening. Our kids play together. Even when we don't feel like being 'social,' we gather. We gather, not because it's required—we gather because we need each others' company and support.

I'm always cautious about how and when I use the word 'blessing,' but I have to say that it's been a real blessing to live with this group of fellow believers who are committing their lives to church ministry. It's a blessing to share housing in a close-knit community. It's a blessing just to share food every Wednesday evening.

And so we gather. We usually don't even talk about God or church or anything like that. We gather and just let the community presence help us. While many people in life withdraw and resist opening their lives to others, I've been reminded that community and friendship are so important. We need this. We were created for this.