Politics and Christianity.

Yeah, no one wants to talk about it. Heck, I don't want to talk about it. But while I was in Kenya, it an unavoidable subject. While we were there, Kenya's constitution was up for revision. Here's a portion of my journal entry about it:
" There is a lot of talk about the Kenyan Constitution up for voting, and we've heard a lot of different opinions of people we have interacted with. Rose [the woman in charge of Buckner in Kitale] and Pastor Edward [of City Harvest Baptist Church that does ministry in Kibera] are for the new constitution, and the people at Daystar University [a Christian college that we visited outside of Nairobi] are not. Rose said that although it is nowhere near perfect, some sort of change needs to happen and they need to start somewhere. Daystar mentioned that the new one allows abortion under the circumstances that the mother is in danger or it is caused by rape, and they think it is completely wrong to allow that. Whereas Pastor Edward says that he doesn't believe that the new constitution is allowing abortion because he thinks that those two circumstances are legitimate, although he said that he would be "stoned" by the Christian community in Kenya for having that opinion. I don't think that it's just coincidence that Rose and Pastor Edward do a lot of work around the poor and have that opinion, while Daystar isn't very involved in the community and also doesn't want the new constitution to pass because it would force them to allow all religions to be accepted in the school. It disgusts me how un-missional that is.
All of these thoughts got me thinking about my own political views and how I really need to inform myself on issues. All I know is that I really care about people and I want my political views to reflect that. So what if that means I lean more to the left? But I do know that government is corrupt and I do not trust them to do anything, and the same with big business. Yet I don't believe that pacifism is very smart, because although I would love to leave in a world where everyone is peaceful and just, it just isn't reality.
I really wish I could attend a church that is more in line with the things I am passionate about like new monasticism, the social gospel, and things like that. But Elise mentioned that maybe we're supposed to be out there at other churches trying to help them make connections with poverty issues and different ministries like that. I know she is right, I just shy away from it because I am scared of having that responsibility. But then again-"now that I have seen, I am responsible. Faith without deeds is dead.""

It was kinda funny to realize that a lot of the Christian culture in Kenya can be similar to the U.S. The Christian population of Kenya tend to be conservative and close minded (note that I DO NOT think those words mean the same thing), with a minority of them like Pastor Edward and Rose that have more "un-traditional" views. Now that I have experienced the harsh reality of extreme poverty, I'm not too sure I disagree with Rose and Pastor Edward's opinion on abortion. I've always thought it was okay when the life of the mother is at stake, but now since talking with them my views are more prone to altering in the rape situation. I still think it's wrong and I know God can use that situation to do a lot of good ( I have seen it through a family friend's situation), but it's hard to restrict that when it may not be a reality in other situations. I don't really know...what do YOU think?

Needless to say, it was hard to avoid a conversation about politics while I was there. And I hate that I still don't have concrete views on many political issues and ideology. And I admit, it is because I have failed to inform myself. I do know one thing though, my life needs to mirror that of Jesus'. And that also includes His politics. I guess I should finish reading "Jesus for President" by Shane Claiborne.